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DRILLBITS – February 2018

In This Edition

Recurring Items

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Advocacy

Drilling Offshore Florida Would Benefit Economy, Jobs

On 8 February, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management held a Scoping Meeting in Tallahassee to open a dialogue with Florida residents on proposed drilling activities off the state’s coast. IADC President Jason McFarland issued the following statement in support of inclusion of waters offshore Florida in future Interior Department lease sales:

“The State of Florida often points to its beaches and thriving tourism industry as justification for its exclusion from drilling activity. The reality is that outdoor tourism and offshore oil and gas exploration and production can coexist, and we believe that they should. The Eastern Gulf of Mexico alone, at 64.5 million acres, is projected to contain 3.6 billion barrels of oil, which would in turn support 230,000 jobs and contribute $18 billion per year to the economy. And for Florida, the available data indicates that the recoverable resources lie 100 miles or more off the coast; far from the beaches and the view of tourists who can only see 3-12 miles out on the horizon.”

“Concurrently, the EIA has predicted that U.S. energy demand is set to increase, with the country requiring 12 percent more energy in 2040 than in 2012. This will require us, as a nation, to thoughtfully and responsibly develop all areas with technically recoverable resources, including offshore areas that have historically not been offered in lease sales. While Florida might want to claim ownership of waters beyond the state’s boundary, the fact remains that those waters where oil and gas activities would occur are located in the Outer Continental Shelf and belong to all Americans.”

“The increased demand, and the subsequent increased drilling activity that will accompany it, requires that our operations are performed safely, and with no negative environmental impact. The offshore drilling industry is committed to sending its employees home safely after each shift and protecting the waters where many of them fish and recreate. This industry has dedicated itself to developing new technology, new ways of operating and more intensive worker training programs. The results of those efforts are clearly indicated in sharply falling incident rates, as noted by both the Bureau of Labor Statistics and IADC’s own Incident Statistics Program. In addition, in BSEE’s 2016 analysis on ‘Occurrence Rate for Offshore Oil Spills’, data shows that the occurrence rate for offshore spills continues to improve or go down, despite producing more oil offshore.”

“As the conversation around offshore drilling continues, IADC remains committed to serving as an educative resource to both legislators and the public about the ways in which we all benefit from drilling activities.”


IADC, Industry Trades Host Briefing for House Oil and Gas Caucus

On 26 February, IADC, alongside NOIA and API held a briefing for the U.S. House of Representatives Oil and Gas Caucus in Washington, D.C. The Caucus, led by Congressman Vincent Gonzalez (D-TX) is a Congressional Member Organization dedicated to educating Members of Congress about issues related to the production, transport, refining, distribution, and trade of oil, gas and other petroleum hydrocarbons including crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids.

Roughly a dozen Democratic staffers who work for members who sit on the Caucus attended the briefing. Presentations were given by Liz Craddock, IADC, and Jeff Vorberger, NOIA. The discussion focused on the basics of offshore drilling, the economic impact of the industry and the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Draft Proposed Plan for the new offshore five year program.

For more information, please contact Liz Craddock at Liz.Craddock@iadc.org.


DRILLERSPAC – Political Action Committee (PAC) of IADC

The DRILLERSPAC is now up and running.  It was sanctioned by IADC’s Board of Directors to further IADC’s goal of advocacy engagement with federally elected Members of Congress.  DRILLERSPAC is not affiliated with any political party.  It is organized and conducted on a voluntary, non-partisan basis.  DRILLERSPAC is overseen by the PAC Board of Trustees, which is comprised of 10 members – three from offshore companies, three from onshore companies, two from drilling services companies and two IADC employees.

To date, the DRILLERSPAC has raised $14,250 from 7 individuals.  Twelve IADC member companies have signed the prior approval form to allow employee participation.  Two $2,000 disbursements from DRILLERSPAC have been made to Rep. Garrett Graves (LA) and Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (ND) leaving $10,250 left in the DRILLERSPAC bank account.


Washington D.C. Updates

House:

The House started the month with an approval of the Continuing Resolution and then sent it over to the Senate for approval (H.R. 1892).  The House also passed about a dozen bills in February, ranging in subject matter of a bill to fight online sex trafficking (H.R. 1865) to the Ukraine Cybersecurity Cooperation Act (H.R. 1997).  These bills will now be sent to the U.S. Senate for consideration.  The House Members also enjoyed a week of recess at home with their constituents in honor of President’s Day.

Senate:

Earlier in the month, the Senate approved another Continuing Resolution (H.R. 1892) to fund the federal government through March 23, 2018.  This legislation also sets the ‘cap limit’ for how much each Appropriations bill can spend.  The balance of the month was spent debating an immigration bill that did not garner enough support to pass out of the Chamber as well as a week of recess for the Senators to spend at home with their constituents.

Administration:

The President released his budget earlier this month, which will be picked apart by Congress through the upcoming appropriations process.  The President also nominated a couple of new rounds of executive appointments, including judicial appointments.  Finally, he released his infrastructure plan stating: “Our Nation’s infrastructure is in an unacceptable state of disrepair, which damages our country’s competitiveness and our citizens’ quality of life.  For too long, lawmakers have invested in infrastructure inefficiently, ignored critical needs, and allowed it to deteriorate.  As a result, the United States has fallen further and further behind other countries.  It is time to give Americans the working, modern infrastructure they deserve.



INDUSTRY NEWS

Interior to Host Largest Oil and Natural Gas Lease Auction in U.S. History

The U.S. Department of Interior will host the largest sale of offshore oil and gas leases in the country’s history on 21 March. The auction comprises 77.3 million acres, encompassing the coastal waters of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

Lease Sale 250, scheduled to be livestreamed from New Orleans, will be the second offshore sale under the National Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2017-2022. It will include about 14,776 unleased blocks, located from three to 231 miles offshore, in the Gulf’s Western, Central and Eastern planning areas in water depths ranging from nine to more than 11,115 feet (three to 3,400 meters). Excluded from the lease sale are blocks subject to the Congressional moratorium established by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006; blocks that are adjacent to or beyond the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone in the area known as the northern portion of the Eastern Gap; and whole blocks and partial blocks within the current boundary of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.

More information about the upcoming sale can be found at the U.S. Department of the Interior website.


Center for Diversity Files Suit over EPA Offshore Drilling Permit

On 13 February, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), Gulf Restoration Network and the Louisiana Bucket Brigade petitioned the Court for review of the EPA’s decision to issue a Clean Water Act general permit for the offshore oil and gas industry. The permit applies to new and existing offshore oil and gas platforms operating in federal waters off the coasts of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

The CBD contends that due diligence was not exercised in the absence of consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Services, and/or completion of a comprehensive environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act to fully appreciate the effects of dangerous discharges permitted in accordance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.

More information about the lawsuit can be found here.


Mexico’s Regulators for the Energy Sector Announce OCS Strategic Development Plan for 2018-2022.

In February, Mexico’s Agency of Security, Energy and Environment, together with the Energy Regulatory Commission and the National Commission of Hydrocarbons presented the OCS Strategic Development Plan for 2018-2022. The plan comprises 12 initiatives that are included within 5 strategic objectives which focus on inter alia, facilitating development of the OCS, sustaining regulatory certainty, and cultivating technical and financial capacities that sustain OCS operations.

More details (in Spanish) can be found on the Agency of Security, Energy and Environment website.


RAPID-S53 JIP Launches Latest Phase

The IOGP/IADC BOP Reliability JIP, known as RAPID-S53, has launched its latest phase featuring reduced fees for participating companies.  The JIP, which originated with a data gathering effort by seven offshore contractors in 2015 has been restructured to continue on an ongoing basis with fees adjusted annually.

For 2018, fees for operator participants will be $35,000.  For drilling contractors, fees for companies with subsea BOPs will be $20,000, with fees for  surface-only BOP companies at $15,000 and onshore contractors at $10,000.  Equipment manufacturers will pay $15,000.  Those figures are significantly less than what most participants paid for Phase II of the JIP.

It is anticipated that most of the 30 companies that participated in Phase II will continue their involvement with the JIP.  One new offshore contractor recently joined the new effort – Odebrecht Oil & Gas S.A. of Brazil.

The JIP has been sharing selected learnings from the data with industry groups, including the API Standard 53 Subcommittee.  At the recent API Winter Standardization conference, JIP members provided information learned regarding regulators, shuttle valves, and SPM valves.  A data quality workshop for all RAPID-S53 participants was also recently hosted by Pacific Drilling, with more than 50 people in attendance.

The JIP worked with both BSEE and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics to produce their 2016 report on equipment failure reporting required under the Well Control Rule.  The JIP is currently working with BTS on the 2017 report.

RAPID-S53 stands for Reliability and Performance Information Database, designed to collect data on BOP performance as specified in API Standard 53.

For more information, please contact Steve Kropla at steve.kropla@iadc.org.


BSEE Announces 2019 Proposed Budget

On 12 February, the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) announced the President’s $199.9 million Fiscal Year 2019 Budget. The budget will continue to focus on the Bureau’s commitment to practical and efficient approaches that foster safe and dependable energy production. According to BSEE Director Scott Angelle, “The President’s FY 2019 budget will enable BSEE to fulfill its mission to ensure the safe and environmentally sustainable exploration, development and production of America’s offshore energy resources.”

The BSEE Fiscal Year 2019 Proposed Budget announcement can be found at at BSEE’s website. Additional details on the President’s Budget proposal are also available on Department of Interior’s website.


Danish Government Ends Onshore Exploration and Drilling

After listening to local citizen concerns, the Danish Minister for Energy, Utilities and Climate recently announced that the government has decided to close permitting for exploration and recovery of oil and gas both on land and in the inland waters of Denmark. The Minister stated, “The government has decided that efforts should be concentrated on production from the North Sea.”

More information (in Danish) can be found here.


University of Louisiana – Lafayette IADC Student Chapter Tours MI Swaco

On 23 February 33 students with the IADC Student Chapter at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette (ULL) participated in a facility tour organized by MI Swaco. The students were able to see shale shakers, desanders, desilters, centrifuges, dryers, choke manifolds, remote choke consolds and were told the process of solids control and pressure control with the ability to see and touch the equipment used in the processes.

On 23 February 33 students with the IADC Student Chapter at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette (ULL) participated in a facility tour organized by MI Swaco. The students were able to see shale shakers, desanders, desilters, centrifuges, dryers, choke manifolds, remote choke consolds and were told the process of solids control and pressure control with the ability to see and touch the equipment used in the processes.



ACCREDITATION

IADC Accreditation Department Successfully Passes ISO 9001:2015 Recertification Audit

In February, IADC’s Accreditation Department successfully passed the ISO 9001:2015 recertification audit with zero findings and an added commendation for improvement since the previous year’s audit.

The ISO 9001 family addresses various aspects of quality management and contains some of ISO’s best-known standards, which provide guidance and tools for companies and organizations that want to ensure that their products and services consistently meet customer’s requirements. ISO 9001:2015 sets out the criteria for a quality management system and is the only standard in the family that can be certified to. This standard is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement.

“It is important that IADC’s accreditation division, as an accrediting body that holds training providers to course and quality standards, holds itself accountable for the quality of the services delivered to the industry,” said Brook Polk, Director – Program Development and Technology. “Obtaining the ISO recertification ties directly to ACD’s core mission of commitment to providing customer satisfaction with the highest quality products and services. It reinforces our drive for continued improvement and program integrity.”

For more information, please contact Brooke Polk at Brooke.Polk@iadc.org.


IADC Competence Assurance Program to be Updated

Competence Assurance is a crucial part of the employee development process.  Having competent employees helps to assure the safety of employees, assets, and the environment.  These are some of the reasons the industry worked collaboratively to develop IADC’s Competence Assurance Accreditation and Guidelines for Building a Competence Program.  IADC and industry understand and embrace the need for continual improvement in an ever-changing industry and are working on making the Competence Accreditation better.

The Accreditation Division is currently working with industry and IADC Competence SME auditors to grow the program and include new industry best practices.  Working together to share strengths from the various programs will help raise the bar on competence across the industry.  The new accreditation handbook with enhanced requirements is anticipated to be released in Q1 2018.

For more information about the Competence Assurance program, please visit the IADC Accreditation website. For questions, please contact Brooke Polk at Brooke.Polk@iadc.org.


IADC Prepares to Roll Out WellSharp Well Servicing Accreditation in Early 2018

This spring, IADC will roll out the new WellSharp Well Servicing Accreditation which will replace the old WellCAP well servicing courses. The new accreditation will offer four standalone course options, which include coiled tubing; snubbing; wireline and workover. It also introduces two new courses, which include Subsea Supplement and Oil and Gas Operator Representative Workover & Intervention Well Control.

The first WellSharp track, for drilling operations, was launched in 2015. It was the result of an industry-led effort to improve well control training and assessment. Compared with WellCAP, the curriculum puts greater emphasis on risk awareness and assessment.

For more information about converting to the new WellSharp Well Servicing Accreditation, please contact IADC’s Accreditation Department.



IADC COMMITTEES

Outgoing IADC HSE Committee Co-Chair Ryan D’Aunoy Receives Plaque in Recognition of Service and Leadership

During the IADC Health, Safety and Environment Conference in Houston, IADC President Jason McFarland presented Ryan D’Aunoy of Precision Drilling with a plaque in recognition of his exemplary service and leadership in 2017 as Co-Chairman of the IADC HSE Committee. As Co-Chair of the Committee, he helped steer two of IADC’s key industry initiatives, including the IADC Incident Statistics Program (ISP) and the IADC Safety Alert Program.

During the IADC Health, Safety and Environment Conference in Houston, IADC President Jason McFarland presented Ryan D’Aunoy of Precision Drilling Company with a plaque in recognition of his exemplary service and leadership in 2017 as Co-Chairman of the IADC HSE Committee. As Co-Chair of the Committee, he helped steer two of IADC’s key industry initiatives, including the IADC Incident Statistics Program (ISP) and the IADC Safety Alert Program.


IADC ART Cybersecurity Subcommittee to Host Workshop

The IADC Cybersecurity Subcommittee will host a Workshop on 12 April 2018 in Stavanger Norway to serve as a forum for drillers, operators and the service sector to discuss cybersecurity standards, best practices and the influence of cybersecurity on automation. The workshop will also examine the NIST Cybersecurity framework, ISA/IEC 62443, the two existing IADC cybersecurity guidelines, current IADC initiatives and will look ahead to the necessity of future efforts.

Registration is now open for the workshop, and seating is limited. If you have question or require assistance, please contact Siv Hilde Houmb at sivhoumb@securenok.com or Melissa Mejias at Melissa.Mejias@iadc.org.

For the full Workshop agenda, and to register, please visit the IADC website.


IADC Supply Chain Committee Invites Supply Chain Professionals to Join

The IADC Supply Chain Committee is now open for all supply chain professionals who are members of IADC. The Committee will host its next meeting on 7 February at 1 p.m. at IADC Headquarters in Houston.

For more information about the committee and to register to attend the next meeting, please visit the IADC website.


There’s Still Time to Submit an Abstract for the 4 April ART Spark Tank

There is still time to submit an abstract for the 4 April IADC Advanced Rig Technology Committee Spark Tank, scheduled for 0900-1130 on Wednesday, 4 April, 2018. The deadline for abstracts is Friday, 2 March.

The IADC ART Spark Tank is a strong opportunity to provide technology entrepreneurs a new opportunity to pitch their products and ideas to a panel of drilling contractors and operators (“Sharks”).

IADC ART welcomes abstracts on any new technology that will improve efficiency or safety in well construction. The purpose is to provide insights (“Sparks”) to technology developers into what matters to those they are innovating for. There is sometimes a vast disconnect between a good idea and a great product, and this series will attempt to close that gap in a good-natured, productive manner. Caveat: This forum is not designed to generate investments in the product or service.

Each Spark Tank presentation should last no more than 15 minutes, which will allow the Sharks to ask questions and give feedback on just how great (or not!) they think the product is.

The ART Spark Tank is designed to allow technology entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch products or ideas to a panel of experts comprising both drilling contractors and operators. The Spark Tank is envisioned as a forum to “spark” new thinking. The Spark Tank will be moderated by an officer of the Advanced Rig Technology Committee.

Thirty minutes are allotted for each topic. Each presenter will have 15 minutes to speak. Please be as brief and concise as possible.

Panelists will then use the remaining 15 minutes for questions and comments. Questions and comments will be candid.

Click here to access the abstract submission form.

For more information, contact Mike Killalea, 713-292-1956 or mike.killalea@iadc.org


DEC Tech Forum, 3/21 at Wild Well, Focuses on “Drilling the Unconventional Resource Plays”

The Q1 2018 IADC Drilling Engineers Committee (DEC) Technology Forum will address what is new or different about drilling the unconventional resource plays. The vast majority of the current drilling in the US today is being done in the unconventional resource plays, often called Shale Plays. This activity has led to re-examination and modification of how we do many things. Pad drilling, batch drilling, sim-ops and offline activities are a few things that are being developed and expanded upon to make drilling more of a manufacturing process. Increased well density and multistage frack jobs have required increased accuracy and precision in well placement. Reservoir characteristics and economics have required revisiting the approaches to well control, kick tolerance and casing programs. Long laterals and multistage frac jobs present new demands on casing and cement jobs. The forum will be an opportunity to discuss as many of these or other similar topics as possible with some of the people actively engaged in these activities.

The Q1 DEC Technology Forum is graciously hosted by Wild Well Control, and will convene at WWC’s facility at 2202 Oil Center Court, Houston, TX 77073.

The event will begin at 08.00 with coffee and networking, with the business program kicking off at 08.30. The forum will adjourn at lunch time, with a light lunch provided courtesy of WWC.

Register at http://dev2.iadc.org/event/iadc-dec-technology-forum-10/.

The agenda follows:

08.30     Welcome – Dennis Moore, Marathon, Chairman

08.35     JIP Updates

  • JIP DEC 1 “Drilling Systems Automation (DSA) Roadmap”: Robin Macmillan, National Oilwell Varco (Phase II, Stage I Full Report)
  • JIP DEC 2 “Decision Support for Dynamic Barrier Management” – Amar Ahluwalia, DNVGL (Project description; supporting slides)
  • JIP DEC 3 Rho Ve Method Software Concept – Matthew Czerniak, Director, GCS Solutions, Inc. (Project description; supporting slides)

08.50     New JIP Proposal: “Independent Verification and Validation of Sensors and Systems in Drilling: Phase I”, Maria Araujo, Southwest Research Institute

09.20     “Offline Operations – Thinking Outside the Rotary Table”: Adrian Binnion, Marathon

09.50     “Achieving Better Wellbore Placement Through Advanced Survey Management”: Paul Strohmeier & Avinash Ramit, ConocoPhillips

10.20     Break

10.35     “Unconventional Well Control: Drilling and Tripping in Unconventional Oil and Gas Plays”: Rich Billa, Shell

11.05     “Unconventional Reservoirs: Efficiency and Execution Meet the Challenges of US Land Cementing”: Cole Pavlock, Halliburton

11.35     “Developments in Materials and Design of Casing Connections for Fracking Operations”: Michael Burns, Stress Engineering

12.05     “Creating Uptime with a Disruptive Drilling Contractor Business Model”: Joey Husband, Nabors Industries

12.35     Adjourn & Lunch

For more information about this or other DEC technology forums or joint industry projects, contact mike.killalea@iadc.org, +1 713-292-1956.


 INDUSTRY RESOURCES

IADC Announces Availability of New Cybersecurity Guidelines

The new “IADC Guidelines for Baseline Cybersecurity for Drilling Assets” was released in January. The guidelines were developed by the IADC Advanced Rig Technology Committee Cybersecurity Subcommittee, led by Dr. Siv Hilde Houmb, Chief Technology Officer for Secure-NOK.

The guidelines provide baseline guidance on cybersecurity for oil and gas drilling assets. The guidelines draw from the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and international standards, and can be used as a starting point for developing more robust cybersecurity protection.

“The guidelines represent best practice for cybersecurity for Drilling Assets and were developed collaboratively by drilling contractors, operators, vendors and cybersecurity experts” said Dr. Houmb.

For more information or to purchase the guidelines, visit the IADC Bookstore.

For more information about the IADC Cybersecurity Subcommittee, contact Melissa Mejias at Melissa.Mejias@iadc.org.


Add a Drilling Matters Link to your Website

Show the browsers to your website that Drilling Matters to you. IADC’s DrillingMatters.org is an educational tool designed to dispel myths and misconceptions about the petroleum industry, and demonstrate the value of our industry to humanity.

We encourage IADC members to post a link to www.DrillingMatters.org on their websites. IADC will be happy to provide a reciprocal link on www.DrillingMatters.org.

If possible, please use the enhanced link below, which provides SEO content. A webmaster can easily insert this code on a website.

<!– ————————— BEGIN IMAGE LINK ————————— –>
<div><a title=”Drilling Matters, an interactive video-based educational site to improve public understanding of the oil and natural gas drilling industry” href=”http://drillingmatters.iadc.org/” target=”_blank” rel=”dofollow”><img style=”max-width: 100%; height: auto;” src=”http://drillingmatters.iadc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/DrillingMatters-600×500.jpg” width=”300″ height=”250″ /></a></div>
<!– ————————— END IMAGE LINK ————————— –>

Please contact Anthony Garwick (Anthony.garwick@iadc.org) with any technical questions.

For more information about Drilling Matters, contact Mike Killalea, mike.killalea@iadc.org, +1 713-292-1956.


IOGP Releases Updated Version of the Guidelines for the Conduct of Offshore Drilling Hazard Site Surveys

A properly-conducted drilling hazard site survey for an offshore drilling location is essential to minimize the risk of harm to personnel and equipment and to protect the natural environment.

In 2013, IOGP published the Guidelines for the conduct of offshore drilling hazard site surveys (‘Guidelines’; IOGP Report No. 373-18-1) that describes good practice for conducting geophysical and hydrographic site surveys of proposed offshore drilling locations. In 2015 IOGP issued a supplementary report Conduct of offshore drilling hazard site surveys – Technical Notes (‘Technical Notes’; IOGP Report No. 373-18-2) that provides supporting technical information.

IOGP has now published an update to the Guidelines, reflecting feedback on use of the original document from regulators from around the world, IOGP member companies, contractors, verification bodies and consultants. The document has also been reviewed to ensure alignment with the Technical Notes and other Geomatics Committee publications.

A dedicated Task Force of the IOGP’s Geomatics Committee has worked closely with marine survey industry representatives to review the feedback received. This resulting document reflects the continued development of drilling hazard site survey rationale and the latest technologies and techniques being applied for all relevant water depths and geological settings around the world. The document also includes an updated Glossary of terms.

While the Guidelines and the Technical Notes was developed for drilling hazard site surveys, the techniques described may also be applied in the planning and delivery of other types of seabed surveys, such as those for pipeline and cable routes.

Copies of the Guidelines and the Technical Notes can be downloaded free from the IOGP Bookstore at http://www.iogp.org/bookstore


BSEE Releases Marine Trash and Debris Training Video

In late February, BSEE released an updated training video that encourages safe and responsible trash and debris removal. The video is part of BSEE’s Marine Trash and Debris Program, which emphasizes education and regulation to minimize pollution and environmental damage on the Outer Continental Shelf. The program encourages the use of best practices, including improving the process for sending marine trash to shore, safely securing trash and debris on offshore facilities and training offshore personnel in the safe disposal of trash. BSEE’s requirements for the Marine Trash and Debris program can be found in Notice to Lessees 2015-G03.

For more information on the Marine Trash and Debris Program and to view or download the video, please visit BSEE’s website.


IOGP Release Geomatics Guidance Note 24: Vertical Data in Oil and Gas Applications

The IOGP has released the Geomatics Guidance Note 24 (IOGP Report Number: 373-24), Vertical Data in Oil and Gas Applications.

The guidance note discusses issues associated with the use of vertical coordinate data in the oil and gas industry, and is aimed at geoscientists, data managers and software developers.

Horizontal and vertical data are equally important in oil and gas exploration and development processes, and incomplete attention to either can impact the integrity, resolution and accuracy of the resultant datasets. Typically, vertical data is not worked to the same level of detail as horizontal data, and the perceived accuracy of the vertical data is often higher than it is in reality. There is generally insufficient attention to reference surfaces and inconsistent use of terminology which can result in erroneous offsets being introduced to datasets.

Axis directions (heights and depths) are frequently interchanged without an appropriate audit trail. These errors are often the result of transferring data between applications, either through software exchanges or common data exchange formats without the transfer of the associated metadata including an explicit definition of the vertical geodetic datum and coordinate reference system (CRS).

This guidance note describes the basic concepts of vertical CRSs and reference surfaces used with vertical data. Guidance is provided for the appropriate use of vertical coordinate reference system definitions and on the importance of the correct unit of measure and vertical axis direction definitions. The use of audit trails to record all coordinate operations performed on data is recommended, with worked examples to provide clarification on the level of detail required.

Copies of the Guidance Note 24 can be downloaded free from the IOGP Bookstore at http://www.iogp.org/bookstore


Drilling Matters’ Mission Petrohouse highlights everyday use of petroleum products

Mission: Pilot your rocketship through a 3D home. Identify all products manufactured from petroleum. Then blast off into space!

Mission Petrohouse is the latest interactive addition to DrillingMatters.org, IADC’s educational tool to dispel myths and misconceptions about the petroleum industry.

In this exciting 3D game, developed specifically for IADC Drilling Matters, the player pilots a retro-style rocket ship through an ordinary home. The goal is to identify and “zap” all objects derived from petroleum to fill the ship’s fuel tank. The player’s “inventory” tracks all items zapped, and explains the connection to hydrocarbons. Easy to play on an ordinary computer.

DrillingMatters.org comprises 16 modules. Additional new modules include:

  • More than a Fuel: From the food we eat, to the clothes on our backs, to cosmetics and skin care products, soaps and detergents, life-saving medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, building materials, toys and packaging materials, thousands of the products we use and depend on every day are made from hydrocarbons.
  • Life on a Rig: It takes a lot of people to keep a drilling rig working 24 hours a day. Because rigs often drill in remote locations, the men and women who work on them spend weeks away from home, working long hours. However, their hard work is balanced with an abundance of time off, good salaries, and generous benefits.
  • How Hydrocarbons Drive Jobs and the Economy: As the most abundant, affordable and reliable energy source, fueling most of the planet’s power and electricity needs, oil and gas hydrocarbons also provide value in another very significant way: Jobs. And those jobs are generated across countries in every region of the globe, creating a ripple effect that stimulates local economies.
  • Energizing Transportation with Oil and Gas: Energizing transportation is one of the largest boons humanity has realized from hydrocarbons. Before oil and natural gas, travel was a peril-fraught endeavor — dangerous, uncomfortable, and tediously long.
  • Interactive Rig: Drilling Matter’s enhanced interactive rig produces narrated video when a user clicks on any of several rig components.
  • Glossary: A handy guide to common and useful drilling terms.
  • The Challenge and Rewards in Deepwater: Offshore production began in the US in 1896 in the Pacific Ocean offshore California. Modern offshore drilling and production uses equipment and techniques that are as far from those Nineteenth Century platforms as the International Space Station is from the Wright Brothers’ Kitty Hawk airplane.

Check out the Drilling Matters website, and tell your friends and neighbors. Help us educate the public about our great industry. Drilling Matters: Spread the word.


Updated IADC Federal Regulatory Actions Impacting Offshore Drilling Report Now Available

IADC recently updated the Federal Regulatory Actions Impacting Offshore Drilling report. Released semi-annually, the report details federal regulatory actions that could impact offshore drilling activities.

The report reflects regulatory activities announced in the Federal Register or other available sources through December 2017.

The full report can be accessed via the IADC Advocacy webpage.


Book of the Month: IADC Drilling Manual 12th edition

Published by IADC, 2015.

Available in two volumes, 26 chapters including a glossary

More than 200 renowned technical experts contributed to the first major rewrite of the IADC Drilling Manual in 22 years. The IADC Drilling Manual includes 25 chapters including a glossary. Each chapter is also available as a stand-alone in electronic format.

Available for purchase: $500.00

Click here to visit the IADC Book store to purchase.


IADC Lexicon Featured Term for February 2018

The IADC Lexicon (IADCLexicon.org) is a compendium of upstream-related terms, which, unlike conventional glossaries, are official definitions drawn from legislation, regulation and regulatory guidance, standards (global, national and regional), and IADC guidelines. Terms often have multiple definitions from different sources.

Check out the new Random Term Generator.

This month’s Featured Term is:

This month’s Featured Term is “Tether Base” (Source: API RP 17L2, Recommended Practice for Flexible Pipe Ancillary Equipment, First Edition, March 2013):

“Tether bases” are used to anchor subsea buoy systems or to secure flexible pipe tether to the seabed in certain configurations such as in pliant wave configurations.

(click the link to read the full definition on the IADC Lexicon.)


Accreditation Updates

RigPass

  • ENSIGN ENERGY SERVICES, INC: CANADA (CONDITIONAL);
  • ERIELL GmbH: CZECH REPUBLIC (CONDITIONAL);
  • EVOLUTION ENERGY, USA (CONDITIONAL);
  • GRYPHON HOLDCO, LLC, USA (CONDITIONAL);
  • J.O.G. COMPANY AND SERVICES, PANAMA (CONDITIONAL);
  • PETROLEUM TRAINING SCHOOL, ARGENTINA (CONDITIONAL);
  • PHOENIX TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, USA, (CONDITIONAL);
  • RIG WORLD MULTI SERVICES PVT LTD, INDIA (CONDITIONAL);
  • SAFE MARTIN CAPACITACIONES, S.C., MEXICO (FULL);
  • TRUE SAFETY SERVICES, USA (CONDITIONAL);
  • TUTIS INTERNATIONAL, KUWAIT (CONDITIONAL);

WellSharp

  • Vorenkamp Well Control Training LLC, College Station, TX, USA


Safety Alerts

For the latest safety alerts, visit www.iadc.org/safety-alerts

Alert 18-02: Fatality – Struck by/Caught Between Pipe Handling Catwalk Machine


Upcoming Events


Rigs Receive ISP Certificates

For certificates received since last LTI (in years):

  • COSL Drilling Pan Pacific Ltd: COSL Seeker (4)
  • Essar Oilfield Services India Limited: Essar Wildcat (9);
  • Noble Drilling: Noble Houston Colbert (4); Noble Houston Colbert (3);
  • Songa Offshore: Songa Quinox (2)
For certificates received since last recordable incident (in years):
  • Parker Drilling Alaska: Rig 272 (3)

New IADC Members

IADC welcomes 22 new members:

  • ALPHA DRILLING TECH INC, QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES;
  • ALTUS WELL EXPERTS INC, KATY, TX, USA;
  • ATLANTIC LIGHT INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS, NIGERIA;
  • CARHARTT, INC, PASADENA, TX, USA;
  • EMERSON, CYPRESS, TX, USA;
  • FOUR CORNERS WELL CONTROL, FARMINGTON, NM, USA;
  • INFINITY STUDIES & TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS, ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES;
  • IR & E TRADING LLC, DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES;
  • K&L GATES LLP, LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM;
  • MAELF OIL SERVICES S.A. DE D.V., VILLAHERMOSA, TABASCO, MEXICO;
  • MERCOM DENMARK, ESBJERG, DENMARK;
  • PERFORMANCE PULSATION CONTROL, RICHARDSON, TEXAS, USA;
  • PRECISION OILFIELD, SEARCY, AR, USA;
  • R&H MFG, KILGORE, TX, USA;
  • RANKIN RISK ANALYTICS, FORTH WORTH, TX, USA;
  • SERVICIOS ESTRATEGICOS EN SEGURIDAD INDUSTRIAL DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., CD DEL CARMEN, CAMPECHE, MEXICO;
  • SOUTHWEST OILFIELD PRODUCTS FZCO, JEBEL ALI, DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES;
  • TECHFLUID U.K. LTD, CRAMLINGTON, NORTHUMBERLAND, UNITED KINGDOM;
  • THE CALLEN GROUP, HOUSTON, TX, USA;
  • TRADEQUIP INTERNATIONAL, CROSSVILLE, TN, USA;
  • U.S. BOLT MANUFACTURING, HOUSTON, TX, USA;
  • VEGA AMERICAS, INC, CINCINNATI, OH, USA

DRILLBITS Volume 28, Number 2

Steve Brady, Chairman • Jason McFarland, President • Amy Rose, Editor

All listed phone extensions are for IADC’s Houston headquarters,
+1/713-292-1945. Fax +1/713-292-1946.

Send comments/questions to Amy Rose at amy.rose@iadc.org.

To subscribe to Drill Bits, go to www.iadc.org/drillbits.

To change/cancel a Drill Bits subscription, send an e-mail message to
IADC Director – Membership Sharon Thorpe at sharon.thorpe@iadc.org.