Tech Transfer Track

Kansas Geological Society Library Going Online

The extensive holdings of the Kansas Geological Society are going online, all possible due to advancements in scanning and storage technology. Data from the state's southern tier of counties is being tested and should be available to subscribers in the first half of 2003. Phase 1 includes about 30% of the library's data. Anticipation is that the entire collection will be scanned and online within 18 months to two years. The web-based system provides world-wide, 24/7 access. A user is able to define a search and use simple point-and-click operations to pick particular wells and select individual documents associated with the well. Documents can be downloaded or printed. Cost for the effort is currently estimated at $800,000 with nearly $500,000 of that received or pledged so far. For more information, visit the project's website www.rfwgeolibrary.com.

Oxy Permian, one of the largest oil producers in Texas operating more than 6,000 wells in the Permian Basin alone, began installing relays developed by Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories in field environments in 1998. Oxy Permian's driving force was to understand vulnerabilities of their field power systems and to reduce the failures so often experienced during electrical storms. Results from initial installations have prompted Oxy to conduct a system-wide optimization that is 60-70% complete. 

In looking at storm damage, Oxy was initially perplexed by residential power systems not being as vulnerable as oilfield power systems. Using relays, Oxy learned that what caused problems during electrical storms was not lightning, but that the lightning amplified existing problems. The source of the problem was that 99% of the load was induction motors that behave differently from residential load during upsets. Understanding that, they could then take appropriate action.

Electrical submersible pumps (ESPs) are one especially susceptible application. Every ESP shutdown can compromise equipment, potentially reducing pump life. Using Schweitzer's SEL-701 relay and a special panel design, Oxy helped design a system that helps prevent motors from dropping 

off during brownouts or bumps. Eventually, the relay will tell the motor to turn off. Oxy is also planning to install the relay on beam-pumped wells, which would eliminate the load cell that sits on the rod. Eliminating the load cell will eliminate the bulk of the failures because of the fact that load cells on the rod strings frequently separate from the pump-off controller, causing hundreds of failures each year.

Excerpted from "Relays Help Prevent Storm-Generated Power Failures," Oil and Gas Journal, Jan. 13, 2003, p. 48-49. For information about specific relays, visit Schweitzer Engineering's website (www.selinc.com).

New Info Resource for Multilaterals

Estimates vary widely regarding how prevalent multilaterals are, ranging from 10% to 75% of the wells drilled each year depending on the source. A joint-industry project formed in 1997, Technical Advancement of Multilaterals (TAML), is known for its multilateral classification system. TAML believes that multilateral technologies, despite their increasing use, are still not being used to their full potential. So TAML will focus on education for the next several years.

With this new focus, TAML will educate the industry as a whole, from an industry perspective, as opposed to the vendor community perspective. TAML will develop and provide operators and vendors with standardized tender documents for bids. A standardized questionnaire will also allow operators to converse with vendors in language

both sides understand. A selection guide will be another product. The purpose of TAML providing the information is analogous to an operator (a peer) making recommendations versus accepting those of a vendor with admitted bias. 

Technology transfer plans include presentations, reservoir application data and short courses. There will be a strong web presence with a public section of TAML:'s website (http://taml.altinex.no) containing case histories, technology and application updates, links, a bibliography, and more. 

Excerpted from "TAML Refocuses On Educating Industry On Multilaterals," by Guntis Moritis, Oil and Gas Journal, Feb. 10, 2003.

Wellbore Schematics Made EZ

e-VIPR, a webbased software package developed by WellEZ Information Management LLC, enables users to easily generate wellbore schematics. Users log onto the website and select the type of schematic to be constructed from an option page. This launches a drawing tablet with appropriate associated tools and images. Schematics are constructed by selecting an object, which is then dragged onto the drawing tablet where it can be resized and positioned. Once complete, users can print or save as a pdf file. Data is stored on a central server, allowing multiple users to access the schematic. For further information, visit WellEZ's website at www.wellez.com.