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COMPANIES

Images from Schlumberger.

density of drilling ? uids, where it functions to con? ne high hydro-

Going for barite static pressures due to oil, gas and water released by drilling and

For many, mining is a dying, if not already dead, industry in the thus prevents blowouts. The ? rm says there’s no substitute that

UK. Yet, a new mine could be opened in 2018 to serve the oil could be used.

industry. M-I SWACO, a Schlumberger company, is hoping to M-I SWACO currently operates a barite mine at Foss, also near nearly quadruple its Scottish barite (Barium Sulphate) production Aberfeldy. It has been in production since 1985 and produces through the proposed new underground mine in the Perthshire 42,000-tonne a year. hills, Scotland. From Foss, the barite is transported to M-I SWACO’s opera-

If the plans for the mine, at Duntanlich, near Aberfeldy, tions in Aberdeen. Once milled there, it is dispatched by ship near the famous picturesque “Queen’s View,” are approved, directly from Pocra Quay to North Sea oil and gas platforms.

M-I SWACO could add 120,000-tonne of barite annually to its Barite is also shipped from Perth Harbour to a mill at Great production from the 7.5 million-tonne deposit, according to the Yarmouth.

company’s Project Plan Document. M-I SWACO says the deposit Duntanlich would be expected to operate for about 50 years, is a simple sub vertical, thick structure, of proven high quality, says the company A decision on the plans for the mine is due to which would lend itself to mechanized mining methods. be made by early September.

Barite acts primarily as a weighting agent to increase the –Elaine Maslin

Tenaris opens Thai center

Chevron improve operation reliability detection, MPD, dual gradient drilling

Tenaris has opened its ? rst service and ef? ciency while reducing the total and continuous circulation.

center in Thailand in order to serve cost of operation.

Wood Group, Librestream agree

Chevron.

AFGlobal to acquire to collaboration

From Songkhla, an harbor on the Gulf

MHWirth subsidiary of Thailand, Tenaris will supply the Wood Group and Canadian technology major OCTG and Rig Direct services. Houston-based AFGlobal has agreed to company Librestream Technologies

Tenaris will provide 80,000-ton of acquire Managed Pressure Operations have formed a collaboration to provide chrome and carbon casing and tubing, (MPO), a subsidiary of MHWirth. The solutions for operations, maintenance, along with TenarisHydril premium resulting combination of companies will and integrity challenges in the oil and connections. offer technologies covering both onshore gas sector. The solutions will combine

As part of Tenaris’ Rig Direct service and offshore applications, including Wood Group’s industry knowledge with model, the Songhkla service center will deepwater managed pressure drilling Librestream’s real-time virtual video provide complete pipe management (MPD). collaboration digital application. services, including demand planning The new business group within Under the partnership, Wood Group and inventory management, preparation AFGlobal’s oil and gas segment will be and Librestream will also co-develop for running offshore, PipeTracer pipe known as Advanced Drilling Systems. a number of discrete new technologies by pipe identi? cation, and net invoic- The complete portfolio will include riser designed to reduce the time for problem ing. These services are designed to help gas management systems, early kick/loss solving and associated implementation,

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