Comment
February2014
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February
2014
OilfieldTechnology
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3
L
astweekend Iwatched theNFLSuperBowl XLVIII (a latenight
forushere in theUK)where theSeattleSeahawks recorded
adecisivevictory (43-8) over theDenverBroncosat the
MetLifeStadium,NewJersey. The first ever SuperBowl tobeplayed
inanopen-air arena inacoldweather region, criticshad speculated
thatpossiblebadweather, especiallygiven the ‘ArcticChill’
experiencedacrossmuchof theUnitedStates inJanuary,would
disrupt thegame. In reality theweatherwas relativelymild, and theunpredictabilityof this
particularmatchcame from theplayers themselves.
Fromoneoutdoor venue to thenext, thisFebruary theworld’sattentionwill be turning
toSochi, Russia,where theWinterOlympicswill beheld for the first time ina subtropical
climate. By the timeyouare reading this, the skis, skatesandbobsleighswill have set off, and
at the timeof press, RussianPresident VladimirPutin’s confidentpromiseof real snow in the
mountainsof theBlackSeacoastal town, seems tohavecome true. Just incase itdoesn’t last,
theRussianshavebeen stockpiling snowunder insulatedcovers toensure theworld’smost
expensiveWinterGames,witha reportedUS$50billionprice tag, areanastounding success.
Theoil andgas industryknows fullwell the implicationsandaffectsadverseweather can
haveoncritical operations, be it stadiums full of spectatorsor remoteplatforms, FPSOsand
rigs in tornado-prone territories. Asan inventive industry,withbillions invested inR&Dacross
all sectors, it isnowonder that technological aids to the largerproblemofmanvs. naturehave
beendeveloped. Advancedweather forecastingcanhelp safeguardweather sensitiveoperations
with tailored softwareanddecision support systems forademandingoffshore industry. An
exampleof thematurationof thisgrowingancillary servicecanbe found inDNVGL-supported
StormGeo,which recentlyacquiredall outstanding shares inAppliedWeatherTechnology (AWT),
expanding itsofferings for theoffshoreandmaritime industries.
According toAWTCEOHaydnJones, “The twocompanieshavecomplementary strengths:
StormGeo is very strong in theoffshoreoil andgas sector, AWT isabrand leader in routing
andweather-baseddecision support services for commercial shipping.”Through the
continuedcross-pollinationof experience in industry sectors, and theevolutionof oilfield
communications, I expect itwon’tbe longuntil everyoilworker can receivenewsof changing
meteorological conditions viaanappon their smartphone (or throughbuilt-inGoogleGlass in
theirhardhats?).
Of course, as far aspredictiveprops can takeus, sometimes intensiveplanningand
investment are thebest courseof action, suchas constructingbetter-insulatedwinterised rigs
for theArcticand recognising thephysical limitationsof anathlete’sbody inadesert climate.
Fifahasannounced that anongoingconsultation isbeingcarriedoutwith regards to the
2022WorldCup tobeheld inQatar. Traditionallyheldevery four years inJune-July, football’s
governingbody isassessingwhether thesedatesarepractical, given that inQatarduring
the summer thedaytime temperaturecanexceed50˚C (120˚F). Fifa’sGeneral Secretary
JeromeValcke toldmedia that heexpects thematcheswill beplayed in thewinter
instead, but a final decision isexpectedafter the2014WorldCupheld inBrazil. Anexcited
Qatar 2022Supremecommitteehas said they “will be ready tohost theWorldCup regardlessof
theoutcomeof theconsultation.”Just tonote, theaverage temperatures for thewintermonths
in theGulf emirateareequivalent toawarm spring season inEurope. Perhapsamore ideal
condition foroptimumperformance?
Formore insight intohow technology (i.e., PDCcutter technology, fracturinggasesand
coiled tubing) isbooming in theoil andgas industry, readon; and fordailyupdatesdon’t forget
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