Patents for inventions in the Russian oil and gas sector: an analysis of the knowledge database complexity

The authors have analyzed invention patents in the Russian oil and gas sector (OGS) based on a knowledge database complexity index they designed for this purpose. The index takes into account the subclasses and sections of international patent classification (IPC) used in the patents. It has been demonstrated that opportunities for creating breakthrough technologies and radical innovations mostly arise within giant multinational oil and gas field service companies (e.g. Halliburton, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes). At the same time, Russian oil and service companies are noticeably lagging behind the foreign players and Russian actors in the sphere of science and education. The conducted analysis of the sectoral knowledge database revealed several significant risks for the development of the Russian OGS along the innovative trajectory. The risks (relative to the invention patents) arise from inadequate opportunities for creating breakthrough technologies.

Digital twin of the management process of field service teams of an electric grid company

Modern electric grid companies are focused on minimum economically feasible costs and are aimed at improving the efficiency of financial and economic activities through the rational use of resources. The digital twin structure is proposed for the management of field service teams in the event of accidents and technological failures in an electric grid company. The digital twin includes an agent model, a system dynamics model, a geographic information system component, and modules with experiments. The description of the simulation model of management of field service teams in the event of accidents and technological failures is formalized, the input and output information on the model components is highlighted, the information is structured, and the scheme of the system dynamics model is created. Experiment designs for the digital twin of the management of field service teams in the event of accidents and technological failures in order to determine the best reliability and cost indicators are developed. The developed approach can be used to create digital twins of the management process of field service teams in the event of accidents and technological failures for various electric grid companies by selecting the parameters of simulation models according to the statistical reports by electric grid companies and connecting the appropriate GIS modules.

Sustaining Remote Operations Adoption Post Pandemic: A Major Key to a Net Zero Future

The North Sea has always been a pioneer for the adoption of remote operations services (ROS) in offshore drilling applications. Drilling services such as Measurement While Drilling (MWD), Logging While Drilling (LWD) and/or mud logging (ML) have been performed with an element of ROS for over the last two decades. Early adoption of these remote services delivered initial benefits to operators such as reducing HSE risks related to the travel and accommodation of field service employees at offshore rig sites. Meanwhile service companies were able to explore the added efficiencies gained by having multi-skilled employees providing a higher level of support to customers while also gaining additional agility to manage their personnel through tighter market cycles. The mutual benefit of this early adoption created a solid foundation for ROS to expand the scope of influence in drilling operations to include Directional Drilling (DD). Despite the maturity of ROS within a select community of operators in the North Sea, the industry standard for service delivery in offshore operations has continued to require field service employees to perform DD, MWD, and LWD services at rig sites until this past year. With the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, operators and service companies were quickly and abruptly confronted with the challenges of new HSE regulations, travel restrictions, and increased financial scrutiny. ROS presented a tailored solution to not only sustain business continuity but also create added efficiency, consistency, and risk management. Over the course of 2020, adoption of ROS rapidly accelerated across offshore operations in the North Sea and reached up to 100% penetration in key sectors. This tremendous achievement has made a significant impact on project performance and HSE efficiencies by ensuring on time service delivery while reducing personnel on board (POB). In addition, as more operators and services companies explore ways of reducing their carbon footprints and achieving a net zero future, ROS has proven to be a way to significantly reduce carbon emissions associated with transportation and utilities of offshore personnel. This paper discusses the methods that enabled a record high adoption rate for ROS and explores the critical components of its success. It illustrates the management of change in service delivery processes, the introduction of new technology to unlock greater productivity and synergies, and the new approach to design the core competencies needed to support ROS. It also describes the need for flexible ROS service models to meet the specific project needs of various operators. The paper concludes with the numerous benefits realized through ROS such as improved performance and consistently reliable service delivery. The paper also examines the resulting carbon emission reduction, how to quantify it, and the role ROS plays in achieving a net zero emissions future.

Qualification and In-Service Performance of an Additively Manufactured Oilfield Pump Impeller

This article will outline the development, qualification, and in-field service trial of an additively manufactured 316 stainless steel pump impeller in chloride-containing water service for approximately 9 months. The pump impeller was manufactured by a hybrid directed energy deposition (DED) process. The novel process combines 5-axis DED and machining in one setup which brings significant reductions in lead time and other flexibility when compared to conventional manufacturing methods. Further benefits and challenges will be outlined. Qualification test results including mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and select micrographs of the material will be shown. A post-service analysis of the performance of the component is also provided. Discussion of the applicability of 3D printing to end users, creating value in rapid component delivery and innovation, is included. A forward-looking assessment of the next steps for impeller design and manufacturing with additive manufacturing is also included.

Open access to regional geoid models: the International Service for the Geoid

The International Service for the Geoid (ISG, https://www.isgeoid.polimi.it/, last access: 31 March 2021) provides free access to a dedicated and comprehensive repository of geoid models through its website. In the archive, both the latest releases of the most important and well-known geoid models, as well as less recent or less known ones, are freely available, giving to the users a wide range of possible applications to perform analyses on the evolution of the geoid computation research field. The ISG is an official service of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), under the umbrella of the International Gravity Field Service (IGFS). Its main tasks are collecting, analysing, and redistributing local, regional, and continental geoid models and providing technical support to people involved in geoid-related topics for both educational and research purposes. In the framework of its activities, the ISG performs research taking advantage of its archive and organizes seminars and specific training courses on geoid determination, supporting students and researchers in geodesy as well as distributing training material on the use of the most common algorithms for geoid estimation. This paper aims at describing the data and services, including the newly implemented DOI Service for geoid models (https://dataservices.gfz-potsdam.de/portal/?fq=subject:isg, last access: 31 March 2021), and showing the added value of the ISG archive of geoid models for the scientific community and technicians, like engineers and surveyors (https://www.isgeoid.polimi.it/Geoid/reg_list.html, last access: 31 March 2021).