194 Summer 2018 4 6 9 12

194 SUMMER 2018 4 6 9 12 TEC-LOCK™ DRILLING APPLIED PERMIAN ULTRASONIC TOOLS WINS TECHNOLOGY WASHING Introducing TEC-LOCK, the new family of semi- An encouraging update Hunting technologies have The Subsea Technologies premium connectors which from the Drilling Tools team been geared towards the team responds creatively is suited to the increasingly in Conroe, Texas where rapid growth of onshore to a customer challenge. demanding needs of the significant efficiencies US production from shale. onshore operator. have been achieved. 14 17 20 22 HOLLANDAISE COLLABORATIVE CLEARING UP OUR HUNTING LEARNING AND COMMUNITY Focusing on the company’s At Sam Houston INNOVATION Dutch Well Testing Parkway, the business Taking a look at just some capability and expanded Celebrating the annual upholds its reputation by of the many activities and offering following a technical forum for looking at every step in events Hunting employees successful co-location. sharing good ideas its business process. are participating in around among the company’s the world. Asia Pacific facilities. Hunting Review the external house magazine of Hunting PLC 5 Hanover Square, London W1S 1HQ, UK | [email protected] Edited by Georgia Pickering, CMS Strategic [email protected] Design: www.plaindesign.co.uk Print: www.healeys-printers.co.uk 2 HUNTING REVIEW 194 Cover: Union Jack flags hang in Regent Street in preperation for the royal wedding Common values “We continue to pursue collaboration as a means to meet the needs of our customers, encourage our co-workers, enhance value in our products and to develop new technologies. We do this by sharing ideas, promoting opportunities and breaking down the barriers to innovation. Teamwork has historically been essential to the development of our company and helps feed the culture that allows creativity to thrive. That is why it is so reassuring to read in this issue of the many ways by which collaboration has made a tangible difference and why it’s continued pursuit is so critical” Jim Johnson, Chief Executive Officer 3 TEC- LOCK™ The launch of Hunting’s new TEC- LOCK semi-premium connections provides new technology that addresses the specific requirements of the growing US onshore shale industry at a lower cost The steady expansion of unconventional oil and gas production in the US led TEC-LOCK™ Wedge to the need for technology that could enables its operators to support faster operations and greater extended reach, thereby reducing costs. achieve longer laterals In response to this, Hunting’s Connection without using costly Technology team developed a semi- premium family of connections, branded premium connections TEC-LOCK. The TEC-LOCK family of threads consists of TEC-LOCK BTC, TEC- LOCK BTC-S and TEC-LOCK Wedge. 4 HUNTING REVIEW 194 Pictured from l to r: TEC-LOCK BTC, BTC-S and Wedge Growing demand for increased lengths power-tight, thereby reducing the overall fatigue testing to establish the robustness in a lateral wellbore puts a high bending, rig time spent and ultimately enabling of the technology in a range of high torsional and compressive load on each significant cost-savings for the operator. pressure applications like drilling, reaming connection used in every well. Hunting’s or rotating during cementing operations. portfolio of premium connection threads, To prove the concept, Hunting’s engineering specifically TEC-LOCK Wedge, was team began rigorous testing of the TEC- Having successfully passed this round designed to meet these strenuous LOCK Wedge to validate the performance of testing, the TEC-LOCK Wedge is now operational requirements. The ‘Wedge’ against customers’ demands. This available to the market, offering the next thread profile provides the operator with included extensive make and break tests generation in semi-premium connection full pipe body compression performance when the connection is set to power-tight technology. TEC-LOCK Wedge enables its and torque ratings unmatched in the position and then broken back apart by operators to achieve longer laterals without industry. It also takes advantage of integral un-torqueing and unthreading it. To ensure using costly premium connections. It also connection design, eliminating the need that the connection was gas tight for use reduces the risk of over torquing during for a coupling while maintaining an outside in such wells, the TEC-LOCK connection the make-up process on the rig floor, while diameter profile less than an API coupling. was then tested for gas-seal ability. This cost savings are also augmented by the To reduce make-up time on the rig while was completed using a combined load test quicker make-up time and the absence running the connection, the design and Hunting’s SealLube thread compound. of a need for additional couplings. allows a quarter turn from hand-tight to Finally, the connection was submitted for 5 Drilling Tools wins 6 HUNTING REVIEW 194 Achieving Continuous Improvement goals requires widespread collaboration and cooperation across our teams This is exemplified at the Drilling Tools The nature of the Drilling Tools service facility in Conroe, Texas. Following a cycle is fast paced - when an order is sharp downturn in the market, the team received, the process must move quickly was tasked with maintaining capability to ensure that customer expectations are to reflect the reduced order flow. It was met. Furthermore, the team must also just as important, however, to keep be prepared for unexpected changes momentum and capacity at such a to orders and be able to respond to level that the team would be able to customers’ special requests in order respond to future uptick in demand. to stay competitive. This focus on customer satisfaction was central to the To achieve this, the team deployed a Drilling Tools division’s CI programme. series of Kaizen events with specific goals in process improvement and waste Upholding stringent safety standards while minimisation. This included 5-S “just do it” making operational changes remained of projects from Machine Shop CNC upgrades primary importance. Loading equipment and associated operational equipment on to trucks and moving large Mud Motor renewal. These alone have significantly sections requires a high level of vigilance increased efficiency and decreased waste and the team continued to observe rules through the period of reduced business. regarding Personal Protection Equipment and behaviour in critical areas. 7 NEW PRESSURE • Sand blasting all equipment / year. A substantial reduction in cost Recent US activity in the shale plays prep and paint. is forecast alongside an increase in has introduced new challenges for the • Fab pack building tool organiser. production capability of 50 per cent. industry. This has led to a requirement for • Outline and label pack / building areas. a better lower-end drilling assembly to • 5S support tables for pack builds. FURTHER BENEFITS AND IMPACT withstand the harsh drilling environment The completion of the final Kaizen event of the Permian Basin in West Texas. 4. Tool handling capability needed saw the addition of a breakout machine, The Hunting Drilling Tools team was well to increase flow and velocity installation of a new overhead jib, placed to respond to this demand, which during assembly / disassembly: movement of two pack and build areas, included the design and manufacture • Installation of three half ton jibs. and fine-tuning the work flow for QA of 8” and 5” Mud Lube lower ends, inspections of motors. This part of the with additional supporting parts. 5. New wash area to increase programme is expected to increase build workflow after disassembly: capability by 100 per cent while reducing The delivery of this project was broken • Procurement of new wash carts pack building time by 30 per cent. down into successive Kaizen initiatives. to move rotors and parts, improve The simple aim was to raise efficiency flow and reduce use of overhead The installation of new drain, trench and in every area and increase the capability cranes (relieve bottle necks). walling now enclosing the wash bay and velocity of the work flow through • New water system to reduce area reduces the time for cleaning Mud the Conroe facility. A series of 5-S environmental impacts and Motors and downtime for repairs and projects in eight focus areas included: increase wash capability. blockages. It has increased capacity by • Construction of new walls and drains for 25 per cent and substantial costs are 1. Re-align inventory to meet demand: water containment with environmental saved per unit cleaned. The new water • Sort and package any partially controls and safety considerations to treatment system cuts the bi-monthly used seals and rings. keep water separate from electricity. sump cleanout costs and lowers the risk of • Order additional rings / seals to leakage. Modern, brighter lighting improves build back inventory levels. A WINNING PROJECT safety and the working environment. The Drilling Tools team was able to 2. Inventory flow and improvements significantly reduce the operating costs The team at Conroe has achieved to support new product lines: and increase production capacity for the remarkable system efficiencies in every • New inventory carts needed and customer with the introduction of 22 new 8” area while reducing waste and overall cost issue methods improved. Mud Motor lower ends to the drilling motor in response to customer demand. fleet. For this model operating costs were 3. A capacity constraint was reduced by 30 per

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