Halliburton Says New Connectors Improve Operational Efficiencies

Halliburton's Production Optimization Division has developed the QTC (Quick Torque Connector) system for the remote handling of tubing conveyed perforating (TCP) systems on offshore installations. With these connectors, perforating assemblies can now be picked up by using the existing automatic rig pipe handling system and properly made up using iron roughneck equipment without the need for direct human intervention. This dramatically increases personnel safety and saves time by eliminating assembly of the components on the rig floor.

The QTC system was used for the first time at Statoil's Kristin field in the Haltenbanken area off Norway. It was used in combination with Halliburton's patented G-Force® internal oriented perforating system to perforate the P-3H well. "Our plan is to use the QTC system to perforate at least 6 of the 11 wells in this subsea field, from the Drilling and Completion rig 'Scarabeo V,'" stated Inge Myhre, drilling & completion manager, Statoil. "The experience from this first operation demonstrated improved safety by remote handling of TCP system. The trip time was reduced by more than 4.5 hours or approximately thirty percent using the QTC system."

"By eliminating manual handling of TCP assemblies and with no personnel on the drill floor while running in and pulling out of the hole, our new system creates a much larger zone of safety than was possible before," said Jorunn Saetre, country vice president, Scandinavia, Halliburton Energy Services Group. "Plus, our customers benefit from the economics of reduced rig time with fewer people and equipment to safely execute the operation."

The QTC system is the first of its kind in the industry to satisfy the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate's (NPD) and The Norwegian Oil Industry Association Recommended Guidelines with regards to facilities regulation section 55 and activities regulation section 80 for remote pipe handling.

The QTC system consists of connectors, installed on both ends of each perforating system section, which isolate the explosives independent of each perforating system assembly. The connectors have a common, self-aligning drill pipe thread that allows automatic or manual make-up. The bi-directional ballistics transfer occurs through a steel web, making the system self-contained for increased safety.

Standard perforating procedures specify 100 percent backup of the perforating system (300-600 meters) on location during the Kristin operations. The QTC system addresses this requirement with its self-contained explosive system, thus eliminating the need for complete backup. With the QTC system, only a few redundant perforating assemblies are required on location during perforating operations resulting in improved economic efficiencies provided by this technology.