Initial Start: MWD/LWD Manufacturers and Suppliers List

Updates on October 28, 2009:
For a complete and updated list, please visit this page.

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It is generally known in the oil and gas industry that the big oilfield service companies like Schlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes and Weatherford are manufacturing their drilling tools by themselves, including MWD/LWD tools. They also conduct their own research and development to find best methods in producing and running the tools. The competition among them is so frightening. So much so, that they won’t allow others to possess their tools by any means.

So now comes a question,

“If I want to start a new (independent) Directional Drilling/MWD/LWD service company, where can I purchase MWD/LWD tools and its spare parts if the big guys won’t allow me to do that ?”

This was the main reason which triggered me to list MWD/LWD manufactures and suppliers in this world. To help people like you who want to start a business in this industry.

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The Future of MWD/LWD

A while ago I have conducted a small question to my fellow members of GE MWD/LWD Professional group on LinkeIn.com. The question asked is like this, “How do you see the future of MWD/LWD?” A simple straightforward question. I have raised this question because of my concern about the impact of global slowdown in the oil and gas industry and world financial crisis recently. And also due to the fact that some of us, Directional Drillers and MWD/LWD Engineers, in the world are sitting at home for over a year now. It surely has been a quite tough time for us.

Below are some comments that would describe the future of MWD/LWD.

The low cost tensor will be a staple. Gamma and resistivity with a directional package will do 90% of any log information required by geology. High cost operations like deep water or experimental wells will utilize the triple and quad combo wireless. ~ Craig Mooney

You will also see more unmanned on site MWD systems, with the rig crew handling the tool on the surface. Data and troubleshooting the systems will be handled at a command center with highly trained specialist monitoring the data from more than one site – possibly three or four. The specialist will cycle through on tours and make decisions on the tool functions. Directional drilling lead operators will also monitor the well’s direction from the command center. Experienced drillers will handle the sliding/rotating duties from the direction of the command center directional drillers, who monitor more than one job. The command centers will be able to remotely make adjustments to the MWD receivers to insure quality data and decoding capabilities. This is a transitional process to insure the proper training of the rig hands, with one MWD/DD person on site. For logging, the gamma data can be received in the command center (off-site) and logs can be generated, stored and broadcast from there. This data with proper authority can be received at the clients office for analysis real-time, by the geologist and drilling engineer, instead of waiting for updates via email on each kelly. This will improve the efficiency of the geo-steering process and involve the drilling and geology departments in a more real-time process. The transition process is the key to the entire process. ~ Kenneth Braud

What would be your own vision on this? Please tell me and share your comments here. Thanks.

Open Source and Drilling Activities?

Yesterday I was triggered by a friend’s question whether it is possible to use or adopt open source application in drilling activities. In spite of the fact that most (perhaps all) of drilling softwares are Windows based and proprietary ones, but I see the potential possibilities. Do you agree with that?

This question is surely kind of waking me up and making my eyes wide open to explore more. In conjunction with this, I would like to ask your favor. Is there someone out there who has working case studies or experience and minds to sharing those with me? Hopefully we could contribute something useful to drilling world.

I am trying to come back soon with some insightful things regarding this matter.

Thank you.

List of MWD/LWD/DD Service Companies

NYT rig on Sukowati

Announcement:

This entry is no longer maintained. From now on, you can find the latest and extensive list on the new Word Directional Drilling Companies Directory set up here. Thank you.

As mentioned before on this entry, I would like to gather as many as possible the information of MWD/LWD/DD service companies in the world. The purpose of this initiative was simple. I would like to set up a small and reliable database you and public can refer to. To ensure all input data correctly displayed, I certainly need your cooperation. If you find something wrong or inappropriate, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I will appreciate if you could point me right to the target of correction and provide me the right information. The list will be updated regularly and time of revision will be displayed correspondingly.

FYI, I am not going to list the major players in the industry, such as Schlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, Weatherford, etc and their subsidiaries. I am focusing more or less on the independent service companies, which are usually small and medium enterprises and operating in limited/specific area. These companies surely need support in publication on what they (can) do and their achievements. I am not going to ask them to pay me for this publication. I do this because I want to, would like to help and see them grow. I wish I could work together with them someday. In case they are interested with me, I am available for hire.

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Initial Plan: MWD/LWD Service Companies List

Rig on nightIf time allows me, I would like to expand my MWD/LWD related stuff by publishing a list of existing MWD/LWD service companies out there. I hope this list could be your guide and lead your path to find the right business partner and the right employer in the future. I will mainly base my list on service companies who utilize the GE / Tensor / Sondex MWD/LWD System. Other systems are also welcome, anyway. So, if your company would like to be listed on my upcoming list, please send me the summary of your company profile, which tools you have and other related information. No charge at all. I am waiting for your submission until the end of this January. However, this time limit can be extended if necessary. Just take your time.

The list structure would be like this:

  • Company name
  • Contact person
  • Full Address
  • Products or services offered
  • MWD/LWD system used
  • Specialties
  • Experiences
  • Operations area 

I am going to publish the list to you and the public, free of charge, when enough data is collected and verified. Stay tuned, then. Meantime, you can also join my GE MWD/LWD group on LinkedIn.

Do you have any comments or suggestions? Please leave your words on the comment form.

Thank you.

(updated on Jan 16, 2009)

Standing Up In The DD/MWD/LWD Industry

* Based on my personal point of view as a field engineer/consultant. Yours might be different.

Due to rapid development and implementation of Directional Drilling/MWD/LWD technology in oil and gas exploration and production, sometimes it is quite difficult for us to keep up and being familiar with all updates. Meanwhile, qualified personnel with the best skills and experience are on high demand. People are continuously asking you for best performance by keeping the efficiencies high and everything must be completed in great speed. Less efforts, great results and huge profits are the business fundamentals here.

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Lumpur Lapindo: Akibat Alam atau Manusia?

Dari awal saya sudah menduga bahwa penyebab utama terjadinya semburan lumpur di Porong, Sidoarjo berasal dari proses pengeboran. Tapi karena saya bukanlah seorang yang ahli di bidang geologi, saya hanya bisa membaca sejumlah analisa dan berusaha menarik kesimpulan dari analisa tersebut. Tentunya banyak sekali versi kronologis ataupun cerita yang beredar di kalangan masyarakat. Mana yang benar? Wallahu’alam. Sampai saat ini masing-masing pihak berusaha mempertahankan posisinya. Apakah penyebabnya adalah gempa atau gunung lumpur seperti yang dilansir oleh pihak Lapindo? Ataukah karena proses pengeboran yang diyakini oleh sejumlah pakar pengeboran? Dua analisa utama ini kemudian dipertemukan dalam sebuah pertemuan American Association of Petroleum Geologists di Cape Town, Afrika Selatan beberapa hari yang lalu. Artikel selengkapnya dapat dibaca di sini, “Mud eruption ’caused by drilling’”. (Tips: Aku Ingin Hijau). Selain itu, berita yang sama juga telah disiarkan sejumlah televisi nasional di Indonesia, salah satunya Liputan 6 SCTV.

Jauh sebelum hal ini disimpulkan oleh para geologis terkemuka, sejumlah ahli Indonesia telah sepakat menyatakan bahwa ini adalah kesalahan dalam proses pengeboran dan menyertakan sejumlah opsi bagaimana menutup sumber lumpur. Tapi kemudian arah penyelesaiannya di tingkat nasional, lebih menekankan bahwa bencana ini disebabkan oleh alam (mud volcano). Penentuan penyebab yang sebenarnya dalam kasus seperti ini sangatlah penting, karena akan membawa konsekuensi hukum, politik, ekonomi dan sosial bagi semua pihak yang terkait di dalamnya, terutama masyarakat yang menjadi korban. Jika ini bencana alam, tentunya kita sudah tahu harus meminta bantuan pada siapa (Pemerintah). Tapi jika ini adalah kesalahan proses pengeboran, maka menurut saya pihak yang melakukan proses itulah yang bertanggung jawab (Lapindo dkk).

Sebagai orang yang juga ikut terlibat langsung dalam aktivitas pengeboran, tentunya peristiwa yang serupa tidak pernah kita inginkan terjadi lagi. Ini adalah pelajaran langsung dan pengalaman sangat berharga yang diberikan alam kepada kita. Unsur kehati-hatian, ketelitian, analisa dan perhitungan yang cermat, mengikuti standar dan prosedur operasi pengeboran yang berlaku dan tidak rakus atau terburu-buru merupakan faktor kunci keselamatan dan keberhasilan. Maka dari itu tolonglah Bapak-bapak dan Ibu-Ibu yang terhormat dicarikan solusi yang terbaik. Jangan lempar batu sembunyi tangan. Masyarakat korban lumpur ini sudah menderita lahir dan batin. Entah bagaimana nasib mereka di masa depan, jika di level atas masih banyak orang memikirkan kepentingannya sendiri. Ingat lho, dua tahun sudah berlalu. Lalu apa yang mereka peroleh sejauh ini? Pemerintah harus bersikap tegas dan tidak pandang bulu dalam menyelesaikan persoalan besar ini. Ataukah pandangan Bapak Faisal Basri dan Bapak Wimar Witoelar ada benarnya? Wallahu’alam. Mari kita berharap akhir cerita yang mengutamakan kepentingan nasional dan kesejahteraan masyarakat. Amin.

Berikut sejumlah sumber bacaan yang dapat memberikan pemahaman jelas pada kita apa yang sebenarnya terjadi di Porong, Sidoarjo dari mata sejumlah ahli perminyakan Indonesia. Tentunya, masih banyak sumber-sumber serupa dapat anda cari sendiri melalui Google.

* Gambar diambil dari sini.

Update @ 4 November:

Koleksi foto lumpur Lapindo yang diambil sewaktu saya dan teman-teman berkunjung ke lokasi tahun lalu dapat dilihat di sini.