Paradigm launches new miniature coiled tubing system

Paradigm Flow Services, the blockage removal experts for the oil and gas sector, has launched Flexi-Coil Extended Reach to take riser and flowline blockage remediation and internal inspection to new lengths. The company is now calling on North Sea oil and gas operators to collaborate on trailblazing applications for the technology.

Conventional methods for remediating riser and flowline blockages are limited due to deployment difficulties and inability to overcome bends and safely navigate beyond 200 m. Flexi-Coil Extended Reach has been proven in tests up to 2000 m. As the technology continues to be enhanced, Paradigm is positive of its potential to tackle more than double that distance to 4000 m. The firm is currently undertaking major projects with an international operator in West Africa.

The system, based on miniaturised coiled tubing principals, can be deployed in-situ into risers and flowlines and currently provides the only safe solution to unblock these lines when working from an FPSO. The innovative system can carry out high pressure jetting, chemical and nitrogen injection over long distances, to de-sand, de-wax and de-pressurise hydrate plugs.

The industry can save operators tens of millions of pounds and solve blockage and restriction issues within a few days. Lines that may have been shut in for months or years can be remediated, restoring flow and enhancing oil recovery.

Rob Bain, Managing Director of Paradigm Flow Services, said: “Flexi-Coil Extended Reach is game changing, taking proven coiled tubing technology and adapting it in a way that makes it applicable and viable for the remediation of production systems. The only other option at the moment is to disconnect risers and bring another rig on site to carry out conventional coiled tubing. The safety and logistical implications have rendered this option redundant.

"Tanks" For The Memories

In addition, the new tanker boasts updated equipment like a hydraulic drop tank holder and aluminum drop tank that allow water supply to be set up more efficiently and with fewer people. Capt. Zachary Tiezzi explained that the current tanker's drop tank has a manually-operated rack and constructed of heavy steel that weighs more than 250 pounds. The drop tank itself weighs upwards of 200 pounds. "The hydraulics on the new tanker will make bringing the rack down effortless and the new aluminum drop tank weighs only about 70 pounds," Tiezzi said. "It will pretty much allow one person to set it up versus three people." Quick water-dumping capability is critical in rural areas like Haddam that are not primarily served by a municipal, hydrant-based water supply. "As a rural department, we depend on tankers to supply water for most firefighting operations," said Haddam Fire Chief Sam Baber. "This new tanker will be an asset not only to our community but to surrounding towns we have mutual aid agreements with as well." The new 2-13 is a road warrior that boasts a high center of gravity and strong, stable frame. The narrow and dramatically sloped hood of the T800 presents a considerable sight advantage over the old tanker. The new rig has outstanding visibility in front of the truck and over the right hand side, views that challenge drivers of most conventional trucks. As with the old tanker, the new one willy carry hard suction hoses for drafting water and carry the same drafting equipment and tools, and two lengths of 1-3/4" hose and one 2-1/2" hose pre-connected for easy deployment. The new tanker also has safety features like an electric dump chute. A driver no longer has to exit the tanker to dump water on busy roadways. In addition, rear video camera and more scene lighting equipment help prevent backing up accidents. Environmentally friendly features on the Cummins ISX diesel engine include a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology to maximize efficiency and lower emissions. By the rear dump chute is a plaque dedicated to John Bertolini, who died in 1987. Bertolini, a 22-year veteran of the Fire Company, was president of the Fire Department's Board of Directors and organized the Haddam Junior Volunteer Fire Corps in 1973. This plaque also appeared on the old 2-13.

Here is how WV residents can flush their water lines

West Virginia American Water Co. today released detailed procedures for residents to use when flushing their household water system. The company stressed that the procedure is not to be followed until residents are certain the "Do Not Use" order has been lifted for their address. The procedure calls for first flushing all hot-water taps simultaneously for 15 minutes, then turning the hot-water taps off. According to West Virginia American Water, "After you have flushed each hot water faucet for 15 minutes, your hot water heater will be safe for use." However, Jerry Hilbert, owner of Jerry Hilbert Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning in fuel hose suppliers Charleston, said he would prefer to flush hot-water taps for 45 minutes, "at least on the hot-water tank side because you may have some sediment on the bottom. You want to stir that up and get it out." He went on to suggest turning the gas down to the pilot light on natural gas-fired water tanks or turning the electricity off on electric tanks "so you're not wasting gas or electricity when you're dumping that water out. You just have to turn the gas back up or turn the breaker back on" when finished. The second step in West Virginia American's procedure is to flush all cold-water taps High Temperature hoses suppliers simultaneously for 5 minutes, then turning them off. Hilbert said that in his opinion, instead of flushing cold-water taps for 5 minutes, "30 minutes might be fine." The third step in West Virginia American's procedure is to flush all remaining faucets, appliances and fixtures such as hose bibs, for at least 5 minutes. Some equipment requires additional attention. The water company said after the household water system is flushed, water filters need to be replaced. Filters may be found in several locations, such as on the water line that serves a refrigerator or an ice maker. Ice makers should be emptied and the filter replaced after flushing. Dishes and clothes that were washed during the "Do Not Use" order should be re-washed, the water company said. After the hot water pipes and water heater have been flushed, the dishwasher and washing machine should be run empty one time. Homes may be equipped with other devices, such was water softeners or humidifiers, that also need special attention. Hilbert said he has been called many times over the years to flush residential water systems following water line breaks.

Duel blazes split efforts of Conway firefighters

As he rode in a tanker with his fellow firefighters, Deputy Fire Chief Adam Baker saw a column of black smoke cut through the evening sky from three miles away. With four team members by his side, Baker was headed straight for the smoke, where a double-wide trailer on Main Poland Road was quickly going up in flames. Baker was one of nine Conway firefighters who had just spent an hour and a half assisting their Ashfield counterparts at a log cabin fire on Briar Hill Road last Friday. By 4 p.m., as the Conway firefighters rushed to suppress a fire in their own town, it had already been a long day. Earlier that cold afternoon, at 2:20 p.m., the volunteers had been dispatched to provide mutual aid for the Ashfield Fire Department with a fire engine and a tanker. While the crew headed north, they called for Sunderland Fire Department to provide coverage at the Conway firehouse. Once the Conway team arrived at Briar Hill Road, they met up with Ashfield Fire Capt. Matt Haskins, who was leading a team attacking the log cabin fire. Ninety minutes later, an alarm went off in Conway for another fire engulfing a double-wide mobile home, camper and van. The Conway team’s radios were channeled into a regional tower and the call wasn’t reaching them. As they worked to control the flames in Ashfield, Greenfield Fire Chief Robert Strahan, who was also on scene, told Baker to call dispatch. There was a working structure fire in Conway. The Conway firefighters were torn. The Ashfield and Conway fire departments are each other’s number one partners. The Conway firefighters were reluctant to abandon their Ashfield partners. Ashfield Fire Chief Del Haskins told the Conway firefighters they could leave to assist in their own town, where other mutual aid departments were already headed, according to Baker. The Conway firefighters jumped in their tanker and headed back home. Sunderland firefighters covering the Conway station were the first ones to respond, Baker recalled. While in Ashfield, Baker had assumed a regular firefighter role, but now back in his community he switched roles to operations manager on Main Poland Road. Herrmann, the Bensons and Vanderheld, on the other hand, continued in their role of directly fighting the fire. “We had the same role. We just changed location,” said Herrmann, a member of the force for 10 years. It was Ms. Benson’s first major structure fire. The 19-year-old had already been training for five years. But she has only been active for one year. Firefighters have to be 18 to give full support. Vanderheld is a veteran of the force, serving 13 years.

A driver for Simple Energy

In Vermont, the state is available by calling 211 to help with housing needs during “cold weather exceptions,” which is when temperatures or wind chill are less than 20 degrees or when temperatures are less than 32 degrees and there is a more than 50 percent chance of precipitation. The state can put people in hotels, but Kobylenski said that due to state budget cuts, the state is turning away more people than it did last year, which means those people then often arrive at the Haven. The Haven tries to exhaust other housing possibilities, such staying with a relative or friend, but will provide hotel vouchers if there are no other options. Kobylenski said she hopes the warming shelter would decrease the number of hotel vouchers that are currently needed and encourage people to come inside who might not currently be asking for help. Wednesday afternoon, large stacks of water softener and bags of salt were covered with snow and lined the front sidewalk leading up to LaValley Building Supply. A green and red sign also advertised wood pellets, but LaValley has been running low on the stove fuel this winter. Because of the high demand for pellets, LaValley’s supplier hasn’t been able to keep up a supply. On Dec. 19, LaValley had a waiting list for 40 tons of wood pellets. Last week, 25 tons were delivered, but all of that supply went directly to people who were already on the waiting list. Currently, LaValley has 24 tons on a waiting list. Assistant manager John Jackman said he hopes to get another supply within three weeks.“I think this year there is just a lot more people who put in a pellet heating system, and we weren’t expecting the demand,” general manager Lucas Seaver said. “In the past, oil, propane and electric have gone up in price, but pellets have stayed pretty stable.” The Dartmouth Skiway is also taking precautions because of the cold temperatures and will be closed today. The facility will use the time to repair the Winslow lift, which was closed a little after noon on Thursday so the hydraulic ram could be repaired. When temperatures get extremely cold, the skiway sees fewer skiers, said Doug Holler, general manager, and safety of skiers and staff becomes a concern. The hydraulic ram that needs repair controls the tension of the wire cable that carries lifts and skiers up the mountain. But Holler said the lift is still functional and there was no risk to safety.“We just want to take advantage of it before (the lift) fails at an untimely time,” Holler said. The cold weather also causes heating companies like Simple Energy in West Lebanon to see a spike in calls. Whenever the temperature drops to below 10 degrees, the company’s call volume can double, service manager Gordon Cruz said. Like many heating companies, managers are always on call to respond to customer’s requests, and Cruz said he often receives emergency calls for frozen pipes, low fuel levels and insufficient heat or no heat. When temperatures drop, furnaces have to work extra hard to heat a home, causing the volume of fuel being used to increase. Cruz said it’s important for homeowners to check their fuel levels on a regular basis and when temperatures are dropping. A home could go from having a quarter of a tank to a dangerously low level very quickly.

Army seeks greater Pacific role

Approaching from the Hawaii coast, the mosquito-shaped helicopter buzzed around this guided missile cruiser twice before swooping toward the landing pad. The Navy crew on the deck crouched, the helmeted faces betraying more than routine concern as the aircraft, flown by a pilot who had never before alighted upon a ship, hovered a foot off the tarmac and then set down with a thud. The sailors' trepidation was prompted by three words painted in black block letters on the drab olive fuselage: United States Army. The Army, which fights on terra firma, does not usually land its helicopters on ships — the domain of the Navy and the Marine Corps — but these are not usual times in the U.S. military. As the Obama administration winds down the Army-centric war in Afghanistan, Pentagon leaders are seeking to place the Air Force, Navy and Marines in dominant roles to counter threats in the Asia-Pacific region, which they China High Temperature hoses manufacturers have deemed to be the nation's next big national security challenge. Fearful that the new strategy will cut its share of the defense budget, the Army is launching an ambitious campaign to transform itself and assert its relevance in the Pacific. And that, in turn, is drawing the Army into a fight. Calculating that there are only slim chances of the Army fighting a big land war anywhere in the Far East other than the Korean Peninsula, the new top Army commander in the Pacific, Gen. Vincent Brooks, wants his forces to more quickly and effectively respond to small conflicts, isolated acts of aggression and natural disasters. Doing so, however, has traditionally been a challenge for the Army, which bases most of its soldiers assigned to the Orient in Hawaii, Alaska and Washington state. To overcome what he calls "the tyranny of distance," Brooks is trying to make his forces more maritime and expeditionary. To cut travel time and increase regional familiarity, he is seeking authorization to send key Low Temperature hoses suppliers elements of a U.S.-based infantry brigade to Asia and keep them there for months at a time, moving every few weeks to different nations to conduct training exercises. The rotating deployment, which amounts to the first proposed increase in U.S. forces in Asia in years, could enable the Army to move more speedily to address humanitarian crises and security threats. Brooks said he wants "a capable force that can respond to a variety of contingencies" — rapidly. "Forces that are already in motion have an advantage in responding," he said. The initiative, which Brooks is calling "Pacific Pathways," is also an opportunity to recast the Army's image in Washington, yielding television images of soldiers — not just Marines and sailors — responding to typhoons and cyclones. "We can no longer afford to build [combat] units and put them on a shelf to be used only in the event of war," Brooks's command wrote in an internal planning document.

Aiming to Repeat Hybrid Success

When Toyota Motor Corp. rolled out its hybrid Prius in 1997, few predicted it would become the success it is today. It was too expensive, too small and debuted at a time when gasoline prices weren't so high. In its first year, Toyota only sold 300 Priuses. In the following six years, annual global sales were also modest, at just 15,200 to 43,200 units. But now, thanks to environmentally conscious motorists reeling from high gasoline prices, the Prius has become a major global brand. If the Japanese auto industry can capture lightning in a bottle again with a new generation of fuel-economy cars, the country should safely be able to keep its lead in the automobile industry for at least a decade or two. With an eye on such a goal, Japan plans to spend more on initiatives for fuel-cell cars that run on hydrogen and emit only water. The government said Tuesday it will earmark 7.2 billion ($69 million) to subsidize the building of hydrogen fueling stations in the next fiscal year starting April. It also will invest 6.4 billion in research to help lower fuel-cell production costs. Besides spending, a government-appointed committee is now drawing up a plan to foster the adoption of fuel-cell technologies through 2030. The committee consists of corporate and academic experts from an range of sectors, from Toshiba Corp. to Tokyo Gas Co. Beyond the implications for hybrid cars, Japan eventually wants something bigger. Hydrogen fuel can be produced in various ways, including from coal, oil, natural gas and biomass. But if conventional fuels are used to produce hydrogen, it loses its environmental advantage. The government hopes to eventually produce hydrogen from water using electricity from hydro, wind, solar and geothermal energy. "It's not going to happen any time soon. At first, we'll use the byproduct of hydrogen from oil refineries and chemical plants," said Masami Hihara, deputy director of the industry ministry's Smart Community Policy Office. "But we should be prepared for when demand takes off, or we wouldn't see any innovations," he said. A project to produce hydrogen from low-grade coal in Australia has been proposed with the resulting CO2 captured and stored underground, Mr. Hihara said. A local government in Russia has approached Japan with a project to use their abundant hydro-power to produce hydrogen fuel, he added. Both Toyota and Honda have announced plans to roll out fuel-cell cars for the commercial market in 2015, making these companies some of the first car makers to do so. The Association of Hydrogen Supply/Utilization Technology, an industry body made up of oil refiners, gas utilities, gasoline station operators and plant makers, has been working toward building 100 hydrogen refueling stations by 2015. Currently, there are about a dozen in Japan. Other countries have also been working toward a dominant position in fuel-cell technologies. In California, auto manufacturers, energy providers, government agencies and fuel-cell technology companies have formed an organization and recommended 68 hydrogen refueling stations be built to establish a commercial market, and at least 100 stations to sustain it. In September, California committed up to $20 million a year until 2024 for at least 100 stations.