The Hummingbird all-electric land cementing unit. (Image source: Baker Hughes)

With emissions reduction and efficiency gains at the top of the agenda for oil and gas companies, Baker Hughes has launched three new electrification technologies for onshore and offshore operations at its 25th Annual Meeting in Florence, Italy

The Hummingbird all-electric land cementing unit is a 100% electric solution that replaces diesel engines with grid-connected or battery-powered motors. The Hummingbird’s dual-power functionality performs onshore cementing operations with lower emissions and noise levels compared to traditional solutions.

The use of electronic, rather than hydraulic components, results in lower maintenance costs and requirements while enhancing reliability in the field. Hummingbird is designed to operate in high-pressure situations and is equipped with monitoring and control systems that provide enhanced cement job control and consistency across applications.

Part of Baker Hughes’ intelligent completions portfolio, SureCONTROL Plus interval control valves (ICV) enable electrical remote operations for more efficient zonal control of both subsea and dry tree wells. These ICVs replace numerous hydraulic lines with a single electrical line, simplifying complex installations, reducing rig time and accelerating production while limiting the need for costly interventions.

SureCONTROL Plus can control a higher number of zones than traditional hydraulic ICVs for enhanced production. The digital telemetry system provides continuous data, which enables improved asset performance management and proactive maintenance of downhole tools.

Baker Hughes also announced its new all-electric subsea production system, a fully electric topside-to-downhole solution for offshore operations. This modular system allows for existing tree designs to be seamlessly updated for electric operations, while electro-hydraulic trees currently operating in mature assets can be retrofitted for full electrification. This transition will result in enhanced production control, increased reliability and lower carbon emissions throughout the life of the field. The elimination of hydraulics will also result in reduced cost, time and complexity of subsea installations.

The all-electric subsea production system is designed for shallow and deep-water developments, making it ideal for subsea carbon capture, utilisation and storage fields as well as long offset tieback applications.
“Hydrocarbons will remain key sources of global energy for decades, and it is essential that these resources are produced with minimal carbon footprint,” said Amerino Gatti, executive vice president, Oilfield Services & Equipment at Baker Hughes. “By electrifying the production value chain, we can enhance operations to be cleaner, safer and more efficient, while continuing to supply the energy required worldwide.”

Oil and gas companies are increasingly looking at electrification as a means to reduce carbon footprint. Electrification is a key plank of ADNOC’s decarbonisation strategy, for example, in the drive for net-zero emissions by 2045. Since January 2022, ADNOC has received 100% of its grid power supply from Emirates Water and Electricity Company’s (EWEC) nuclear and solar energy sources. The NOC is also constructing a US$3.8bn sub-sea transmission network, connecting ADNOC’s offshore operations to the onshore power network and displacing gas turbine generation, with the potential to reduce ADNOC’s offshore carbon footprint by up to 50%.

MARGARITA KONGAWOIN, global business development manager (Software & HPC) at DUG Technology. (Image source: DUG)

MARGARITA KONGAWOIN, global business development manager (Software & HPC) of DUG Technology, discusses DUG Insight, the company’s modern software solution for all things seismic, and its role in the Middle East

Can you give us a little background on DUG Insight and its role?

DUG Insight is our complete solution for interpretation, visualisation, 2D/3D/pre-stack/time-lapse amplitude analysis and rock-property inversion, advanced seismic-data time-processing and depth-imaging, and full waveform inversion (FWI). It includes our revolutionary elastic multi-parameter FWI imaging technology – a complete replacement for the traditional seismic processing, imaging and QI workflow.

For over 20 years DUG has been dedicated to solving geoscience challenges through innovation, with software and R&D at the heart of our journey. In the early days, limited capital motivated us to be resourceful – so we wrote our own seismic processing and interpretation software for internal use. Clients saw it, loved it, wanted it, and so DUG Insight was born! We’ve been licensing it since 2009, and today it’s used in 35 countries. Importantly, our geoscientists rely on it daily, which is key to its success – our clients benefit from the same high-end technology we developed for ourselves!

What benefits does DUG Insight offer in terms of functionality and flexibility?

Modern interpretation workflows need modern software. Insight is built on DUG’s core principles for technology: reliability, efficiency, scalability and ease-of-use. It provides best-in-class functionality and support for our clients, spanning collaborative cloud and on-premises solutions. Hardware and IT should be invisible to users – so they can focus entirely on geoscience. Featuring an intuitive, interactive interface, Insight automates labour-intensive tasks and enables a seamless, productive user experience, while encapsulating project configuration and operation within a consistent workspace.

With flexible licensing and leasing, including maintenance and upgrades, Insight is backed by responsive, round-the-clock technical support and R&D teams, ensuring the latest functionality - for both interpretation and imaging, is always at the user’s fingertips.

How do you view your prospects for DUG Insight in the Middle East?

We have built long-standing relationships through years of involvement in local projects. Our recent office-opening in Abu Dhabi marks an exciting milestone. This new base allows us to work even closer with our clients, better understand their needs, and provide hands-on support.

Insight is inherently scalable, which is particularly relevant in the Middle East. The software is designed to handle huge data volumes and modern acquisition – whether a mega-merge, a massive OBN survey or an ultra-high-density, on-shore project. We’ve processed single surveys and multi-survey merges with input trace counts in the hundreds of billions, covering areas spanning tens of thousands of square kilometres, both onshore and offshore.

Could you give us a glimpse into your recent R&D efforts?

End-users should be 100% focused on geoscience, including interpretation, parameterisation, analysis and QC. We have several R&D initiatives that are particularly relevant to the Middle East.

Our exceptional R&D team continues to deliver high-end solutions for seismic interpretation and processing & imaging. We’ve recently developed a ground roll attenuation algorithm that utilises machine learning, building on our swell-noise attenuation work which uses similar technology. We’re also developing a new approach to land statics and are excited to showcase it in this region.

We recently introduced our latest processing and imaging solution: DUG Elastic MP-FWI Imaging. Using superior physics, it removes the assumptions and approximations of both traditional processing and imaging and quantitative interpretation workflows. It solves for three-component (directional and AVA) reflectivity, Vp, Vs, P-impedance, S-impedance and density, delivering unsurpassed results in shorter timeframes. It delivers not only another step change in imaging quality but also elastic rock properties for quantitative interpretation. We believe this is the new standard – stay tuned for more results this year!

The partnership will provide comprehensive end-to-end robotic solutions to customers worldwide. (Image source: SLB)

SLB and ANYbotics, a leader in autonomous mobile robotics, are set to provide end-to-end robotic solutions for oil and gas operators worldwide through a new partnership to advance autonomous robotic operations in the oil and gas sector

ANYbotics has developed the world's first hazardous zone-rated quadruped robot, designed for safe operation in challenging industrial environments, enabling workers to be removed from hazardous areas. provides actionable insights anywhere and anytime, patrolling complex and harsh environments as an autonomous data collection and analysis vehicle.

The integration of robotics innovation with SLB's OptiSite facility and equipment performance solutions will enable oil and gas companies to optimise operations and maintenance activities for new developments as well as existing producing assets. Deploying autonomous robotic missions will improve data accuracy and predictive analytics, increase equipment and operational uptime, reduce operational safety risks, and enrich digital twins through real-time sensorial data and spatial updates. The predictive analytics delivered will enhance operational efficiency, safety and emissions reduction.

Complex environments

"The energy industry's digital transformation is accelerating the need for advanced robotics solutions that can operate safely and efficiently in complex environments," said Patrick Bauer, director of Midstream Production Systems at SLB. "Our collaboration with ANYbotics will enable the acceleration of a comprehensive and scalable solution for the industry, allowing operators to move from the testing and proof-of-concept stages of robotics to full-scale global deployments in their operations."

While the partnership activities will initially focus on robotic deployments in the Americas and Offshore Atlantic regions, there are plans to expand globally. The collaboration will leverage SLB's extensive domain expertise and global footprint to provide comprehensive end-to-end robotic solutions to customers worldwide.

The oil and gas industry has emerged as a significant adopter of robotics to improve safety and efficiency of operations. According to a recent GlobalData report, robots equipped with advanced technologies are yielding increasingly positive results, bringing a continued transformation in the operations of oil and gas companies.

Robots can, for example, reach inaccessible areas, carry out tasks beyond human capabilities, and operate continuously without becoming fatigued or needing breaks. Hence, they are increasingly being used for conducting inspections in difficult or hazardous environments, thereby minimising human exposure to such sites.

GlobalData also notes the increase in collaboration between oil and gas companies and technology vendors, enabling the diversification of robotic use cases with the integration of AI, IoT, cloud, and edge computing. These developments are anticipated to drive future growth in robotics within the oil and gas sector.

The tool helps companies design and engineer thermoplastic composite pipes. (Image source: Strohm)

Strohm, a leading provider of Thermoplastic Composite Pipes (TCP), has launched TCP Designer, a web-based tool designed to help companies design and engineer thermoplastic composite pipes for their projects

TCP Designer streamlines the complex process of pipeline design and engineering during the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) stage of projects, enabling engineers to evaluate the suitability of TCP for various applications quickly and accurately. With a user-friendly interface and robust computational capabilities, users can customise pipe design to match specific project needs and environmental conditions.

The online tool helps users ensure their piping systems meet critical requirements for water depth, pressure, temperature, and means of installation – all in one seamless experience. By inputting project-specific specifications, users can instantly generate datasheets with key parameters such as size, weight, stiffness, and minimum bend radius, enabling them to easily and quickly assess factors such as installation feasibility and in-place analysis. For instance, a user can quickly assess the wide range of vessels available to install the lightweight TCP in any water depth.

Supporting the adoption of TCP solutions

The tool simplifies decision-making, reduces design iteration time, and supports the adoption of cost-effective, lightweight, and corrosion-resistant TCP solutions in energy infrastructure, and other industrial projects.

Martin van Onna, CEO of Strohm, commented, "While there is a plethora of information about designing and engineering steel pipes, the same cannot be said for composite pipes. Strohm has an extensive track record, both offshore and onshore, but there is still a degree of hesitation in the industry due to a lack of information about TCP’s capabilities and potential.

“We want to empower our clients, but also engineering houses around the world, by providing the right tools to simplify complex challenges. TCP Designer allows users the independence to design their own piping systems that align perfectly with their project requirements, with the confidence that Strohm’s engineering department is a phone call away if they’d like to discuss specific projects.”

TCP is gaining currency in the oil and gas industry due to its corrosion resistance, spoolability and lightweight nature. Strohm was earlier this month awarded a contract to supply 33 km of its TCP flowline for Saudi Aramco’s Fadhili gas plant in Saudi Arabia. The contract was awarded following material selection studies conducted by Saudi Aramco and its engineering partner KBR, which showed that TCP was the most suitable solution for the flowline, due to its demonstrated fluid compatibility, high qualification standards, lack of corrosion, and low carbon footprint.