American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2015 - 165

IndustryFocus: Companies, People and Products
WCS Debuts Online Class
For WellSharpTM Training

HOUSTON-Well Control School has
launched an introductory level System
21 e-learning course for drilling operations
through which students can receive International Association of Drilling Contractors WellSharp and Well Control
School certifications.
The course includes workshops, simulation exercises, and chapter and lesson
quizzes to provide basic well control
training, WCS describes, adding that it
is designed for drilling and well servicing
personnel, consultants, asset managers,
engineers, and well site personnel.
"Well Control School is one of the
first commercial training providers to
offer the new IADC WellSharp curriculum
in the e-learning format," says Ed Geissler,
the school's president. "The e-learning
model is a proven training method that
offers tremendous benefits to oil and gas
companies. Traditionally, students experience better retention because they are
learning at their individual paces."
For information, visit www.wcsonlineuniversity.com.
❒
TM

MRC GlobalTM Announces
Rebranding, New Logo

HOUSTON-MRC Global Inc., a distributor of pipe, valves and fitting products
and services, says it has initiated a rebranding of its global businesses. As part
of its rebranding, the company says it
has adopted a new logo.
While the company will continue to
operate with subbrands when appropriate,
it says its primary identity will be the
MRC GlobalTM brand.
The changes will be most noticeable
in the United States, MRC Global says.
Its U.S. business was known as McJunkin
Red Man Corp. after the 2007 merger of
equals between McJunkin Corp. and Red
Man Pipe and Supply. The company says
it now will operate under the brand MRC
Global as MRC Global (U.S.) Inc.
"We have been in the business for
nearly 95 years, and have experienced
significant growth," observes MRC Global
Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer Andrew Lane. "Through it all,
our core values have given us a platform
for success. Our brand and new logo
reflect both this solid foundation and our
promising future."
❒

New Tracer Offers Means To Track Proppant Paths

HOUSTON-CARBO Ceramics Inc.
now offers CARBONRT ULTRA, which
it describes as an easily detectable-inert
tracer technology for sand-stimulated completions in vertical and horizontal wells.
CARBONRT ULTRA enables users
to detect and evaluate near-wellbore proppant location and quantity, CARBO says.
According to the company, this evaluation
provides an accurate measurement of perforation cluster efficiency and near-wellbore connectivity, which can help companies optimize proppant placement and
proppant diversion. Information gathered

from these diagnostics enables operators
to reduce costs and ultimately improve
completion efficiency, the company adds.
CARBONRT ULTRA proppant technology is detectable with a standard neutron logging tool, CARBO reports. Because the tracer does not dissolve or wash
away, and is permanently identifiable,
the company says it gives operators the
flexibility to conduct post-fracture logging
months or years after fracturing.
For information, visit www.carboceramics.com.
❒

Acquisition Enables Nine To Offer Composite Plugs

HOUSTON-Nine Energy Service Inc.,
a service company that offers completion,
wireline and cementing solutions, has
acquired certain assets of G 8 Oil Tool.
Located in Athens, Tx., G 8 provides
high-quality downhole completion tools,
including a full range of composite plugs
used for plug, perforate and fracture applications, Nine says. The company points
out that G 8 is the creator and exclusive
provider of the Scorpion Composite Plug®.
The acquisition expands and diversifies
Nine's offerings by adding a fully com-

posite plug in multiple sizes, including a
5½-inch extended range plug used for operations within restricted wellbores as well
as workover applications, Nine reports.
"Acquiring the Scorpion Composite
Plug gives Nine a strong foothold in the
composite plug market throughout North
America," comments Ann Fox, Nine's
president and chief executive officer. "We
now will be able to offer our customers
our own fully composite plug along with
our completion services, creating a tremendous growth opportunity for Nine." ❒

Glass Bubbles Offer Way To Reduce Fluid Density

SAN FRANCISCO-3M Advanced
Materials Division has unveiled the
HGS4K28, a 3MTM Glass Bubbles additive
for completion, workover and cement
slurries that combines high strength with
low density.
According to the company, using
HGS4K28 as a density-reducing agent
can improve well integrity, reduce nonproductive time, and increase well productivity when drilling in highly depleted
zones and weaker formations. The com-

pany explains that the bubbles minimize
or eliminate problems associated with
fluid loss, lost circulation and formation
damage.
"With the improvement in the strengthto-density ratio, our newest addition to
the Glass Bubbles portfolio is ideal for
low to moderate downhole pressures,"
says Doug Rowen, business director of
3M Advanced Materials Division. "No
other additive on the market can match
the value we provide with Glass Bubbles,
as these hollow glass microspheres offer
more strength at less volume, meaning
the end-user purchases less, ships less,
and inventories less."
For information, visit www.3m.com/cementinganddrilling.
❒

With 3MTM Glass Bubbles, cement slurries
and fluid systems can achieve the desired
density with less product. The company
says low-product slurries produce stronger
cement, while low-product fluids give customers greater control over pressures during drilling, completion and workover
operations.

OCTOBER 2015 165

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