A born and raised Red Deerian has earned provincial recognition for his work in the oil and gas technology industry.
Vik Kalsi, who was born in Red Deer and has worked for various oil and gas companies in the region, is a finalist for the Capstone Project of the Year Award, which is presented annually by the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET).
Kalsi, along with André Fugissawa, were both former SAIT petroleum engineering technology students. They created a guideline for the most effective use of a new software app developed by Precision Drilling called Z-Torquetm whose function is to mitigate stick-slip during oil drilling operations. Stick-slip occurs when friction between a drill bit and rock formation causes the bit to momentarily stick then slip, resulting in damaging torsional vibrations that impede drilling efficiency and productivity.
Through their comprehensive testing of the Z-Torquetm system and ability to determine the right software settings for each of the five rock formations evaluated, the former team members were successful in decreasing surface stick-slip severity levels by an average of 26 per cent, and increasing the rate of penetration (ROP) by 17 per cent.
This yielded a cost savings of almost $7,000 over 376 metres of rotary drilling, demonstrating the efficacy of Z-Torquetm when implemented correctly. Secondary benefits included reduced non-productive time (NPT) and invisible lost time (ILT) with fewer bit trips and less wear or damage to the drill string and its components.
By lowering energy consumption and minimizing carbon emissions, efficient drilling operations play a crucial role in diminishing environmental impact and advancing sustainability efforts.
“This project holds particular significance in the pursuit of a greener energy future and Canada’s position as a technology leader in the oil and gas industry,” said Kalsi.
The duo is one of nine finalists for the 2023 ASET Capstone Project of the Year Award. The winning project will be announced at the end of this month.
ASET is the professional self-regulatory organization for engineering technologists and technicians in Alberta.
