Questar Baseline announces sales, marketing agreements

LYONS, Colo. — Questar Baseline, which makes, sells, installs and services a complete line of advanced gas-monitoring instruments, has announced two recent sales and another agreement that will allow the company to improve the versatility of a gas-quality analyzer known as R.A.M.S.

Halliburton subsidiary buys gas-analysis systems

     Sperry-Sun Drilling Services, a subsidiary of Halliburton Co., has purchased 18 Baseline 8000-Series gas-analysis systems for $600,000. The 800-Series systems, which will be used for mud logging, are to be integrated into Sperry-Sun's Rigsite Network, a revolutionary data-collection method that provides oil-well information for remote real-time analysis.

     Through a variety of sensors at the rig, Sperry's Rigsite Network can remotely monitor drilling operations over the Internet. The Windows-based system can simultaneously display real-time and historic data, enabling the user to make more timely and accurate drilling decisions.

     Baseline's 8800 Gas Analyzer and 8900 Gas Chromatograph will work in tandem at the well site to automatically monitor gases brought up in the drilling mud and alerting the drilling operators when they are close to a discovery. The instruments also serve as a safety mechanism for the drilling-rig workers, automatically setting off an alarm if dangerous gases are present in the mud.

     Halliburton, based in Dallas, is the world's largest provider of products and services to the petroleum and energy industries. Sperry-Sun's specialties range from the latest drilling technology to computer rig-site management systems.

Questar Regulated Services buys BTU-measurement devices

     Questar Regulated Services recently purchased nine remote-controlled BTU-measurement instruments known as R.A.M.S. (Real-Time Applications Management System).

R.A.M.S. is designed to quickly acquire, measure and broadcast data in real time. The instruments will be installed in Questar Gas's distribution system to analyze hydrocarbons, nitrogen and carbon dioxide in natural gas. Seven of the R.A.M.S. units will be used to replace outdated BTU-analysis technology; the other two will be used in new installations to ensure the quality of gas being supplied to customers.

     "Real-time measurement allows our customers to better determine gas quality, BTU content, and system balancing and control," said Questar Baseline president Bob Forsberg. "Even small discrepancies can have large financial implications — easily justifying the investment in a R.A.M.S. system."

     Designed as an instrument platform, the R.A.M.S. also provides two-way communications which allow data to be published while remote commands for diagnostic and system adjustments are being received. Audit-quality data, chromatograms and diagnostic information are formatted for use by standard computer programs. The testing procedures comply with AGA guidelines.

     "A key feature of R.A.M.S. is the simplicity of the user interface," said Jack Schons, Baseline manager of sales and marketing. "Baseline's pre-programmed software runs in a Microsoft Windows environment, which saves the customers time and money because there's no proprietary system to learn. Just about anyone can operate a R.A.M.S. interface."

     Applied Technology Services (ATS), a subsidiary of Questar InfoComm, is performing all R.A.M.S. installations and startups. Installation of all nine units should be completed by the end of summer 2000.

Miniature device makes R.A.M.S. more versatile

     Questar Baseline Industries has reached an agreement with Varian Inc., makers of a miniature gas chromatographic system known as the Micro GC, which will allow Varian's Micro GC to be integrated into Baseline's Real Time Applications Management System (R.A.M.S.).

     "The vast library of applications Varian provides for the Micro GC means that R.A.M.S. will be a useful tool in industries beyond natural gas-BTU analysis, an application for which R.A.M.S. is traditionally used," said Bob Forsberg, Baseline president. "Petrochemical, pharmaceutical and other industries that utilize a gas-measurement process can now employ this system cost effectively." 

     The marriage of technologies will allow gas to be measured accurately in two minutes or less, five to 10 times faster than current technology allows.  Data is taken off the system via the Internet, through standard communications protocols or direct modem.

     Because this system has the capability to take gas samples from more than one source, one installation could significantly reduce the user's investment in hardware, maintenance and personnel. 

     Baseline will manage sales and support services for the combined products. Deliveries of the new online gas-measurement systems are scheduled to begin immediately.