WorldWide Drilling Resource

The QuickLink (QL) product line just got larger with the addition of the QL40-OBI-2G optical borehole imager from Mount Sopris Instruments . The new system has a com- pletely redesigned optical assembly with new electronics. Its high-resolution (up 1800 pixels) digital image sensor combined with a fisheye lens produces an extraordinarily clear, sharp, 360-degree, continuous-upwrapped digital picture of the borehole wall, either in air or clear water. The QL40-OBI-2G operates on any standard wireline. Some Coal Hard Facts Coal has been getting a lot of bad publicity lately, and we wanted to share some of the positive facts about this natural resource. j Since 1978, U.S. coal mines have paid more than $7 billion to reclaim mines abandoned prior to laws requiring reclamation. More than 2.4 million acres of land has been reclaimed over the past 25 years! j U.S. coal deposits contain more energy than all of the world’s conventional oil reserves. j Coal power plants built today emit 90% less pollutants than the plants they replace from the 1970s. j Canada exports about 28 million tons of coal each year to more than 20 countries. It is also the country’s largest export to Japan. j Roughly 15% of coal production is used by the steel industry, and around 70% of total global steel production is depend- ent on coal. The paper, brick, cement, and limestone industries also rely on coal to make products. j Coal by-products are used to make tennis rackets, golf balls, and linoleum. Thousands of different products have coal or coal by-products as components such as soap, aspirins, solvents, dyes, plastics, and fibers like rayon and nylon. Coal is also an essential ingredient in the production of specialist products including activated carbon which is used in filters for water and air purification, as well as kidney dialysis machines. j Additionally, coal is important in the production of silicones and silanes used in lubricants, water repellents, resins, cos- metics, hair shampoos, and even toothpaste. Thank you to everyone who brings coal to the world! 59 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® JANUARY 2016