Case Study
QuickWells CAD Engineering
When QuickWells approached us with their vision of a next-generation well engineering design tool, we knew it was going to be a game-changer.
Our team of experienced software developers and engineers worked closely with QuickWells to design a groundbreaking solution that incorporated 3D CAD design workflows and visualization to simplify the well build process. From the ground up, we engineered the software to be truly innovative, and our team went above and beyond to ensure that every detail was executed to perfection. The end result was a world-first solution that not only impressed QuickWells, but also caught the attention of Baker Hughes, who acquired the software soon after. Want to learn more about this exciting project? Read our full case study to discover how we helped QuickWells take their business to the next level.
Brief
Process
Technologies
Result
Brief
QuickWells Ltd approached us with an ambitious vision to revolutionize the oil and gas industry by providing engineers with a cutting-edge CAD application for well completion equipment. They wanted to move away from outdated design technologies and provide an innovative alternative to streamline the design process.
Our team was thrilled to take on this challenge and worked tirelessly to develop a suite of collaborative software applications that would support every stage of the design process, from implementation to decommissioning. We created a centralized database to store all information related to design, allowing authorized users to reference it at any time. This promoted team collaboration and ensured that all team members had access to the most up-to-date information.
We made sure that our software was highly extendable, allowing system administrators to customize the system to their specific needs with ease. This included the ability to create new object types, lookup tables, metric schemes, and more. We also created new parts, both 2D and 3D parameterized models, and graphical user interfaces to ensure that our software was tailored to the specific needs of the oil and gas industry.
Our software was designed to provide engineers with a simplified 2D design interface while also allowing them to render highly accurate 3D models. This combination of design aids allowed engineers to review the spatial relationships between objects in their design, leading to higher accuracy and better results.
We were proud to be chosen by QuickWells to complete this project. Our team understood their vision and had the experience to turn their ideas into reality. Our CAD application for well completion equipment has transformed the oil and gas industry by providing engineers with a state-of-the-art tool to streamline their work and produce better results.
Process
Given the scope of the project, it was essential to establish a clear and comprehensive product vision at the outset. To achieve this, our development team appointed two skilled systems analysts to collaborate closely with the well completion engineers provided by QuickWells Ltd, in order to elicit and document the customer’s requirements. The resultant feature specification document (FSD) contained a complete and detailed description of the essential requirements, as well as several optional features proposed by our team to enhance the final product.
To ensure full alignment with customer expectations, multiple document review meetings were held, where both parties scrutinized and agreed upon the features to be incorporated. Once the requirements documented in the FSD were formally accepted, the detailed design phase commenced.
Our team of system architects formulated an innovative architecture that would support the complex configuration requirements that were stipulated by the customer.
The architecture had to be modular, extensible, maintainable, and robust, with an emphasis on flexibility that would empower administrators to extend the software by utilizing advanced configuration tools. This would enable them to create reports, data types, input forms, lookup tables, 2D/3D part models, parameterize models and more, without requiring the involvement of developers.
The adoption of an Agile software development methodology ensured that the project was executed in a highly efficient and iterative manner, with the customer’s requirements migrated into the Agile project management system known as TFS. By adopting this methodology, the software was developed and presented to the product stakeholders frequently, allowing for continuous assessment and feedback. This iterative process enabled us to deliver a product that effectively met the set-out vision, whilst providing ongoing business value.
Throughout the project’s duration, our development team collaborated closely with the customer, with the client effectively becoming integrated into the development team. The customer was invited to review design proposals, and was given a developer’s insight into the development process. This close relationship facilitated effective teamwork and communication, and enabled us to fulfill the customer’s business objectives effectively.
Technologies
- Microsoft Visual Studio
- C#
- C++
- .Net
- Managed Direct3D
- OpenGL
- HOOPS 3D
- .Net Reflection
- .Net WinForms
- MultiThreading
- Direct X
- MVC
- SOAP
- DevExpress
- WebServices
- LINQ
- XML
- Scripting
- Strataframe
- Numerical Geometry Algorithms
- CLRSQL
- Domain Driven ORM
- MS SQL
- Report SharpShooter
- TFS Test Manager
Result
Collectively we built a state-of-the-art platform designed for oil and gas engineers to efficiently design and visualize oil well completions. Our platform offers a dynamic and collaborative experience for users to seamlessly share projects, documents and resources globally. QuickWells has a range of cutting-edge features that empower users to design the perfect well completion, including our 2D schematic and interactive 3D graphics, which have surpassed our customers’ expectations in visualisation.
With our ergonomically-friendly drag and drop palette of parts, engineers can quickly create well completions in 2D before rendering them in 3D for real-time navigation. QuickWells’ platform is highly configurable, with advanced features like our advanced report builder, Bill of Materials, Data Archiving and Integrated Project Management, that enhance the user experience.
Our database is configurable and allows system administrators to model company workflows by creating new data entities, attributes and forms within QuickWells without the need for programming knowledge. This innovative feature ensures that QuickWells can match any company workflow.
Our platform’s benefits for system administrators are manifold. They can access features such as our Database Designer, Form Designer, Part Designer/Importer, Part Parameterisation Tool, Part Connection Designer, Part Catalogue Administrator, Report Designer, Fast deployment of updates, Role Based Security, and the ability to configure the system to match company workflows.
The customer is thrilled with the delivered solution, and our administrative features have exceeded their expectations. We pride ourselves on providing one of the best visualisation engines in the industry for rendering accurate 3D models of well completion equipment, making QuickWells the ideal solution for the oil and gas industry.
We are proud to announce that QuickWells has been sold to Baker Hughes International (BHI) and has been rebranded. We continue to work closely with BHI to ensure the QuickWells solution meets the highest industry standards and delivers the best possible user experience for engineers in the Oil and Gas industry.
“SD:UK’s team created an impactful 3D CAD & visualisation solution for the O&G industry. Their ability to grasp complex briefs and deliver a working solution is highly recommended.”
John Gaskell,
QuickWells CTO
