JPT

 

Vol. 59 No. 3

March 2007

Technology Applications

Dennis Denney, JPT Technology Editor

Wireless Shot Detector

AnTech Ltd. has introduced its new shot-detection system, Gun Shot. The wireless system detects and records the sound of perforation shots made downhole (Fig. 1). Then the self-contained system transfers the readings to a file on the technician’s laptop computer. Thdata are stoe red in the on-board memory, preventing data loss in the event of a power failure or radio-transmission problems. Its cable-free feature reduces the risk of losing data as the result of cable damage. Detecting perforation shots can be difficult because of the Earth’s natural ability to filter out frequencies produced by downhole shots. This system makes it possible to detect readings as low as 10 Hz, which is suitable for perforating. To install and operate the wireless data-acquisition system, the user stabs the geophone into the ground, switches it on, moves to the receiving unit, and begins logging data. The wireless data-acquisition system transmits data by use of narrow-band radio transmission from the wellsite to receivers up to 10 km away.

For additional information, visit www.antech.co.uk.

Fig. 1—AnTech Ltd. Gun Shot shot-detection system.

Slickline Well Intervention

Omega Completion Technology Ltd. has well-intervention tools that operate in horizontal wellbores with either slickline or electric-line by manipulating the wire. The technique enables most conventional operations. The biggest application is for well-logging or -investigation work. The Omega Tractor (Fig. 2) conveys wireline tool strings along highly deviated and horizontal sections of the wellbore. Tension applied at the tractor head by the wireline from surface is converted to a downhole “push” by simple mechanical linkage. The tractor crawls along the wellbore when the wireline is subjected to pull-then-slacken cycles at the surface. The tractor enables nonelectric-line access to highly deviated and horizontal wellbore sections. In addition to classic slickline operations and reservoir monitoring in memory mode, the tractor can be used to convey electric-line tool strings. In such applications, the tractor would be at the bottom of the tool string to allow communication with the tools. The gripping mechanism adapts to changing casing or tubing diameters and is highly tolerant of sand and debris.

For additional information, visit www.omega-completion.com.

Fig. 2—Omega Completion Tech-nology Ltd. Omega Tractor.

Impact Drilling

The Particle Impact Drilling technology, from Particle Drilling Technology Inc., is a mobile system that adapts to conventional-drilling rigs. The system is designed for drilling brittle-rock intervals, specifically in wells where penetration rates decrease because of the extreme compressive strength of the formations being drilled. Tests have shown that the system is capable of drilling through rock formations at rates several times faster than with current conventional techniques. The system relies on hydraulic energy combined with round hardened-steel particles entrained in the drilling fluid to excavate the rock formation being drilled rapidly. The process does not rely on weight-on-bit and torque to mechanically break the rock. The steel particles that are introduced into the drilling fluid at a point downstream from the rig pumps do not interfere with the normal operation of the rig pumps. These particles then flow down the drillstem and are accelerated through the nozzles of a specially designed fixed-cutter bit, striking the formation at high velocities (Fig. 3). The particles and cuttings are circulated in the drilling fluid back to the surface, where a shot-extraction device captures the particles for reinjection. The application results in significant rate-of-penetration gains.

For additional information, visit www.particledrilling.com.

Fig. 3—Particle Drilling Technology Inc.’s particle-impact drilling method through the special bit.

Monobore Expandable-Liner Extension

Baker Oil Tools installed a monobore expandable-liner-extension system in a well in southeast Oklahoma (Fig. 4). The linEXX Solid Expandable System was a collaborative-development project between the service company and BP plc. The system enabled placing a liner string in the wellbore and maintaining the same casing drift as that of the existing intermediate-casing string. These liner systems can be placed below an existing liner string and expanded, resulting in a casing-pass-through inside diameter that prevents a loss in casing size that would happen in traditional wells. The application can be used to block off sections in which unexpected problems were encountered while drilling or as part of the initial well design. The company’s RC9 or RC9-R Recess Shoe must be installed and run on the previous intermediate-casing string for tieback-system purposes. This shoe replaces the standard casing shoe and is run with the standard casing float and cementing equipment. The expanded liner was pressure-tested, the circulating sleeve in the shoe was shifted open, and the expanded liner was cemented in place with returns taken through the ports of the recess shoe. The retainer and cement then were drilled out. Drilling continued below the shoe with rotary-steerable directional tools. Plans call for isolating the liner system with production casing before completing the well.

For additional information, visit www.bakeroiltools.com.

Fig. 4—Rig crew running recess shoe for the linEXX expandable-liner system from Baker Oil Tools and BP plc.

Compliant Downhole Permanent Monitoring

Schlumberger permanent downhole monitoring is 100% intelligent-well-interface-standardization (IWIS) compliant as a result of two new subsea interface cards. The IFIC and IWIC subsea interface cards (Fig. 5) provide power and data-acquisition capabilities for the WellWatcher frequency-shift keying and WellNet downhole permanent-monitoring systems, respectively. The IFIC card can power up to four gauges on the same cable, providing the subsea network with both raw data and ready-to-use engineering values. The IWIC card supports up to 64 WellNet nodes by use of high-speed telemetry and is capable of operating electric flow-control valves through a single electric line. Both systems offer full redundancy and self-verification features to ensure reliability and signal integrity. An on-board clock time-stamps data at the card to protect its integrity in case of a power interruption. A built-in gauge simulator is used for troubleshooting. Versatility is ensured by the integral object linking and embedding (OLE) for process control (OPC) server that allows access by other OPC-based applications without data conversion. Future firmware upgrades can be implemented remotely, even after deployment and commissioning.

For additional information, visit www.slb.com/completions.

Fig. 5—Schlumberger IWIS-compliant IFIC and IWIC subsea interface cards.

Pipeline Inspection

Envirosight LLC has introduced its SuperVision 140 video-inspection crawler for pipeline inspection. The crawler travels as far as 1,640 ft through pipelines 6 in. in diameter and larger, rapidly evaluating conditions and identifying maintenance needs. The camera lift adjusts the height of both forward- and rear-viewing cameras from 3 to 10 in. The forward-viewing camera pans infinitely, tilts ±135°, and zooms 40:1. Its light-emitting-diode light ring casts shadowless, full-spectrum illumination, and its lasers project a measurement reference to help size pipe defects. The rear-viewing camera combines a black-and-white imager with infrared lamps for maximum light sensitivity. The crawler can be steered around protruding pipe taps and other obstacles. Six-wheel drive helps it climb over debris and offsets. The short wheelbase allows it to turn corners and fit through curved inverts. The PipeBus-network control architecture enables concurrent control of multiple functions, supports the attachment of auxiliary sensors and end-effectors, performs on-board diagnostics, and allows the use of lightweight cable for extended travel range. A camera head rated for 1,640-ft submersion is available. The crawler contains integral pitch, roll, and pressure sensors that feed real-time data back to the operator.

For additional information, visit www.envirosight.com.

Fig. 6—Envirosight SuperVision 140 pipeline-inspection crawler.