Inchworming After Tagging the Ball Proves an Efficient Method for Opening a Completion Isolation Valve with Electric-Line Powered Shifting Tool in Deepwater Gulf of Mexico: A Case Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Mauchien ◽  
Laplane Clement ◽  
Amanda Olivio
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Axial Force ◽  
Ball Valve ◽  
Linear Actuator ◽  
Position Measurement ◽  
Electric Line ◽  
Downhole Tool ◽  
Valve Opening ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Shifting Profile

Abstract An intervention operation in the Gulf of Mexico used a novel method with an electric-line powered shifting tool to reliably locate and latch onto the shifting profile of the intended completion isolation valve successfully completing the shifting operation. Locating and latching onto the lower shifting profile of a completion isolation valve is often a challenging operation with slickline or conventional electric-line shifting tools. It relies on the weight of the downhole tool to provide the downward force to drive the shifter to latch onto the shifting profile. Numerous parameters such as the well deviation, the friction force of the shifter keys with the tubing, and the pull from the cable highly affect this downward force. Accurate positioning of the downhole tool with respect to the completion is even more challenging in deep water wells because the long cable stretch can result in several feet of uncertainty. The novel method used in this operation consisted of using the shifter, linear actuator, and anchor modules to move in an inchworm motion after tagging the closed ball valve. The tag was used as a reference point to accurately locate the position of the shifter with respect to the valve opening shifting profile. While moving toward the profile, the position of the shifter was maintained at all times using the accurate linear position measurement of the tool. The linear actuator has a limited stroke, but it can be compounded to achieve a much longer measurement. Because the tag position of the shifter was only a few linear actuator strokes away from the opening profile, the operation was extremely efficient. The intervention operation was successfully completed in a few hours using this method. The signals were measured downhole and reported in real time to surface, enabling accurate monitoring of the progress and indicating the position of the tool with respect to the valve opening profile at all times. While moving toward the profile after tagging the ball, the shifter was used to probe for diameter changes. This measurement provided an additional confirmation of the position of the shifter, which was able to sense passing through the profile. Finally, after passing the profile and reversing direction, a controlled increase in the linear actuator axial force confirmed the latch onto the opening profile. This seek method enabled latching onto the opening profile and confirmed without doubt that the shifter keys were engaged in the profile before proceeding to increase the forces to shift the ball open. While the ball valve was shifted open, the downhole measurements recorded an axial force vs. displacement footprint that is characteristic of the opening of the ball valve, giving confirmation that the operation was successfully completed without having to physically pass through the ball valve to confirm. This was the first time that this method, consisting of moving in an inchworm motion after tagging the ball, had been used for locating and latching onto the shifting profile of a completion isolation valve. This novel method eliminated uncertainty from conventional methods that use the cable overpull and head tension as a latch indicator.

Increasing Operational Efficiency in Extended Reach, Offshore Wells – A Case Story from Middle East

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony MacLeod
Keyword(s):  
System Integration ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Operating Efficiency ◽  
Coiled Tubing ◽  
Electric Line ◽  
Release Device ◽  
Integration Test ◽  
Closed Position ◽  
Shifting Profile

ABSTRACT Objective A case story from ME will be presented covering an extreme extended reach, offshore well. Any increase to operating efficiency can save time and increase production. In this case story two SSD's were opened in a single run on e-line, an outstanding achievement due to the ID restrictions and extended reach of the well. The paper will discuss the planning, the operation, the achievements and the lessons learned. Methods, Procedures, Process This well was recently worked over, retrieval and new installation of upper and lower completion. Due to the well going on total losses during the workover, a closed system was deployed to enable the operator to set the hydraulic packers. The packer is utilized for isolation between two zones, with each zone having two SSD's in which one SSD per zone was required to be opened to allow access to the formation. From day one of planning the primary solution for this intervention was an electric over hydraulic toolstring made up of five tools, a 218 electric release device, 218 CCL for correlation, a 218 tractor for conveyance, a 218 stroker for the mechanical manipulation and a 218 key to address the shifting profile in the SSD (toolstring). A slimhole toolstring was required due to the packer ID of 2.81" The operator was using the service provider for other interventions on this workover campaign and decided to challenge them with opening two SSD's in one run while not shifting the adjacent SSD's. The challenging underlying economics of the industry today has created a powerful driver for operators to find more efficient, cost effective and safer intervention methodologies. The operation covered in this case provided just such improvements to the client: by utilizing electric line intervention tools the operator negated the requirement for a large footprint coiled tubing intervention. Results, Observations, Conclusions A System Integration Test (SIT) was completed onshore prior to mobilization, where multiple shifts were successfully executed on a 90° deviated pipe using a single set of shifting key pads. Test results were then repeated offshore, completing two interventions in a single run. The SSD's were successfully opened at ~12,000 ft MDRT and ~8,000 ft MDRT, respectively while leaving the two adjacent SSD's in the closed position. Results, client objective was 100% achieved using only electric line, enabling the client to move forward with similar well designs having the confidence that a safe, reliable electric line solution is locally available. Additional results include reduced HSE risks as the e-line approach eliminated the use of a heavier CTU. Further contributing to the HSE benefits on this operation, only 6 persons were needed on site and no heavy lifts were required. The paper will also cover some lessons learned as debris in the profile and tubing caused some challenges. Novel/Additive Information This operation shows how the industry is constantly trying to improve on existing methods in order to be more efficient, safe and cost effective.

An Experimental and Numerical Study of Regulating Performance and Flow Loss in a V-Port Ball Valve

2019 ◽  
Vol 142 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Junyu Tao ◽  
Zhe Lin ◽  
Chuanjing Ma ◽  
Jiahui Ye ◽  
Zuchao Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Fluctuation ◽  
Fluid Transport ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Internal Flow ◽  
External Pressure ◽  
Ball Valve ◽  
Flow Coefficient ◽  
Design And Optimization ◽  
Stable Position ◽  
Valve Opening

Abstract Process valves are responsible for regulating and controlling the rate and direction of flow in pipeline systems. The V-port ball valve is one kind of process valve with a regulating performance influenced by V-angle. In this article, a DN50 V-port ball valve is taken as the research object. This work therefore aims to investigate the effect of and relationship between the V-angle on valve performance and internal flow properties via experiments and numerical simulations. Results indicate that an increase in either V-angle or valve opening causes a large-pressure fluctuation near the valve outlet, thus leading to a long pressure-stable distance. Meanwhile, the flow coefficient increases exponentially with valve opening, and the value of the exponent remains at 2.5 for different V-angles. Furthermore, the stable position of internal energy loss along the downstream pipe is well-matched with the stable position of external pressure fluctuation. This inspires a new method for controlling the pressure stability downstream from the valve. These results may facilitate improvements in the design and optimization of the process valve, thus benefiting the development of fluid transport techniques in energy industries.

A novel method to measure calcium carbonate with portable X-ray fluorescence instrumentation and its application to Gulf of Mexico surficial sediments

2020 ◽  
Vol 406 ◽  
pp. 105724
Author(s):  
Jonathan Garcia-Orozco ◽  
Miguel Angel Huerta-Diaz ◽  
Jacob Alberto Valdivieso-Ojeda ◽  
Francisco Delgadillo-Hinojosa ◽  
Karla Gabriela Mejia-Piña ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Surficial Sediments ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Novel Method

A Novel Method for Aortic Valve Opening Phase Detection Using SCG Signal

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 899-908 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tilendra Choudhary ◽  
M. K. Bhuyan ◽  
L. N. Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Aortic Valve ◽  
Phase Detection ◽  
Valve Opening ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Opening Phase

Control of Volumetric Flow-Rate of Ball Valve Using V-Port

2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Jyh Chern ◽  
Chih-Cheng Wang
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Small Angle ◽  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Volume Flow Rate ◽  
Volumetric Flow Rate ◽  
Ball Valve ◽  
Volume Flow ◽  
Piping System ◽  
Flow Features ◽  
Valve Opening

The control of volume flow rate in a ball valve is very important when a ball valve is utilized in a piping system. It is difficult to linearly control the flow rate in a ball valve without external devices. V-ports are employed to achieve this purpose. In order to investigate the effects of V-port on the volume flow rate and flow features, 3-D numerical simulations and experiments were conducted to observe the flow patterns and to measure performance coefficients when V-ports with various angles were used in a piping system. Three V-ports with angles 30 deg, 60 deg, and 90 deg were studied. It was found that V-ports with angles 30 deg and 60 deg make the flow rate proportional to the valve opening. However, V-ports increase the pressure loss between the inlet and the exit of a ball valve. In addition, V-ports with a small angle such as 30 deg increase the possibility of cavitation compared with flows without V-ports.

scholarly journals Measurement Vertex Position of a Large Aspheric Mirror

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Li ◽  
Fengtao Yan ◽  
Lin Chen ◽  
Jie Yang ◽  
Yongjian Wan
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Uncertainty ◽  
Measurement Accuracy ◽  
Mechanical Axis ◽  
Radius Of Curvature ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Laser Tracker ◽  
Position Measurement ◽  
Aspheric Mirror ◽  
Novel Method

We present a novel method to accurately measure the vertex position of a large aspheric mirror with a phasing measuring interferometer, a laser tracker, and a micro alignment telescope. The method consists of rotating the mirror by 180° about its mechanical axis and measuring the change in displacement. Use of a micro alignment telescope eliminates the need to adjust the mirror during the measurement, eases the alignment of the testing system, and improves the vertex position measurement accuracy. Using this method, we measured the vertex position of an aspheric mirror 1 m in diameter and 2 m in radius of curvature. The vertex position measurement uncertainty is 88 μm.

Improvements in Heavy Topside Installation Onto Spar Hull by Catamaran Floatover Method

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Y. H. Luo ◽  
David Edelson ◽  
Jianan (Jay) Wan ◽  
Jiulong Sun ◽  
Sina Hassanaliaragh
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Load Transfer ◽  
Dynamic Loads ◽  
Release Mechanism ◽  
Rapid Separation ◽  
Single Column ◽  
Transfer Operation ◽  
Load Release ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Steel Weight

The Murphy Kikeh Spar in Malaysia was the first Spar to employ a catamaran floatover method to install the topsides onto the Spar hull at the platform offshore location. The single column hull of the Spar dictates that the most practical way to float a topsides onto the Spar hull is by use of a catamaran system where the topsides structure forms a connection between the twin barges. For the Kikeh Spar the topside was first loaded out onto a single barge before being transferred to the catamaran system. The transfer operation was performed in sheltered waters. After the transfer and installation of the seafastening, the topside was towed to the installation site. The transfer of the topside weight was accomplished by deballasting the Spar and no quick release mechanism was used in the separation of the topside from the catamaran barges. While the operations described were successfully implemented for the 4,000 MT Kikeh topside in a relative mild environment, improvements are recommended to perform this operation for heaver topsides in harsher environments such as the Gulf of Mexico. This paper summarizes an internal study by Technip to extend and improve the floatover installation of Spar topsides to the Gulf of Mexico. This paper presents a step-by-step overview of an improved process for the installation of topsides having transportation weights of up to 25,000 ST. Similarities and improvements compared with Kikeh floatover installation will be discussed with particular focus on the following areas: 1. A new method of loading out of the topsides from the fabrication yard directly to the catamaran barges, requiring only one operation and eliminating the need for a transfer barge. 2. Specific Catamaran Ocean tow design and analysis considerations for the Gulf of Mexico. This addresses the effects of the harsher environment on the barges, grillage and topsides structure. A novel method of preloading the catamaran system is presented that reduces or, in some instances, eliminates the requirement for additional topside steel weight to accommodate additional motion-induced dynamic loads on the catamaran system during the ocean tow. The preloading also eliminates the risk associated with the operation of cutting tied-down braces. 3. A quick load release system is described which enables the rapid separation of the barges from the topside following the appropriate level of topside load transfer to the Spar hull.

scholarly journals Numerical Study of the Microflow Characteristics in a V-ball Valve

Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 155
Author(s):  
Zhi-xin Gao ◽  
Yang Yue ◽  
Jia-ming Yang ◽  
Jun-ye Li ◽  
Hui Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Study ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Ball Valve ◽  
Loss Coefficient ◽  
Flow Coefficient ◽  
Process Industries ◽  
Opposite Trend ◽  
Small Flow ◽  
Valve Opening ◽  
Flow Cross

V-ball valves are widely applied in many process industries to regulate fluid flow, and they have advantages of good approximately equal percentage flow characteristics and easy maintenance. However, in some applications, the V-ball valve needs to have good performance under both large and extremely small flow coefficients. In this paper, the improvement of the original V-ball valve is made and the flow characteristics between the original and the improved V-ball valve are compared. Two types of small gaps are added to the original V-ball, namely the gap with an approximately rectangular port and the gap with an approximately triangular port. The effects of the structure and the dimension of the gap on flow characteristics are investigated. Results show that within the gap, the flow coefficient increases but the loss coefficient decreases as the valve opening increases, and the flow coefficient has an approximately linear relationship with the flow cross-area of the added gap. Results also show that under the same flow cross-area, the flow coefficient has a higher value if the distance between the gap and the ball center is greater or if the gap is an approximately rectangular port, while the loss coefficient has an opposite trend.

Studies on the Variation of Flow Parameters through a Ball Valve

2013 ◽  
Vol 321-324 ◽  
pp. 1799-1804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iulian Florescu ◽  
Daniela Florescu ◽  
Dragoş Nedelcu
Keyword(s):  
Power Flow ◽  
Ball Valve ◽  
Power Lines ◽  
Flow Simulations ◽  
Operation Analysis ◽  
Flow Parameters ◽  
Valve Opening ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Valve Operation ◽  
Loan Losses

This paper aims to highlight the current line of flow through a ball valve for opening its different angles. We chose to study the values of values 30o, 45o, 60o and 75o as represented in figures. Flow simulations were performed using Fluent 6.3 software, power lines are marked by their tangent vectors speed. For a default value of power flow and pressure were represented power lines following the turbulence and hence the increased loan losses occur. This ball valve operation analysis may reveal different hydraulic energy losses given conditions different valve opening and leads to a modern design and dynamic analysis of operation.

scholarly journals Investigating the Formation of Submesoscale Structures along Mesoscale Fronts and Estimating Kinematic Quantities Using Lagrangian Drifters

Fluids ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 159 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Lodise ◽  
Tamay Özgökmen ◽  
Rafael C. Gonçalves ◽  
Mohamed Iskandarani ◽  
Björn Lund ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Vertical Transport ◽  
Surface Ocean ◽  
Western Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Lagrangian Drifters ◽  
Velocity Gradients ◽  
Novel Method

Much of the vertical transport near the surface of the ocean, which plays a critical role in the transport of dissolved nutrients and gases, is thought to be associated with ageostrophic submesoscale phenomena. Vertical velocities are challenging not only to model accurately, but also to measure because of how difficult they are to locate in the surface waters of the ocean. Using unique massive drifter releases during the Lagrangian Submesoscale Experiment (LASER) campaign in the Gulf of Mexico and the Coherent Lagrangian Pathways from the Surface Ocean to the Interior (CALYPSO) experiment in the Mediterranean Sea, we investigate the generation of submesoscale structures along two different mesoscale fronts. We use a novel method to project Lagrangian trajectories to Eulerian velocity fields, in order to calculate horizontal velocity gradients at the surface, which are used as a proxy for vertical transport. The velocity reconstruction uses a squared-exponential covariance function, which characterizes velocity correlations in horizontal space and time, and determines the scales of variation using the data itself. SST and towed CTD measurements support the findings revealed by the drifter data. Due to the production of a submesoscale instability eddy in the Gulf of Mexico, convergence magnitudes of up to ∼20 times the planetary vorticity, f, are observed, the value of which is almost 3 times larger than that found in the mesoscale dominated Western Mediterranean Sea.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document