Measurements During Drilling Through an Innovative Microchip Technology to Determine Accurate Wellbore Properties for Efficient Drilling Operations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zuyang Zhu ◽  
Jinhai Zhao ◽  
Amol Mulunjkar ◽  
Rached Rached ◽  
Eduardo Gramajo ◽  
...  

Abstract The measurement of the drilling parameters such as temperature and pressure helps mitigate drilling-related issues and optimize drilling operations on a cost-effective basis. Multiple technologies can measure these parameters; however, the current tools suffer from low bandwidth, associated high cost, and limited measurement locations near the drill bit. This reduced accuracy and transmission rate while drilling can be improved using intelligent microchip tracers and micro-memory balls. These tools can measure the temperature and pressure across an entire wellbore. The proposed tracers include a microprocessor-based circuit board equipped with sensors, a communication antenna, and a rechargeable battery, all protected from the harsh downhole environment through a robust composite material. The advanced microchip tracers and micro-memory ball technologies were tested in the field and provided innovative measurement platforms. The field tests were conducted in various environments, including oil and gas wells, deviated wells, multiple hole sizes, varied fluid densities, and different BHA (Bottom Hole Assembly) geometries. During the operation procedures, the tracers travel in the drilling strings through the drill bit and return to the surface across the annulus. The data is then exported from the tracers for a quasi-real-time analysis. The results showed high success rates, four out of six microchips were successfully retrieved, and the data was made available for immediate analysis. This paper explains the challenges faced during the logging and interpretation of the data needed to define the wellbore characteristics for efficient drilling processes. The developed time-stepping algorithm correlates the measurement timestamp with the calculated depth. Lastly, the report summarizes the highlights of the tracers in terms of density, release mechanism, and collection method.

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 4499
Author(s):  
Catalin Teodoriu ◽  
Opeyemi Bello

The present article analyzes the technological advancement and innovations related to drilling operations. It covers the review of currently proven and emerging technologies that could mitigate the drilling operational deficiencies and instabilities that could hinder operational performance activities and the economic part of drilling development with great effort to minimize their environmental footprint. Drilling system design and operations are among the major aspects and cost-effective endeavors of the oil and gas industries, which are therefore technology dependent. They are also considered to be among the most expensive operations in the world, as they require huge expenses daily. Drilling success, depending on prevalent conditions, is a function of several general factors. These include the selection of the best technologies and tools, procedural optimization, concrete problem-solving, accurate prediction, and rapid decision-making. Consequently, any sorts of tools or advanced technologies that can improve the time-efficient operational and economic performance of drilling activities are essential and demanded. The paper provides a review of available technologies and developmental innovations based on both company-based and academic research-enabled drilling solutions over the past 5 years in the field of drilling systems and technological design. The paper further highlighted potential technologies that could be tapped in from other industries and could possibly be adopted by pushing the conventional boundaries of drilling operations.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Persent ◽  
Francois Grosjean ◽  
Daniel Averbuch ◽  
Eléonore Roguet

Abstract Oil and Gas companies are considering drilling operations in the challenging high-pressure/high-temperature (HP/HT) environment, which requires new equipment to be qualified to 20,000 psi working pressure and 350°F maximum temperature. In this study, IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN) has considered the use of composite-reinforced steel Choke and Kill (C&K) lines for retrofitting an existing drilling riser equipped with 15,000 psi steel C&K lines to HP/HT applications. The feasibility of this upgrade solution has been validated through composite material testing and design studies. The composite provides a 20,000 psi Choke and Kill line that is lighter than a 15,000 psi steel line for (almost) the same outer diameter (OD) while maintaining a nominal inner diameter (ID) of 4.5" for safer operations and ensuring a large safety margin on burst. These major advantages allow the C&K lines to be replaced without increasing the riser mass and with no other modification on the riser design. In particular, the expensive buoyancy modules can be kept in place. Through combining the best features of steel and composite, this technology offers a cost-effective way to upgrade an existing drilling riser to 20,000 psi/350°F applications.


Author(s):  
Y. Anggoro

The Belida field is an offshore field located in Block B of Indonesia’s South Natuna Sea. This field was discovered in 1989. Both oil and gas bearing reservoirs are present in the Belida field in the Miocene Arang, Udang and Intra Barat Formations. Within the middle Arang Formation, there are three gas pay zones informally referred to as Beta, Gamma and Delta. These sand zones are thin pay zones which need to be carefully planned and economically exploited. Due to the nature of the reservoir, sand production is a challenge and requires downhole sand control. A key challenge for sand control equipment in this application is erosion resistance without inhibiting productivity as high gas rates and associated high flow velocity is expected from the zones, which is known to have caused sand control failure. To help achieve a cost-effective and easily planned deployment solution to produce hydrocarbons, a rigless deployment is the preferred method to deploy downhole sand control. PSD analysis from the reservoir zone suggested from ‘Industry Rules of Thumb’ a conventional gravel pack deployment as a means of downhole sand control. However, based on review of newer globally proven sand control technologies since adoption of these ‘Industry Rules of Thumb’, a cost-effective solution could be considered and implemented utilizing Ceramic Sand Screen technology. This paper will discuss the successful application at Block B, Natuna Sea using Ceramic Sand Screens as a rigless intervention solution addressing the erosion / hot spotting challenges in these high rate production zones. The erosion resistance of the Ceramic Sand Screen design allows a deployment methodology directly adjacent to the perforated interval to resist against premature loss of sand control. The robust ceramic screen design gave the flexibility required to develop a cost-effective lower completion deployment methodology both from a challenging make up in the well due to a restrictive lubricator length to the tractor conveyancing in the well to land out at the desired set depth covering the producing zone. The paper will overview the success of multi-service and product supply co-operation adopting technology enablers to challenge ‘Industry Rules of Thumb’ replaced by rigless reasoning as a standard well intervention downhole sand control solution where Medco E&P Natuna Ltd. (Medco E&P) faces sand control challenges in their high deviation, sidetracked well stock. The paper draws final attention to the hydrocarbon performance gain resulting due to the ability for choke free production to allow drawing down the well at higher rates than initially expected from this zone.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 399
Author(s):  
Mohamad Alremeihi ◽  
Rosemary Norman ◽  
Kayvan Pazouki ◽  
Arun Dev ◽  
Musa Bashir

Oil drilling and extraction platforms are currently being used in many offshore areas around the world. Whilst those operating in shallow seas are secured to the seabed, for deeper water operations, Dynamic Positioning (DP) is essential for the platforms to maintain their position within a safe zone. Operating DP requires intelligent and reliable control systems. Nearly all DP accidents have been caused by a combination of technical and human failures; however, according to the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) DP Incidents Analysis, DP control and thruster system failures have been the leading causes of incidents over the last ten years. This paper will investigate potential operational improvements for DP system accuracy by adding a Predictive Neural Network (PNN) control algorithm in the thruster allocation along with a nonlinear Proportional Integral derivative (PID) motion control system. A DP system’s performance on a drilling platform in oil and gas deep-water fields and subject to real weather conditions is simulated with these advanced control methods. The techniques are developed for enhancing the safety and reliability of DP operations to improve the positioning accuracy, which may allow faster response to a critical situation during DP drilling operations. The semisubmersible drilling platform’s simulation results using the PNN strategy show improved control of the platform’s positioning.


Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Levent E. Aygun ◽  
Vivek Kumar ◽  
Campbell Weaver ◽  
Matthew Gerber ◽  
Sigurd Wagner ◽  
...  

Damage significantly influences response of a strain sensor only if it occurs in the proximity of the sensor. Thus, two-dimensional (2D) sensing sheets covering large areas offer reliable early-stage damage detection for structural health monitoring (SHM) applications. This paper presents a scalable sensing sheet design consisting of a dense array of thin-film resistive strain sensors. The sensing sheet is fabricated using flexible printed circuit board (Flex-PCB) manufacturing process which enables low-cost and high-volume sensors that can cover large areas. The lab tests on an aluminum beam showed the sheet has a gauge factor of 2.1 and has a low drift of 1.5 μ ϵ / d a y . The field test on a pedestrian bridge showed the sheet is sensitive enough to track strain induced by the bridge’s temperature variations. The strain measured by the sheet had a root-mean-square (RMS) error of 7 μ ϵ r m s compared to a reference strain on the surface, extrapolated from fiber-optic sensors embedded within the bridge structure. The field tests on an existing crack showed that the sensing sheet can track the early-stage damage growth, where it sensed 600 μ ϵ peak strain, whereas the nearby sensors on a damage-free surface did not observe significant strain change.


Author(s):  
R. Song ◽  
Z. Kang ◽  
Yuanlong Qin ◽  
Chunrun Li

Pipeline bundle system consisting of carrier pipe, sleeve pipe and internal flowlines offers innovative solution for the infield transportation of oil and gas. Due to its features, pipeline bundle offers a couple of advantages over conventional pipeline in particular for cases where multi-flowlines and high thermal performance are of great interests. The main benefits and advantages of such system include excellent thermal performance to prevent wax formation and hydrates, multiple bundled flowlines, mechanical and corrosion protection, potential reuse, etc. With the developments of offshore oil and gas industries, more and more hydrocarbon resources are being explored and discovered from shallow to deep water. Pipeline bundle system can be a smart solution for certain applications, which can be safe and cost effective solution. The objective of this paper is to overview pipeline bundle technology, outline detailed engineering design issue and procedure. Focus is given to its potential application in offshore for infield transportation. Engineering design principles and procedures for pipeline bundle system has been highlighted. A companion paper addressed the details of the construction and installation of pipeline bundle system. An example is given at the end of this paper to demonstrate the pipeline bundle system concept and its application.


2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.. Francis-LaCroix ◽  
D.. Seetaram

Abstract Trinidad and Tobago offshore platforms have been producing oil and natural gas for over a century. Current production of over 1500 Bcf of natural gas per year (Administration, 2013) is due to extensive reserves in oil and gas. More than eighteen of these wells are high-producing wells, producing in excess of 150 MMcf per day. Due to their large production rates, these wells utilize unconventionally large tubulars 5- and 7-in. Furthermore, as is inherent with producing gas, there are many challenges with the production. One major challenge occurs when wells become liquid loaded. As gas wells age, they produce more liquids, namely brine and condensate. Depending on flow conditions, the produced liquids can accumulate and induce a hydrostatic head pressure that is too high to be overcome by the flowing gas rates. Applying surfactants that generate foam can facilitate the unloading of these wells and restore gas production. Although the foaming process is very cost effective, its application to high-producing gas wells in Trinidad has always been problematic for the following reasons: Some of these producers are horizontal wells, or wells with large deviation angles.They were completed without pre-installed capillary strings.They are completed with large tubing diameters (5.75 in., 7 in.). Recognizing that the above three factors posed challenges to successful foam applications, major emphasis and research was directed toward this endeavor to realize the buried revenue, i.e., the recovery of the well's potential to produce natural gas. This research can also lead to the application of learnings from the first success to develop treatment for additional wells, which translates to a revenue boost to the client and the Trinidad economy. Successful treatments can also be used as correlations to establish an industry best practice for the treatment of similarly completed wells. This paper will highlight the successes realized from the treatment of three wells. It will also highlight the anomalies encountered during the treatment process, as well as the lessons learned from this treatment.


Author(s):  
Jialin Tian ◽  
Jie Wang ◽  
Siqi Zhou ◽  
Yinglin Yang ◽  
Liming Dai

Excessive stick–slip vibration of drill strings can cause inefficiency and unsafety of drilling operations. To suppress the stick–slip vibration that occurred during the downhole drilling process, a drill string torsional vibration system considering the torsional vibration tool has been proposed on the basis of the 4-degree of freedom lumped-parameter model. In the design of the model, the tool is approximated by a simple torsional pendulum that brings impact torque to the drill bit. Furthermore, two sliding mode controllers, U1 and U2, are used to suppress stick–slip vibrations while enabling the drill bit to track the desired angular velocity. Aiming at parameter uncertainty and system instability in the drilling operations, a parameter adaptation law is added to the sliding mode controller U2. Finally, the suppression effects of stick–slip and robustness of parametric uncertainty about the two proposed controllers are demonstrated and compared by simulation and field test results. This paper provides a reference for the suppression of stick–slip vibration and the further study of the complex dynamics of the drill string.


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