Fiber optic faces extreme environments

Schlumberger’s new WellWatcher BriteBlue harsh environment multimode fiber can be used as a distributed sensor for applications such as Distributed Temperature Sensing or for high-speed communication between downhole sensors and a surface acquisition unit. The fiber was designed especially for use in extreme heat and hydrogen environments —environments that can cause most optical fibers to degrade in physical integrity and performance over time. It is suitable for thermal heavy oil recovery applications. As a permanent in-well reservoir monitoring system, it can help operators to identify and resolve problems quickly, reducing downtime and related costs while improving production management and recovery. The WellWatcher Ultra distributed temperature system surface unit acquires downhole temperature profiles. The system can measure up to 9.3 miles (15 km) of fiber at a meter’s resolution, update data in just a few seconds, resolve temperatures to 31°F (0.01ºC), and interrogate numerous fibers from one surface system.

www.slb.com/completions

Interact with rocks

Mercury Computer Systems has released its Avizo 5 Earth Edition software, which is a multifaceted framework for integrating, manipulating, and visualizing seismic, geology, reservoir engineering, and petrography datasets. Geophysicists and geologists can use this system to import, manage, interact with, and visualize multiple sources within a single environment. The tool is applicable across the full spectrum of visual applications, including seismic data QC, pre-processing, and interpretation; reservoir modeling, characterization, and simulation; drilling planning, flow simulation, and engineering;

3-D petrography, core sample analysis, and borehole imaging; and engineering design, training, and simulation. The software offers on-demand access to very large data volumes (up to several TeraBytes) of multimodality datasets including seismic data volumes, 3-D imaging, flow simulation, 3-D grids, and SEGY files. Users can work on jobs with multiple 2-D and 3-D views. The company also provides a full range of software and hardware components that can assist users in creating added-value solutions for the oil and gas industry.

3dviz.mc.com

Wireless system transmits CT data

AnTech Ltd., an engineering design and manufacturing company, has a new suite of data acquisition systems (Daq>) designed for use during coiled tubing (CT) operations. Each system measures, records and transmits real-time data on depth, temperature, pressure, flow and load that is critical to CT operations. The new range offers CT engineers a scaleable approach to wellsite data acquisition. The wireless Daq>W is a flexible option that operates without cables. The modular, battery-powered system gathers data through wireless mesh-networked sensors and immediately stores them in the transmitting unit’s memory. The data can then be transmitted at regular intervals — from 164 to 328 ft (50 to 100 m) away depending on environmental conditions — at a rate of 160 bits/second. The transmitters work at such a low power they are safe to use in close proximity to perforating operations. Where cabling is not an issue, the hardwired Daq>H serves as a companion to the wireless system to directly acquire data on the CT unit. Additionally, the simple user interface provides operators with the necessary information with little interaction, so that no PC is required to display or record data.

www.antech.co.uk

Software advances functionality

Paradigm released GOCAD Version 2.5.2, which includes four new applications for advanced functionality in E&P projects. The reservoir engineering and advanced geologic and seismic interpretation suite now has new workflow-based applications for improved functionality and interconnectivity in structural analysis, and incorporates many improvements from customer comments and suggestions. The version was designed to extend interdisciplinary 3-D subsurface modeling with integrated workflows, rigorous data analysis, new documentation, and the addition of plug-in extensions. It produces more accurate results and accelerates data processing, resulting in higher quality reservoir models. GOCAD 2.5.2 presents a Microsoft-certified graphical user interface and introduces four new plug-in applications. The restoration module (Kine3D-2 and Kine3-D-3) offers 2-D and 3-D restoration for advanced structural analysis to help geologists create coherent geologic interpretations when 3-D seismic data is scarce. The finite element mesh constructor (Tessellation Workflow) builds tetrahedral meshes for use in 3-D restoration, and the reservoir risk assessment (Jacta Cluster) application accelerates compute time in reservoir uncertainty analysis for faster reserve estimation and superior risk analysis.

www.pdgm.com

Proppant achieves partial monolayer

Halliburton’s MonoProp provides a partial monolayer induced by the proppant results in very high fracture conductivity, which can lead to improved production. The low density of the proppant makes it easy to place with low viscosity fluids while ensuring a uniform distribution. The patented proppant deforms and maintains a conductive path while without crushing or producing fines when exposed to closure stress. The high performance polymer alloy constituting the proppant is also resistant to diagenesis, eliminating geochemical reactions and deposits and provides long-term conductivity. Flowback is minimized due to trapping of the proppant particles by the closing fracture. This also means that less proppant material is pumped than in comparable treatments. The company’s latest proppant is designed for use hydraulic fracturing and can be placed with conventional gelled fluids.

www.halliburton.com

Patch isolates perforations

TIW (UK) Ltd. successfully installed its first XPatch Expandable Casing Patch system in the UK sector of the North Sea. The system was installed on behalf of CNR International (UK) Ltd. to isolate perforations at its Ninian Platform located 108 miles (175 km) offshore the Shetland Islands, Scotland. The company needed an effective way to isolate two sets of perforations and convert the well from an oil producer to a water injector, while maintaining the option of re-perforating one of the straddled zones at a later date, if required. The expandable patch system was chosen due to its simple design, metal-to-metal sealing capability, and its cost compared to similar workover systems. It was installed in a three-step configuration from 14,260 to 12,627 ft (4,349 to 3,851 m) at an 80° well angle. The system is suitable for most wellbore inclinations from high angle and horizontal to monobore and slim hole. It can be used in high pressure and was first tested for geothermal applications.

www.tiw-uk.com

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