Archer, a global oil services company and well integrity specialist, has launched the VIVIDTM acoustic listening platform — a patented, highly sensitive, acoustic technology that detects, investigates and locates leaks in real-time, verifies cement barrier seals and characterizes downhole events with unparalleled precision. The announcement was made at the SPE/ICoTA Coiled Tubing and Well Intervention Conference and Exhibition taking place in Houston this week.
The VIVIDTM platform consists of full-spectrum acoustic sensors that accurately measure the broadest frequency bandwidth and amplitude of acoustic energy with industry-leading sensitivity and can even locate previously indiscernible low energy leaks. Developed by Archer’s Research and Development team and independently-tested, VIVIDTM will play a key role in casing and completion evaluation, cement performance evaluation and turbulent flow analysis.
“Our VIVIDTM acoustic listening platform represents a major turning point in the industry — detecting leaks that were previously undetectable and generating previously unavailable downhole information,” said Peter Kleinbichler, Wireline Vice President Sales & Marketing at Archer.
He continues: “With an increased industry focus on efficiencies, costs and safety, VIVIDTM is the right technology for the right time — providing the clearest answers yet on downhole events, improving oil & gas performance, and providing documented evidence that operators are addressing safety and regulatory requirements during both the operational and P&A phases of the well lifecycle.”
Key applications for VIVIDTM include:
Casing and completion evaluation with the acoustic technology able to detect leaks while logging dynamically in the presence of road or surface noise; characterize leak responses in gas and liquid, and gas bubble flow; locate gas migration behind casing that was previously below detection thresholds and identify cross flow behind perforations;
Cement performance evaluation with VIVIDTM determining the sealing quality of the cement; evaluating flow in the presence of micro-annuli; and establishing minimum flow levels through a cement barrier; and
Turbulence mapping where turbulent flow can be mapped in real-time with VIVIDTM’‘s full broadband spectrum and sensitivity supporting production flow characterization and mitigation of completion damage.
The testing of VIVIDTM took place at IRIS AS (The International Research Institute of Stavanger) in partnership with DrillWell (The Drilling and Well Centre for Improved Recovery). DrillWell’s objective is to improve drilling and well technology and includes AkerBP, ConocoPhillips, Statoil and Wintershall as its’ industrial partners.
Full bandwidth – full information
With it’s industry leading sensitivity and unparalleled frequency bandwidth, VIVID brings clarity to downhole fluid movement evaluation.Combining innovative sensor technology with interactive processing, Archer’s next generation acoustic listening platform expands the envelope to encompass a frequency range all the way from audible up to high frequency ultrasound, creating the first truly broadband listening platform
Expanding the acoustic envelope
Turbulent fluid movement in the downhole environment, both wanted and unwanted, generates sound energy across a broad frequency spectrum. Conventional tools are only sensitive to a limited range, traditionally either low or high frequency, with the remainder of the spectrum overlooked.
VIVID is equipped with dual sensors, each optimised for different frequency ranges, to optimise response over the entire measurement range. An innovative pressure balanced mounting design allows the acoustic window of each sensor to be directly coupled to well fluid, eliminating the need for oil-filled pressure compensation chambers, leading to minimum transmission loss, maximum sensitivity and rugged reliability.Fully combinable with additional sensors for complete evaluation of integrity dynamics.
Key Benefits
– Diagnose tubing, casing and zonal isolation failures without pulling the completion
– Precise identification of fluid movement depths
– Spectrum analysis allows characterisation of leak behaviour
– Real-time display allows rapid on-site evaluation
– Industry leading sensitivity reveals previously undiscernable leaks
Sensitivity and precision
Utilising the full acoustic frequency spectrum allows detection of small signals behind multiple casing strings, while the known properties of ultrasound allow very precise depth information.
High sensitivity allows detection of very small fluid flows, even in cement where conventional bond tools indicate zonal isolation.
Broadband understanding
Fully broadband data sampled at high resolution allows characterisation of the type of leak as well as the fluids involved.Interactive analysis software allows the full spectrum of data to be viewed in a variety of formats to enalbe full understanding.
In this example, gas entry into liquid filled tubing through a leaking unloading valve is cleary seen on the spectrum view. applying simple bandwidth equalisation shows both the entry point of the gas and also the characteristic signature of gas bubbling through a liquid column.
Traditional noise level curves are generated over specific frequency ranges and precisely locate the depth of the gas entry. Auxilliary measurments run in combination with VIVID complete the picture for a full understanding of the downhole environment.
Physical property:
Outer diameter 1-11/16” [43 mm]
Length 29.3” [745 mm]
Weight 10.8 lb [4.9 kg]
Environmental:
Maximum temperature 350°F [177°C]
Maximum pressure 15,000 psi [1 034 bar]
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