echometer ppt

Gas Well Deliquification Workshop

Sheraton Hotel, Denver, Colorado

February 17 20, 2013

Intrinsically Safe Acoustic Instrument Used in Troubleshooting Gas Lift Wells

Lynn Rowlan, Echometer Company

Carrie-Anne Taylor, Echometer Company

Technicians Van & Wellhouse: Alaskas North Slope

Stringent safety requirements, by major operators when fluid level

measurements are performed offshore or in enclosed wellhead spaces

such as in Alaskas North Slope, create procedural complications.

2 Feb. 17 20, 2013 2013 Gas Well Deliquification Workshop Denver, Colorado

Offshore Platform Santa Barbara California

1. Some operators require Safe instruments in certain locations, most offshore platforms and certain fields.

2. Some Countries and States require Safe instruments in all oil and gas related operations.

3. Gas Lift is common artificial lift method for high rate wells

Intrinsically Safe Acoustic Instruments

3 Feb. 17 20, 2013 2013 Gas Well Deliquification Workshop Denver, Colorado

Fluid Level on Gas Lifted Horizontal Well

4 2013 Gas Well Deliquification Workshop

Denver, Colorado

Feb. 17 20, 2013

Liquid Level at Measured

Depth of 10061 Feet

Above Packer (10081) and Bottom Valve (10041)

128 BL/D 140 Mscf/D

Liner Top

Echoes from Gas Lift Mandrels Do Not Lineup


Denver, Colorado

Feb. 17 20, 2013

Average Acoustic Velocity 1134

ft/sec from Echo off 4.5 Liner Top

Press = 513 psig Temp = 70Deg F

Press = 688 psig Temp = 180Deg F

Liner Top Used for Distance to LL

E

Acoustic Velocity Increases from 1072 ft/sec @ Surface to 1238 ft/sec at the 10061 ft Liquid Level Surface


Denver, Colorado

Feb. 17 20, 2013

Press = 513 psia Temp = 70Deg F

Press = 688 psia Temp = 180Deg F

Anomaly Marker Analysis Method

Purpose Accurately calculate the distance to the liquid level plus other downhole reflectors such as

gas lift valves, tubing collars, subsurface safety

valves and possible holes or other problems.

Distances Determined using echoes from gas-lift valves at known distances from the wellhead.

Accounts for Variations of acoustic velocity commonly observed in most wellbores due to

variations of temperature, pressure and gas

composition as a function of depth.


Denver, Colorado

Feb. 17 20, 2013

Anomalies are Markers in the Well at Known Distances

Anomaly distances are entered as Well Marker Info

Initially based on an estimated acoustic velocity, tick marks along the depth axis are located at distances that

would correspond to the location of the anomaly echoes.

Anomalies dont match echoes, relocates each tick mark to match exactly the beginning of the echo for a specific

anomaly.

Anomaly echoes are fixed to known depths by starting from the first anomaly, then from the first anomaly to the

second anomaly and so on until the distance to the

liquid level is accurately determined.


Denver, Colorado

Feb. 17 20, 2013

Anomaly Analysis Example

4 Feb. 6 - 10, 2012 2012 Gas-Lift Workshop

Collars Anomaly Echo

Noisy Initial Acoustic Trace With Anomaly Echoes

9

Scale up trace to see better.

See Echoes Better by Removing Noise From Acoustic Trace

10

Identify/Select Correct Liquid Level Echo

Move the LL marker to the knee of the kick.

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Liquid Level Depth is Approximate

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Known Depth of Anomalies

13

Make Depth Accurate by Identifying Each Anomaly

SSSV

14

At first glance, it appears the

automatic pick of marker is a

little to the left of the kick.

Next Anomaly Automatically Selected

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But we also see a kick to

the left of the marker.

Some quick calculations

tell us that this is not a

repeat.

Select Interval Left to get a

clear picture of the

reflection located just

below the 6 second mark.

Fine Tune Location of Selected Anomaly

16

This is a much more likely

position for the placement

of the next marker.

Examine the Acoustic Trace and Select Correct Echo

17

Continue Down Trace Selecting Anomaly Echoes

If the correct marker is not

selected, then move window to see

the marker echo.

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19

Scale UP if needed to verify

that this is the last marker

before the liquid level.


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Gas Lift Mandrel 8 and the

Packer are below the liquid

level marker so these last two

markers can be skipped.

Anomaly Echoes Below the Liquid Level are Negligible

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Accurate Distance to Liquid Level Using Anomaly Depths

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Discussion of Anomaly Analysis

New Technology Does the Calculations on the Acoustic Trace for You

Identifying Anomaly Echoes is Simplified

Marker Depths are Automatically Determined

Manual Adjustments Required For Accuracy

Data is digital and not on a Strip of Paper, so Safe Backup of Information is Done

Recall of Data and Re-analysis is a Straight Forward Process


Denver, Colorado

Feb. 17 20, 2013

Intrinsically safe equipment and wiring

shall not be capable of releasing sufficient

electrical or thermal energy under normal

or abnormal conditions to cause ignition

of a specific atmospheric mixture in its

most easily ignited concentration.

Intrinsically Safe Equipment

Feb. 17 20, 2013 2013 Gas Well Deliquification Workshop Denver, Colorado

24

Classification of Hazardous Zones

Rod Pumped Well: API-RP500

Division 1 Zone

In the sump;

Hydrocarbon gases

heavier than air may

accumulate.

Division 2 Zone

Surrounding the tree,

stuffing box, and a

portion of the flowline.

Feb. 17 20, 2013 25

Explosion Prevention Methods

Explosion-Proof Enclosures

Purging or Pressurization

Encapsulation

Oil Immersion or Powder Filling

Intrinsic Safety

Feb. 17 20, 2013 26 2013 Gas Well Deliquification Workshop Denver, Colorado

Requirements for Intrinsic Safety

Simple Apparatus

Thermocouples, RTDs, switches, LEDs

Strain Gage type pressure transducer, dynamometer load cell transducers

Intrinsically Safe Certified Apparatus

Transmitters, current to pressure converters, solenoid valves,

piezoelectric microphones

Intrinsic Safety Barrier


Intrinsically Safe Field Devices

Gas Gun Acoustic Instruments

Microphones used in the wellhead attachments include piezoelectric crystals. Special intrinsic

safety barrier microphones are manufactured.

Solenoid device on the remotely fire gas guns must be Encapsulated and power line must be

Pressurized for intrinsic certification.

So often the acoustic instrument will be manually operated and fired.


2013 Gas Well Deliquification Workshop

Denver, Colorado

Intrinsically Safe 5000 psi Gas Gun Often used to Shoot Gas Lift Wells

5000 psi rated Gas Gun is

modified, as shown by the

engravings, with a special

microphone for use in

hazardous areas.

Feb. 17 20, 2013 29

Intrinsically Safe Fluid Level Instruments

Computerized Recorder or Strip Chart Recorder

Modified with safety circuits to limit electrical energy output in the event of a

component malfunction.

Must be installed in a safe area when used with the certified gas guns that are

located in a hazardous area.


Installation Drawing for Instrument with Intrinsic Safety Barrier

Intrinsic

Safety

Barrier

Intrinsically Safe Fluid Level Instrument Located in Hazardous Area

32

When

installed

correctly and

used in

conjunction

with a

certified field

device is

approved for

use inside

hazardous

environments.

Feb. 17 20, 2013

2013 Gas Well Deliquification Workshop

Denver, Colorado

33

Conclusion

Intrinsically Safe Field Instruments

1500psi Compact Gas Gun

5000psi Gas Gun, also design/construction materials meet MR-01-75 to allow use in corrosive CO2 and H2S environments

Intrinsically Safe Fluid Level Instruments

Model M Chart Recorder (Install and operate within Safe Zone)

Model H Digital Recorder (Can be operated within Hazardous Zone)

Intrinsically Safe Computerized Well Analyzer

Model E (Install and operate within Safe Zone)

Pressure Transducer, Strain Gage Dynamometer transducers considered Simple Apparatus


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Display the presentation at the Workshop.

Place it on the www.alrdc.com web site, with access to the site to be as directed by the Workshop Steering Committee.

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Other use of this presentation is prohibited without the expressed written permission of the author(s). The owner company(ies) and/or author(s) may publish this material in other journals or magazines if they refer to the Gas Well Deliquification Workshop where it was first presented.


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The Artificial Lift Research and Development Council and its officers and trustees, and the Gas Well Deliquification Workshop Steering Committee members, and their supporting organizations and companies (here-in-after referred to as the Sponsoring Organizations), and the author(s) of this Technical Presentation or Continuing Education Training Course and their company(ies), provide this presentation and/or training material at the Gas Well Deliquification Workshop "as is" without any warranty of any kind, express or implied, as to the accuracy of the information or the products or services referred to by any presenter (in so far as such warranties may be excluded under any relevant law) and these members and their companies will not be liable for unlawful actions and any losses or damage that may result from use of any presentation as a consequence of any inaccuracies in, or any omission from, the information which therein may be contained.

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echometer ppt

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