ARTIFICIAL LIFT MONITORING & OPTIMISATION
OVERVIEW
Artificial Lift Systems (ALS) need to be actively managed to optimise performance and ensure that they are delivering a positive return on investment through a production increase over a given period of time. Monitoring real-time reservoir pressure ensures that systems are run at optimal efficiency, extending maintenance intervals.
Acoustic Data’s SonicGauge™ Wireless Monitoring System offers a downhole solution that allows engineers to observe ALS operating efficiency in real-time. ALS operating parameters can then be adjusted promptly, increasing technical efficiency and production, and protecting the system from running at an undesirable operating point that could lead to damage or reduction of run life.
The cable-less SonicGauge can be quickly installed offline before the production tubing is run-in-hole. It does not require wellhead penetration or packer pass-throughs and does not require the well to be killed when the tubing is pulled during workovers.
Prior to installation of an ALS system, downhole monitoring with the SonicGauge permits the operator to select the proper ALS for a given case and operate it under optimal technical parameters.
APPLICATIONS
BENEFITS
CASE STUDY 1 | AUSTRALIAN OPERATOR
The SonicGauge™ Wireless Monitoring System provides real-time data acquisition in order to accurately monitor the ‘real’ dynamic fluid head over the PCP during the dewatering phase and to capture early well pressure build-up parameters in two Coal Seam Gas (CSG) wells.
CHALLENGE
Real-time annulus fluid level data was required at frequent intervals in two shallow PCP wells over one year to ensure the wells were not pumped off and to capture pressure build-up data between pumping cycles. The client required a cost-effective solution that did not require a wellhead pass-through and desirably did not have a cable strapped to tubing so the tubing string could be snubbed in and out of a live well.
SOLUTION
In one well, a single SonicGauge™ sensor was installed at 239mMD, and in the other well at 316mMD—both were located directly underneath the PCPs. Both wireless gauges transmitted directly to the Surface Data Logger at surface. The planned operational life of the gauges was approximately one year, with data measured and transmitted at 1-hourly intervals. The SonicGauges were powered by 2 C cell lithium batteries.
RESULTS
The two SonicGauge™ Systems operated without fault for their 10-month (311 days and 315 days, respectively) deployment. The hourly data acquisition frequency allowed the operator to accurately monitor the ‘real’ dynamic fluid head over the PCP during the dewatering phase and to capture early well pressure build-up parameters. The graph below compares the actual wellbore pressure (7560 SonicGauge data packets) against the ‘scattered’ wellbore pressures estimated by echo-meter shots.
CASE STUDY 2 | AUSTRALIAN OPERATOR
The SonicGauge™ Wireless Monitoring System provides real-time data acquisition in order to accurately monitor the annulus fluid level to ensure that the well was not pumped off.
CHALLENGE
Annulus fluid level data was required at frequent intervals throughout the well life to ensure the well was not pumped off. The client required a solution that did not require a wellhead pass-through and desirably did not have a cable strapped to tubing so the tubing string could be snubbed in and out of a live well. Low cost and long life were necessities.
SOLUTION
A single SonicGauge™ Wireless Downhole Gauge was installed at 969mMD, transmitting directly to the Surface Data Logger. The planned operational life of the gauge was approximately six years, with data measured and transmitted at 6-hourly intervals. The gauge was powered by 2x C cell batteries.
RESULTS
The SonicGauge sensor operated faultlessly for 263 days (including during pump shut-in periods). It was recovered to surface during a workover and was left running for an additional 30 days until it was switched off for data download and firmware update. The total run time was 293 days, with the entire data set for the period being recovered.
