The Digital Oilfield — multi-year downhole-to-desktop data from multiple stations in the tubing allows engineers to continuously monitor reservoir and well performance rather than rely on snapshots from short-term testing programs, such as memory gauge surveys. Real-time multi-point data enables engineers to quickly analyse changes in production or injection rates and identify production enhancement opportunities.

The SonicGauge™ is a plug-and-play technology that provides continuous real-time data to update dynamic reservoir models for field-scale digitalisation of new and existing assets. The data is used to calculate Inflow Performance Relationship (IPR), Vertical Lift Performance (VLP) and Pressure Transient Analysis (PTA), enabling operators to increase production output and decrease the cost of production.

The wireless downhole gauges can be permanently deployed on clamps or ported subs on the outside of tubing at the time of well completion, or they can be retrofitted inside the production tubing on the slimline Barracuda™ HEX-Hanger™ via slickline or e-line. SonicRepeater stations are each equipped with onboard pressure sensors that provide real-time flowing and static pressure gradients as well as multi-zone/multi-layer monitoring.

Real-time and long-term downhole data is critical in monitoring interference and pulse tests, which involve monitoring multiple wells simultaneously to obtain reservoir descriptions. These tests are among the most important and useful for understanding well behaviour in water flood and gas injection, including CO2 storage and EOR. The data is used to determine whether two or more wells are in pressure communication in the same reservoir and, when communication exists, to provide estimates of formation permeability.

The SonicGauge™ can be retrofitted by slickline in the injection wells, providing valuable real-time injectivity index data at the commencement of water flood or gas injection and in the observation wells to monitor the pressure response over the long term, enabling accurate pressure trend data analysis to ensure that critical events such as the onset of interference or breakthrough are not missed.

At field scale, the technology provides operators with a digital oilfield to monitor all wells simultaneously for the duration of testing activities.

DRILL STEM TESTING SRO

The DST provides unique data for prospect evaluation and field development planning. It is imperative that an operator acquire reliable, high-accuracy downhole pressure and temperature data promptly to allow the reservoir evaluation to be conducted without uncertainties or delay.

The SonicGauge™ delivers real-time surface-read-out (SRO) of downhole pressure and temperature data from below the tester valve. This allows live analysis of the well test, leading to fast and informed decision-making, decreasing risk and reducing rig time.

The SonicSync™ Wireless Command+Control Platform can, for example, send wireless signals from surface to downhole to trigger third-party fluid samplers and from downhole to surface to provide positive confirmation of perforation guns being fired.

PRODUCTION WELL TESTING

Production well testing is performed to establish the Inflow Performance Relationship (IPR) and optimise Vertical Lift Performance (VLP) in a well using bottomhole pressure and temperature data and tubing gradients. To track changes in permeability and Skin over time, engineers must conduct regular Pressure Transient Analysis (PTA) tests, which require reliable data from early-time through to pressure stabilisation.

The SonicGauge™ provides real-time downhole data to support the above and allows the operator to confirm when the Pressure Build-Up (PBU) has stabilised, avoiding the guesswork associated with memory gauge surveys. This guarantees the required data capture during the test and avoids the unnecessary loss of production by enabling the well to be opened sooner, removing deferred production.

During well test flow periods, the SonicGauge™ reports real-time flowing bottom-hole pressure (FBHP) and pressure gradient points at stations along the wellbore. The technology is installed well before a well test program is started to ensure that the well is producing in a steady state before the well is shut in, providing high-quality data for the PTA.

UNDERGROUND ENERGY STORAGE

Downhole pressure, temperature and vibration monitoring of gas (UGS), hydrogen energy (HES), and compressed-air energy (CAES) storage wells provides operators with the basis for accurate material balance, fluid level calculations, and tubing stability. Governments are increasing regulatory demands for frequent and long-term monitoring of underground energy storage volume, pressure and confirmation of caprock integrity.

The SonicGauge™ allows cost-effective regulatory compliance by providing high-accuracy and high-resolution downhole data to identify the smallest deviation from expected subsurface storage pressure. The system can dynamically measure injection and production pressure gradients via the SonicRepeater stations equipped with onboard sensors deployed at strategic locations along the tubing string. Injection and production rates can be large and induce tubing oscillation, so in addition to providing pressure and temperature data, the technology can report highly sensitive vibration parameters in real-time, allowing the operator to manage injection and withdrawal rates safely.

CARBON CAPTURE & STORAGE

CCS is a strategy for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, which involves storing CO2 in depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs and saline aquifers. Monitoring and predicting the effectiveness of carbon storage requires knowledge of the injectivity index and downhole injection pressure to calculate how quickly CO2 can be injected and, thus, the overall storage rate.

The SonicGauge™ provides high-accuracy and high-resolution downhole data to monitor CO2 injection continuously, ensuring that depleted reservoirs are injected at the correct rates and pressure to prevent potential issues such as over-pressurisation. This information enables engineers to optimise storage capacity and understand the CO2 movement within the reservoir, which helps refine the injection strategy.

The SonicGauge™ can provide critical downhole data during CO2 flooding for enhanced oil recovery, which includes using real-time downhole pressure data to adjust injection rates to maximise flood efficiency. The technology provides accurate real-time information for interference and observation well monitoring in the field undergoing injection, improving oil recovery rates and refining predictive models of CO2 subsurface behaviour to improve future plans.