Annular Barrier System Leak Testing Without Integrity Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
It is challenging to leak-test annular packers without breaking the pressure integrity between metal casings, as injecting a tracer into the formation fluid compromises the integrity.
Innovation Solution
An annular barrier system with expandable metal sleeves and sensors that allow for leak-testing without compromising pressure integrity, using a fluid passage to expand the sleeves and measure properties like pressure, temperature, or gas presence to assess isolation ability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a tracer is injected into the formation fluid to test the packer, then the leak-testing capability is improved, but the pressure integrity is broken
Solution Approach 1:
A gas chamber is introduced as an intermediary component between the annular barriers. The gas chamber allows for pressure testing by containing gas that can be pressurized independently, enabling leak detection through pressure measurement without requiring tracer injection into the formation fluid, thus maintaining pressure integrity while achieving leak-testing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the testing function by separating the leak-testing mechanism from the formation fluid. Instead of testing through the formation fluid with tracer injection, the system creates a separate gas-filled chamber that can be pressurized and tested independently, allowing leak detection without compromising the integrity of the formation fluid system
2Reliability
If the annular packer is isolated to maintain pressure integrity, then the pressure integrity is preserved, but the leak-testing ability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The gas chamber is nested within the annular space between the first and second annular barriers. This nested structure allows the gas chamber to be contained within the isolated annular region, enabling pressure testing of the packer system without requiring communication with the formation fluid outside the barriers, thus maintaining pressure integrity while enabling leak-testing
Solution Approach 2:
The gas chamber serves as an intermediary testing environment that provides a controlled space for pressure testing. By nesting this intermediary chamber within the isolated annular region, the system can perform leak tests through pressure measurement without breaking the isolation or requiring tracer injection into the formation fluid
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables effective leak-testing of annular packers without compromising pressure integrity, ensuring the well's integrity is maintained during the testing process.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor may measure a property of the fluid to determine the condition of the annular space, the property being a temperature, a pressure, a presence of gas, or a presence of a chemical tracer
Implementation Method 2
the sensor may measure a property of the fluid to determine the condition of the annular space, the property being a temperature, a pressure, a presence of gas, or a presence of a chemical tracer
Implementation Method 3
the sensor may measure a property of the fluid to determine the condition of the annular space, the property being a temperature, a pressure, a presence of gas, or a presence of a chemical tracer
Implementation Method 4
a first fluid passage in the tubular part for letting fluid into the annular barrier space to expand the sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
An annular barrier system for proving a testable annular barrier arranged between a first metal casing or borehole and a second metal casing. The annular barrier system has a first annular barrier and a second annular barrier, each barrier including a tubular part made of metal extending in a longitudinal direction for mounting as part of the second metal casing, an expandable metal sleeve surrounding and connected with the tubular part and defining an annular barrier space, and a first fluid passage in the tubular part for letting fluid into the annular barrier space to expand the sleeve. The annular barrier system further includes a sensor, and when the expandable sleeves are expanded to abut the first metal casing or borehole, a first annular space is at least partly defined between the annular barriers. The sensor is arranged to determine a condition of the annular space in order to test the isolation ability of at least one of the annular barriers.