Automated Pressure Integrity Testing for Underground Formations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pressure integrity tests for underground formations are plagued by manual procedures, leading to poor consistency and repeatability, significant fluid losses, friction pressure losses, and unstable pump operations, making data logging, storage, and reporting challenging in the oil and gas industry.
Innovation Solution
An automated monitoring and supervisory system that real-time monitors pressure and volume data, determining relationships and providing immediate feedback and warnings on parameters like leakage rate, trapped air, and pump performance, using high-resolution sensors and advanced data analysis techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual procedures are used for operating pumps and chokes, then ease of operation is maintained, but reliability and consistency of test results deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-monitoring and self-analysis of pressure integrity test data, automatically detecting test phases, identifying anomalies, and generating reports without requiring manual intervention during the testing process
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical operation of pumps and chokes is replaced with an automated control system that uses sensors, processors, and actuators to manage the testing process, improving consistency and reliability
2Measurement precision
If manual monitoring is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and real-time analysis capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors pressure and volume data throughout the entire test process without interruption, enabling real-time detection of test phases and anomalies rather than relying on discrete manual measurements
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically analyzes monitored data in real-time and provides feedback about test status, anomalies, and quality metrics, enabling immediate adjustment of testing parameters if needed
3Reliability
If automated real-time monitoring is implemented, then reliability and consistency improve, but loss of time for data processing and analysis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically identifies test phases and prepares analysis reports in advance during the monitoring process, so that by the time the test completes, all data processing and reporting is already prepared or in progress, eliminating post-test analysis delays
Data Source
AI summary
A method of conducting a pressure integrity test for an underground formation includes: whilst fluid is supplied to and/or released and returned from the underground formation under pressure, using an automated monitoring and supervisory system to: monitor the pressure of the fluid being supplied to and/or returned from the underground formation in real-time, monitor a volume of the fluid that is supplied to and/or returned from the underground formation in real-time, determine one or more relationship(s) for the monitored pressure and the monitored volume as the pressure and the volume vary relative to each other and/or with time during the real-time monitoring thereof, and analyze the monitored pressure and volume data using the one or more relationship(s) either in real-time or after completion of the pressure integrity test in order to provide information and/or warnings concerning at least one parameter relating to the underground formation.