Well System Component Pressure Integrity Testing via Supply Line Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pressure testing methods for hydrocarbon well systems struggle to accurately determine if components are leaking due to the influence of supply lines, particularly in varying environmental conditions, making it difficult to achieve a steady state pressure reading.
Innovation Solution
A method involving isolating a component of the well system and pressurizing it via two supply lines, then measuring and subtracting the pressure changes in the supply lines to isolate the component's pressure integrity, allowing for accurate analysis of the component's leakage status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the choke line and component are pressurized together to test for leaks, then the testing can be performed using existing infrastructure, but the choke line's pressure changes interfere with accurately determining component leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The testing process is segmented into distinct phases: first isolating and pressurizing only the supply line to measure its pressure changes, then pressurizing the component separately. This segmentation allows the interference from supply line pressure changes to be eliminated, resolving the contradiction between using existing infrastructure and achieving accurate measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The supply line is pressurized and tested for pressure changes before the component is pressurized. This preliminary action establishes a baseline measurement of supply line behavior, which can then be used to interpret component test results more accurately, resolving the measurement interference issue.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the entire length of the choke line is subjected to varying environmental conditions during testing, then the testing reflects real operating conditions, but temperature and pressure effects on the choke line make it difficult to determine steady state pressure changes
Solution Approach 1:
The testing is segmented so that the supply line is tested separately from the component. By isolating the supply line measurement, the environmental effects on the choke line no longer interfere with the component leakage determination, allowing steady state to be more accurately identified while still reflecting real operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The isolated supply line pressure measurement acts as an intermediary that accounts for environmental effects. By measuring and accounting for supply line pressure changes separately, the true component pressure changes can be determined, resolving the interference from environmental conditions.
3Reliability
If more rigorous requirements are imposed for verifying steady state in pressure change, then leak detection accuracy improves, but the influence of supply line pressure effects becomes more significant
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful effect of supply line pressure changes is extracted and measured separately. By isolating and measuring supply line pressure changes independently, these effects are removed from the component test data, enabling more rigorous steady state verification without interference, thus improving leak detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The separate supply line pressure measurement serves as an intermediary that compensates for supply line effects. This intermediary measurement allows rigorous steady state verification by providing correction data that eliminates supply line interference from component test results.
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
This approach enables precise determination of pressure integrity by isolating the supply lines' contribution, providing a clear indication of whether the well system components are leaking or not, thus enhancing safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
Implementation Method 1
the first supply line, the second supply line, and the component are pressurized to a test pressure
Implementation Method 2
obtaining first data that indicates first pressure changes in the first supply line over a period of time
Data Source
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AI summary
A component of a well system can be tested by pressurizing the component of the well system a test pressure via two supply lines connected to the component of the well system, e.g. a choke line and a kill line. Then, a first of the two supply lines can be isolated from the second supply line and the component of the well :system. The change in pressure can be measured in the first supply line and the change in pressure can be independently measured in the second supply line and the component of the well system. The change in pressure of the first supply line can be subtracted from the change in pressure of the second supply line and the component. Then, the change in pressure for the component can be analyzed to determine if the component of the well system is maintaining pressure integrity, i.e. leaking or not leaking.