Well Screen-Out Prediction and Prevention via Real-Time Data Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
In hydrocarbon exploration and energy industries, rapid pressure increases during stimulation or fracturing operations can lead to screen out conditions, compromising operations and equipment safety, necessitating effective control measures to prevent such occurrences.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for monitoring energy industry operations by collecting real-time measurement data from sensors at surface and downhole locations, analyzing this data to predict potential undesirable conditions like screen outs, and automatically performing remedial actions to prevent them, using historical data patterns to anticipate and mitigate risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If real-time monitoring and automated remedial actions are implemented to prevent screen out conditions, then operational safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity and automation extent increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring operational parameters and comparing them against historical data patterns to predict screen out conditions before they occur. The automated remedial actions are prepared and executed in advance based on predicted trends, preventing the harmful condition rather than reacting after it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously collecting real-time measurement data from sensors, comparing it with historical patterns, and automatically adjusting operational parameters based on the comparison results. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt and respond to changing conditions dynamically, improving reliability through automated control.
2Ease of operation
If real-time data collection and automated analysis are performed to predict undesirable conditions, then operational control is improved, but loss of time for data processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
Historical data patterns are pre-analyzed and stored before real-time operations. During operation, the system compares real-time measurements against these pre-established patterns rather than performing full analysis from scratch, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining predictive capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex manual data analysis and decision-making with automated computational processing. The processor automatically compares measurement data patterns with historical patterns and executes remedial actions without human intervention, reducing both processing time and operational complexity.
3Productivity
If automated remedial actions are performed to prevent screen outs, then productivity is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting potential screen out conditions through pattern recognition and executing remedial actions without external intervention. The automated system monitors its own operational parameters and corrects deviations autonomously, maintaining productivity while reducing the need for manual monitoring and intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of monitoring an energy industry operation includes: collecting measurement data in real time during an energy industry operation; automatically analyzing the measurement data by a processor, wherein analyzing includes generating a measurement data pattern indicating the values of a parameter as a function of depth or time; automatically comparing the measurement data pattern to a reference data pattern generated based on historical data relating to a previously performed operation having a characteristic common to the operation; predicting whether an undesirable condition will occur during the operation based on the comparison; and based on the processor predicting that the undesirable condition will occur, estimating a time at which the undesirable condition is predicted to occur, and automatically performing a remedial action to prevent the undesirable condition from occurring.