21. Measurement While Drilling (MWD) and its Application in
Directional Drilling MWD (Measurement While Drilling) is a system developed to perform drilling related measurements downhole and transmit information to the surface while drilling a well. The Measurement While Drilling (MWD) Tool came in to application in early 1970s. Before the introuction of MWD! all sur"ey ata #ere o$taine $y stopping the rilling process for #ireline logging. %or #ireline logging! #e ha to stop the rilling process! put the rill pipe on slip! $rea& out 'elly! lo#er the #ireline tool! retrie"e the tool! rea the sur"ey an plan the further action. This use to increase the non proucti"e time (()T). The MWD tool transmitte the sur"ey reaing to surface through the mu stream in the rill pipe. The rilling process #as stoppe for fe# minutes an sur"ey reaings #ere o$taine in pump off conition. This sa"e times to greater e*tent compare to #ireline logging. The transmission of sur"ey ata though mu stream #as one of the means. +ther means of transmission #ere electromagnetic an acaustic #hich #ere e"elope in later stages. Thus MWD #as consiere a $etter option for sur"ey ata transmission compare to #ireline proceure. ,nitially the system eli"ere three $asic information- ,nclination! ./imuth an Toolface. These three parameters helpe the irectional riller to position the #ell correctly to the esire target. 0ater! MWD #as e1uippe #ith 2amma 3ay sensor to etect the natural raioacti"ity an characteri/e shale presence! gauge to measure annular pressure #hich are useful in slim hole to etermine 45D! 6train gauge to measure W+B an tor1ue on $it. MWD tools can also pro"ie information a$out the conitions at the rill $it. This may inclue- 3otational spee of the rillstring 6moothness of that rotation Type an se"erity of any "i$ration o#nhole Do#nhole temperature Tor1ue an Weight on Bit! measure near the rill $it Mu flo# "olume Here I'll emphasize my discussion on MWD based on Positive Mud Pulse Telemetry. COMPONN!" O# MWD "$"!M Telemetry Channel Transmission System Power Source MWD Sensors Surface Systems TELEMET! "H#$$EL Telemetry 5hannels are the channels or meium "ia #hich the o#nhole ata is transmitte to the surface. %ollo&in' are the transmission channels used (or data transmission ) 7ar Wire Metho 4lectromagnetic Metho .caustic Metho Mu )ulse Telemetry M%D P%&" !&M!'$ Most of the MWD systems commercially a"aila$le are $ase on some form of mu pulse telemetry. The ma*or components o( a mud pulse telemetry system are sho&n in (i'ure belo&) Fig 21.1 Mud Pulse Telemetry Components The o#nhole components are all house in a nonmagnetic rill collar ((MD5). The ma*or components are) (a) a po#er source to operate the tool - it operates the tool #hen #e plan to ta&e a sur"ey ($) sensors to measure the re1uire information8 (c) a transmitter to sen the ata to surface in the form of a coe8 () a microprocessor or control system to coorinate the "arious functions of the tool - it po#ers up the sensors! stores the information that has $een measure an then acti"ates the transmitter to sen the ata in the form of a coe message. The sur(ace e+uipment consists o() (a) a stanpipe pressure transucer to etect "ariations in pressure an con"ert these to electrical signals8 ($) an electronic filtering e"ice to reuce or eliminate any interference from rig pumps or o#nhole motors that may also cause pressure "ariations8 (c) a surface computer to interpret the results8 () a rig9floor isplay to communicate the results to the riller! or plotting e"ices to prouce continuous logs T#$,MI,,I-$ ,!,TEM 7ere in transmission system , shall concentrate on the transmission "ia rilling flui! i.e.! the mu pulse telemetry. The Mud Pulse Telemetry can be (urther cate'orized into ) )ositi"e Mu )ulse Telemetry (Maximum use in industry) (egati"e Mu )ulse Telemetry 5ontinuous Wa"e Telemetry Positive Mud Pulse Telemetry ) )ositi"e mu pulse telemetry (M)T) uses a hyraulic poppet "al"e to momentarily restrict the flo# of mu through an orifice in the tool to generate an increase in pressure in the form of a positi"e pulse or pressure #a"e #hich tra"els $ac& to the surface an is etecte at the stanpipe. To transmit ata to surface! this "al"e is operate se"eral times! creating a series of pulses that are etecte $y the transucer! an ecoe $y the surface computer. The surface computer initially recogni/es a set of reference pulses! #hich are follo#e $y the ata pulses. The message is ecoe $y etecting the presence or a$sence of a pulse #ithin a particular time9frame. This $inary coe can then $e translate into a ecimal result. . chart recorer is use to monitor the se1uence of pulses. Fig 21.2 Positive Mud Pulse Telemetry Fig 21.3 Positive Mud Pulse Telemetry $e'ative Mud Pulse Telemetry (egati"e M)T uses a controlle "al"e to "ent mu momentarily from the interior of the tool into the annulus. This process generates a ecrease in pressure in the form of a negati"e pulse or pressure #a"e #hich tra"els $ac& to the surface an is etecte at the stanpipe. The rapi opening an closing of this "al"e therefore creates a rop in stanpipe that can $e etecte $y the pressure transucer. Fig 21.4 Negative Mud Pulse Telemetry
Fig 21.5 Negative Mud Pulse Telemetry
"ontinuous Wave Telemetry 5ontinuous #a"e telemetry uses a rotary "al"e or :mu siren; #ith a slotte rotor an stator #hich restricts the mu flo# in such a #ay as to generate a moulating positi"e pressure #a"e #hich tra"els to the surface an is etecte at the stanpipe. +ne of the iscs is stationary #hile the other is ri"en $y a motor. The constant spee of the motor creates a regular an continuous "ariation in pressure that is essentially a staning #a"e. This #a"e is use as a carrier to transmit the ata to surface. When information is to $e transmitte the spee of the motor is reuce so that the phase of the carrier #a"e is altere (i.e.! re"erse). The carrier #a"e is therefore moulate to represent the ata re1uire. The surface e1uipment etects these phase shifts in the pressure signal an translates this into a $inary coe. This is a more sophisticate telemetry system an offers a higher ata rate than the pre"ious t#o mu pulse methos. Fig 21.6 Continuous Wave Telemetry Fig 21. Continuous Wave Telemetry P-WE ,-."E, The MWD Tool &or/s in t&o situations ) (a) When the circulation is +( ($) When there is no circulation! i.e. #hile tripping #hen the pump is in +%% conition. .lso! once lo#ere! the MWD tool is not retrie"e $ac& to surface unless there is some &in of pro$lem #ith tool. Thus to continuously pro"ie po#er to the tool! #e re1uire a po#er source. The po&er source can be ) (a) Batteries ($) Tur$ine .lternators 0atteries ) (0ithium Battery! usually <= >) They are compact an relia$le since they contain no mo"ing parts. They ha"e a finite operational life an are temperature9epenent. $atteries. 6ince it has no relation #ith rilling flui motion! this ena$les the tool to operate #hile tripping an also ena$les operation inepenent of mu flo# hyraulics. They ha"e $een successfully use for applications in #hich only irectional ata are re1uire. .s they pro"ie a limite po#er output! they are not preferre #ith multisensor tool. Turbine #lternators ) With the tren of using multisensor tools for o#nhole sur"ey! tur$ines are $ecoming more #iely use to pro"ie po#er to the MWD tool. The flo# of mu through the tool is harnesse $y the tur$ine $laes! #hich rotate a shaft connecte to an alternator! hence generating electricity. Fig 21.! Tur"ine #lternators The electrical po#er generate must $e controlle $y a "oltage regulator. .lthough this system pro"ies more po#er an longer operating life than a $attery pac&! po#er failures can occur if the tur$ine is amage. To pre"ent this amage a screen can $e installe upstream of the tur$ine to filter out any e$ris in the mu. Fig 21.1$ Mud %&reen The screen may $e positione at the top of the rill string for ease of access if it re1uires to $e emptie or remo"e to allo# passage of #ireline tools. MWD ,E$,-, #n MWD tool is e+uipped &ith the combination o( (ollo&in' sensors dependin' upon the re+uirement ) Directional 6ensor 2amma ray 6ensor Temperature 6ensor Do#nhole W+B? Tor1ue 6ensor Tur$ine 3)M 6ensor Directional ,ensor ) The irectional sensors currently $eing use in MWD tools uses tria*ial magnetometers an accelerometers. Fig 21.1$ #&&elerometers and Magnetometors in 'ire&tional %ensor These sensors measure the re1uire angles of inclination! a/imuth an toolface. 6ince the magnetometers measure a/imuth relati"e to Magnetic (orth! the correct magnetic eclination must $e applie to the results. The 5 a*is is aligne #ith the a*is of the tool! an the B a*is efines the reference for measuring toolface angle. The angular offset $et#een the B a*is an the scri$e line of the $ent su$ must $e measure $efore running in the hole. Both magnetometers an accelerometers gi"e "oltage outputs that ha"e to $e correcte $y applying cali$ration coefficients. The correcte "oltages can then $e use to calculate the re1uire irectional angles. 6ome &in of signal (li&e #hen rill string rotation stops or #hen the pumps are shut off) are sent from surface to the MWD control system. The control system after recei"ing such signals po#er up the sensors. . transucer or motion sensor #ithin the o#nhole tool recogni/es this signal an initiates the sur"ey. During the time #hen the sensors are actually ta&ing the measurements the rill string must remain stationary for accurate results to $e o$taine. This perio is generally less than < min.! after #hich normal rilling can resume. The riller resumes the normal rilling process once the MWD rig isplay unit isplays the upate sur"ey. The measurements of inclination a/imuth an toolface are sent in a preetermine orer. ,t generally ta&es <9= min. for transmission of a complete irectional sur"ey. .ccuracy of the sur"ey - @ 0.<AB for inclination! @ <.0B for ./imuth an @ C.0B for Toolface! #hich may "ary from one tool manufacturer to other. 1amma ay ,ensor ) .ll of the earthDs roc& formations e*hi$it "arying egrees of raioacti"ity. The gamma ray log is a measurement of the natural raioacti"ity of the formations. 2amma rays are emitte $y raioacti"e elements such as isotopes of potassium! thorium an uranium. These elements are foun more commonly in shales than in other roc&s. Thus $y measuring the gamma9ray emission from a se1uence of roc&s it is therefore possi$le to ientify shale /ones. To $e most effecti"e in etecting changes of lithology! the gamma ray sensor shoul $e positione as close to the $it as possi$le! so that only a fe# feet of a ne# formation are rille $efore the tool respons. %or practical reasons! the istance $et#een the $it an the gamma9 ray sensor is a$out E ft. T&o basic types o( detectors are used by MWD companies to measure 'amma rays) (a) 2eiger9Muller tu$e ($) 6cintillation counter 1ei'er2Muller tube ) ,t consists of a cyliner that contains an inert gas at a fairly lo# pressure. . high9"oltage electroe (@ 1000 >) runs through the centre of the cham$er. .s gamma9rays enter the cham$er they cause ioni/ation of the gas! creating a flo# of fast9mo"ing electrons to#ars the central electroe as sho#n in figure $elo#.
Fig 21.13 (eiger)Muller Tu"e
The current of electrons can therefore $e use to measure the amount of gamma9rays emitte from the formation. ,cintillation counter ) ,t uses a crystal a crystal of thallium9ope soium ioie. The natural gamma9rays emitte $y the formation passes through the soium ioie crystal. The raiation e*cites the crystal! #hich prouces a flash of light or scintillations #hen the gamma ray interacts #ith the crystal. The light emitte $y the crystal stri&es the photocathoe an releases electrons. The electrons tra"el through a series of anoes! causing the emission of more electrons. This generates a "oltage pulse #hich is proportional to the original flash of light. The amount of raiation entering the sensor can therefore $e measure $y counting the num$er of pulses o"er a gi"en time perio. Fig 21.14 %&intillation Counter $-TE ) The 2eiger9Muller tu$e is not as accurate as the scintillation counter! since it can only etect a much smaller percentage of the total rays emitte. ,t oes ha"e the a"antage! ho#e"er! of $eing more rugge an relia$le an $eing cheaper than the scintillation counter. In addition to providin' litholo'ic discrimination3 the 'amma ray sensor provides) %ormation $e $ounary an thic&ness etermination. Well to #ell structural correlation of $es. Depth control an casing seat selection. 4stimation of shale fraction in reser"oir roc&s. . primary log for seimentological stuies. Monitoring of inFecte raioacti"e materials. Temperature ,ensor The temperature sensor is usually mounte on the outsie #all of the rill collar! an therefore monitors the annulus mu temperature. The sensing element may $e a strip of metal (e.g. platinum) #hose electrical resistance changes #ith temperature. The sensor can $e cali$rate to measure temperatures ranging from A0 to CA0B%. Do&nhole W-04Tor+ue ,ensor These measurements are mae $y a system of sensiti"e strain gauges mounte on a special su$ place close to the $it. The strain gauges #ill etect a*ial forces for W+B an torsional forces for tor1ue. By placing pairs of gauges on opposite sies of the su$! any stresses ue to $ening can $e eliminate. Turbine PM ,ensor When rilling #ith a o#nhole tur$ine! the actual spee at #hich the $it is turning is not &no#n at surface. The only effecti"e #ay of monitoring the rpm is to use a tur$ine tachometer lin&e to an MWD system to pro"ie real time ata. The o#nhole sensor consists of a <9in. iameter pro$e that is place "ery close to the top of the rotating tur$ine shaft. +n top of the shaft are mounte t#o magnets 1G0B apart. .s the shaft rotates! an electric coil #ithin the pro$e pic&s up "oltage pulses ue to the magnets (sho#n in figure $elo#).
Fig 21.15 Tur"ine *PM %ensor
By counting the num$er of pulses o"er a certain inter"al! the tur$ine spee in rpm can $e calculate. This information is encoe as a series of mu pulses that are transmitte at inter"als to surface to let the riller &no# ho# the rpm is changing. ,.%#"E ,!,TEM, 6tanpipe )ressure Transucer 3ig %loor Display Hnit 3aio Moem ,tandpipe Pressure Transducer ) The stanpipe manifol has a num$er of pressure taps #here gauges may $e installe. The transucer can $e installe at a con"enient point $y remo"ing one of these gauges. ,nsie the transucer is a sensiti"e iaphragm that etects "ariation in pressure an con"erts these hyraulic pulses to electrical "oltage pulses. The "oltage output is relaye to the rest of the surface e1uipment $y means of an electric ca$le. i' %loor Display .nit ) 3ig %loor Display Hnit is a isplay panel installe at the rig floor #here the irectional sur"ey result (a/imuth! tool face! inclination) are isplaye for the con"enience of irectional riller. The rig floor isplay unit is po#ere "ia rig po#er. ,t generally re1uires either 1<0> or <=0> po#er supply. The isplay on 3ig %loor Display unit loo&s as sho#n $elo# - Fig 21.1 *ig Floor 'isplay +nit ,nstalled at *ig Floor adio Modem ) The raio moem is use to communicate #ith the rig floor 3T "ia the #or&station (0aptop). .ll information an ata sent $et#een the t#o components is encrypte for security purposes. Fig 21.1- *adio Modem (&& COMPONN!" O# MWD 1. (H)6) Hninturupte )o#e 6upply <. Barrel Wrench C. )ressure Transucer =. 3ig %loor Display Hnit A. )ic&9Hp )late E. Digital Multimeter 7. 3emote Terminal 5ase G. 6panner Wrench 9. 6mall Dart %loat! 0arge %lapper %loat 10. >i$ration 6#itch 1. Drill )ipe 6creen <. Muleshoe 5ra#n Wrench C. 3ing Bar =. +rienting Bar A. 6hort 6in&er Bar E. I 9 Wrench 7. +"er shot Bell G. +"er 6hot 9. 0ong 6in&er Bar 10. 6pang Iars 1. +rifice <. Mule 6hoe (0aning 6lee"e) C. Mule 6hoe (5ro#n) =. )oppet A. 6tinger E. )iston 6haft 7. 6tinger Barrel G. 0o#er )iston 5ap 9. Hpper )iston cap 10. 6tinger 6pring Fig 21.22 MW' Components Fig 21.23 MW' Tool %e.uen&e Fig 21.24 MW' Tool %e.uen&e PO"! ND" Posted "y 'eepa/ C0oud0ary at 121561$$ #M
Fundamentals of Petroleum Engineering WELL COMPLETION AND STIMULATION Mohd Fauzi Hamid Wan Rosli Wan Sulaiman Department of Petroleum Engineering Faculty of Petroleum & Renewable Engin