Downhole Pressure Monitors

Halliburton Pressure Transmission Systems (PTS)

have been in use at SYU since 1984 (Hondo) & 1993
(Harmony & Heritage)
Have installed over 60 downhole pressure gauges
Installed in all new drillwells unless not
mechanical feasible (eg. dual strings or ESPs)

Hondo Platform

Platform Hondo is located in offshore California in the

Santa Barbara Channel. The water depth is between
900' and 1200'.
Hondo was discovered in 1968 and the initial
production began in 1981
Presently
26 active wellbores.
14 Wells that are on gaslift or 54% of the total active
wellbores

Hondo Platform
Hondo Platform

Platform Heritage is located in offshore California in

the Santa Barbara Channel. The water depth is
between 900' and 1200'.
Heritage was brought on line in 1993.
Presently
39 active wellbores.
28 Wells that are on gaslift or 72% of the total active
wellbores.

Background
Harmony Platform is located in offshore California in the
Santa Barbara Channel. The water depth is between 900'
and 1200'.
Harmony was brought on line in 1993.
Presently
31 active wellbores.
23 Wells that are on gaslift or 74% of the total active
wellbores.

Gas Lift Optimization Using

Downhole Pressure Monitors
Downhole gauges can measure downhole pressure at depth
real time
Can change any condition (eg. Choke position, g/l rate,
viscosity reducer) and immediately see effect on downhole
pressure
If downhole pressure increases then drawdown has
decreased therefore we know fluid rate has decreased
If downhole pressure decreases then drawdown has
increased therefore we know fluid rate has increased
Can change g/l rate and viscosity reducer and immediately
determine if there is an impact on rate

Example of Gas Lift Optimization at SYU

Gas-Lift Rate
8F741
1.4095
MSCFD

2
1.5
1
0.5
1/20/04 11:12:15 AM

6.91 Day(s)

1/27/04 9:07:50 AM

When the gas lift rate was changed from 1.2 to 1.4MCFD.
BHP
8P741-3
888.36
PSIG

925
900
890
875
1/20/04 11:13:15 AM

6.91 Day(s)

The flowing BHP fell from 895 to 890 psi.

1/27/04 9:08:55 AM

Reservoir Surveillance Using

Downhole Pressure
Monitors
With downhole gauge can measure shut in downhole pressure
by simply shutting in well and measuring fluid level using
echometer
Knowing fluid level we can adjust pressure at the gauge to
either the perforation depth or datum depth
We can get a shut in pressure whenever the well is shut in
with no mechanical risk from using wireline in the hole
These pressures are used to determine if reservoir is being
depleted too quickly and we need injection of gas or water

Completion Surveillance Using

Downhole
Pressure Monitors

With downhole gauge can perform a pressure buildup test

everytime the well is shut in
With the data from the pressure buildup test reservoir
engineer or service co. can determine the productivity of
the well (PI) and well damage (skin)
With this analysis we can determine how effective the
completion is and then determine if remedial work is
required such as acid stim or scale treatment, etc.
If you have multiple gauges can use to calibrate and
validate your wellbore hydraulic model (NODAL)

PTS
Pressure Transmission System
Technology Review

What is PTS?
An economic alternative method to electronic gauges
for the monitor of down hole pressures
Uses a gas filled capillary tube to convey bottom hole
pressure to surface monitor
Halliburton has applied this proven technology for 30
nearly years

Pressure Transmission System (PTS)

No Electronics

No Moving Parts

Pressure
Monitoring
Equipment
GA
S

CapillaryWithout
tubing theory
a seal is
at the top,
based on afluid
closed
system
enters
to the same
at theheight
top and
open
as an
outer
fluid level and
systemno
onforce
bottom.
Such at the top
Pack-Off
is
exerted
little afluid
enters
asVery
covering
straw
and
the straw
and
a force
is
pushing
down
into
fluid
Capillary
Tubing
exerted at the top of the
straw
Pressure Chamber

Chamber Ports

Capillary Tubing Theory

Pressure
Monitoring
Equipment
GAS

GasAfter
is bubbled
the gas
over
hasand
theequalized
fluid levelwith
inside
thethe
system
BHP, the
is pushed
injection
to the
of
bottom
gas is
of stopped
the chamber

Well Bore
Gas
Pressure
+

Well Bore
Fluid Pressure
=

Compressed Gas
Pressure in System to
Monitor BHP

Capillary Tubing Theory

Gas Movement Inside Chamber

When
Pressure
Drops To
Lowest
Point
Chamber Is
Full Excess
Gas
Escapes

When
Pressure
Increases
Fluid Rises
In Chamber.
Our Goals Is
To Not Let
Fluid Enter
the Capillary
Tubing

Gas Correction

Pressure
Monitoring
Equipment
GAS

Gas correction
example.
Gas Weight
needs to be corrected for.
Uncorrected
BHP 1000 PSI
This calculation uses TVD
and of
Temperature.
Weight
Gas 20 PSI

True BHP 1020 PSI

Capillary Tubing Theory

Gas Correction Factors

Gas weight will change with temperature and
pressure
Gas correction uses True Vertical Depth (TVD) of
the chamber not the Measured Depth (MD)
Helium is used whenever possible as the system
gas
Helium has a liner compressibility with temperature
and nitrogen does not.
Nitrogen is approximately 7 times the weight of
helium

Gas Correction with and without DTS

With DTS we can use real time temperature
changes to correct for the weight of the gas column
If no DTS system is used, we must use an average
temperature to correct for the weight of the gas.
The average temperature can be derived from previous
surveys or by logging well with a temperature tool.
The corrected pressure can be derived thought post
processing of the raw data.

Gas Corrections Example Helium

Raw
Pressure
PSI

Average Temp
Deg F

Corrected
Pressure

500

170

518.3

500

120

519.9

1500

170

1552.1

1500

120

1556.4

3000

170

3096.9

3000

Difference in PSI if
not corrected
for changing
temp
-1.6
-4.3

120
-7.2
This shows
the difference 3104.1
if we corrected the pressure
assuming an average temperature of 170 deg F but the
actual temperature was 120 deg F
TVD 9000 ft

System Accuracy

System Accuracy

System accuracy is based on correction of gas

weight, transducer accuracy and the fluid level
change in the chamber.

Gas weight calculations are as accurate as we are

to knowing the average temperature.

Transducer accuracy is based on the type of

transducer that is installed.

System resolution .02 to .05 PSI

System Accuracy

Quartz Transducer.
Accuracy of 0.015%FS to 0.02%FS
Resolution of 0.01 psi
Drift

At surface temperatures (< 85C)

.001 % FS/yr

150 to 200 C

,02% FS/yr

Strain Gauge
Accuracy of 0.04% FS
Combined Non-linearity, Hysteresis and Repeatability: +0.04
Best Straight Line (BSL) (option A)
Stability: 0.1% F.S./annum

PTS Advantages
No Downhole Electronics
All downhole components are free of electronic parts nothing to get
damaged after installation

Suitable for Harsh Environments

Temp > 800F
Corrosives well conditions
Vibration resistant

Check System Integrity From Surface

Transducers and data recording devices can be checked from
surface without well intervention
Chamber integrity can be checked without system retrieval

Flexible
System can be installed in many configurations
System can be installed with DTS options

PTS Advantages

Accurate
Quartz/Strain Pressure Gauge
Correction of helium gas column either in real time or
post processing

Rugged
The parts can be installed, removed and reran into same or other wells
Long track record

Easy to Install and Maintain

The system can be installed and maintained by non engineered personnel

Wellhead Penetration Simplicity

Wellhead exits use standard fittings
Most wellhead companies already have designs for control line exits
Wellhead penetration is economic

PTS Advantages
Splices and Connections
Splices are done quick and easy with tube to tube unions
Connections are none electronic and only require ferrule
type fittings

Economic Pricing
Systems typically run 50% to 75% of typical EDHG
systems

System Maintenance

System Maintenance Concerns

Maintenance
What is required
Purging and leak checking
Transducer checks
Frequency of maintenance
Depends on testing we recommend
one per Qtr minimum

Downhole Equipment
Used at ExxonMobil
SYU

SYU Typical Installation

Surface Equipment
Real Time Pressure Read-out

1/8 Capillary Tube

(Pressure)
1/4 Safety Valve Tube
3/8 Chemical Injection
Chamber
Tube
Internal Sensing

Extended Chamber Design

Internal Sensing
Capillary Tubing

Internal Sensing
Ports are on the inside
tubing of the chamber

Extended Chamber Design

Clamp Protectors

Clamp Protectors

Control Line Installation Units

ExxonMobil SYU Project Overview

Starting Dates
Hondo 1984
Heritage & Harmony 1993

Installation Types

PTS Pressure System

Chemical Injection
Subsurface Safety Valves
1 Diluent Tube

Maximum Installation Depth

Failures (PTS System)

Quantities
60
46
86
9
19,400 ft
1

Questions ?