Meeting info

AFES Evening Lecture – Aberdeen, 8th February 2012, 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start

New Sensor Development Helps Optimise Production Logging Data Acquisition in Horizontal Wells

As horizontal wells become increasingly common, the need to make measurements to optimise well health and manage the reservoir also increases. Production logging in horizontal wells with multiphase flow present data acquisition challenges in the form of both conveyance method and sensor selection.

In this paper we present an approach to logging a horizontal well using new generation array sensors. The well was cased and perforated with high water cut and sand production.

Logging while tractoring a combination of conventional (centralised) and array sensors provided a good quality data set that enabled successful identification and shut off of sand and water.

The use of a new impeller design in a minispinner array helped overcome the challenges sand production posed in the well. Smaller minispinner thresholds improved the velocity profile allowing us to identify water recirculation at very low rates.

An array resistance measurement provided an estimate of water holdup.

Tool rotation proved a tremendous benefit for array sensors run in this harsh environment. Tool rotation helped keep the sensors free from debris while the traditional centralised spinner show an increased tendency for jamming when intersecting sand dunes or restrictions along the well trajectory. In addition, the rotating array sensors provide better circumferential coverage in the well.

A sand detection instrument was used in combination with the production logging string. The instrument is fully combinable with the production logging string and simultaneous data acquisition makes it easy to integrate all sensors allowing a robust interpretation of sand influx and water salinity.

This paper focuses on the acquisition of new generation array data to help meet the well intervention objectives leading to a commercial and technically successful outcome. It identifies the strengths and gaps of current technology relative to existing challenges in horizontal wells and the need to move to array measurements.

Mike Webster

Distinguished Advisor (Petrophysics)

Subsurface Technology

BP

AFES Evening Lecture – Aberdeen, 8th February 2012, 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start

At the Station Hotel, Aberdeen

Speaker

Mike Webster from BP