May 2016
Oilfield Technology
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55
lw d/mwd Q&A
(387˚F), the highest operating temperature ever reached by an LWD
triple combo system.
This new breed of high-temperature M/LWD tools redefines
the meaning of the term ‘technically challenging’ by facilitating
development in areas that previously could not be entered
safely or economically. They provide operators with the ability
to evaluate their reservoirs in real time, and
make financially critical decisions early in the
well construction process, even at extreme
temperatures.
Mudpulsetelemetry
As wells become more challenging, the need
for real time data continues to increase. Drilling
dynamics data can help provide for faster drilling,
while formation evaluation data support accurate
well placement for maximising reservoir value.
Increased information from downhole allows
improved risk mitigation for safer drilling. The
increased need for real time data places higher
demands on telemetry systems.
Sperry Drilling has developed JetPulse®
service – a new mud-pulse telemetry system
based on an evolution of industry-proven annular
venting pulser technology. The company has
extensively re-engineered the system to improve
power management, the actuation of the valve,
and the valve durability, thereby increasing
the endurance and data rate of the system.
Additionally, the company has implemented
compression algorithms and data management
techniques for maximising the effective data
rate delivered by the system. Benefits of the new
system include:
Ì
Improved power management, enabling
drilling of long sections in a single bit-run.
Ì
Higher data rate, allowing frequent
pressure-while-drilling updates to help
mitigate potential well control issues.
Ì
Delivery of real time borehole density image
data of equivalent quality to recorded data,
when used in combination with real time
compression algorithms.
Ì
A consistent increase in data-rates over a wide
range of depths; a challenge for siren-type
pulsers.
This system has been run in the field more
than 200 times in multiple locations globally,
delivering a step-change increase in performance.
It has delivered effective data rates over 20 bits
per second at 20 000 ft depth and has successfully
operated for over 340 hours on a single bit-run.
This new mud-pulse telemetry service has enabled
operators to address a variety of challenges including well control,
formation evaluation and geosteering.
Ultimately, the value in real time data is for decision making.
The JetPulse telemetry system is designed to provide operators
with the right information at the right time to help them drill wells
safely, fast and on target to maximise reservoir value.
Figure 2.
TheQuasar systems allow the operators to retrieve valuable real time
formationdata in the hottest reservoirs in theworld.
Figure 3.
Example log fromthe JetPulse™ telemetry service that demonstrates that
higher data rates allowaccurate pickings of dips in real time.
