SPE 89528 Real-Time Data Delivery in Coiled-Tubing Well Interventions

Luis Eduardo Cabanzo, SPE, and Wei Zhou, SPE, Schlumberger

Copyright 2004, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc. This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE/ICoTA Coiled Tubing Conference and Exhibition held in Houston, Texas, U.S.A., 2324 March 2004. This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE Program Committee following review of information contained in a proposal submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper, as presented, have not been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material, as presented, does not necessarily reflect any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its officers, or members. Papers presented at SPE meetings are subject to publication review by Editorial Committees of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper for commercial purposes without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is prohibited. Permission to reproduce in print is restricted to a proposal of not more than 300 words; illustrations may not be copied. The proposal must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper was presented. Write Librarian, SPE, P.O. Box 833836, Richardson, TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435.

Abstract The application of information technology (IT) tools in the exploration and production industry has extended and enhanced conventional oilfield practices by promoting better communication and technical collaboration between expert personnel and the wellsite. Effective, real-time data delivery has become a key component in improving knowledge sharing, the time-to-decision process, and performance in well interventions. As the coiled-tubing (CT) industry expands, moreeffective communication with the wellsite becomes critical to facilitating successful operations. The availability of job data allows evaluation of the design and its execution as the job progresses; optimization of the treatment; and the making of more accurate, informed decisions during the course of the operation to improve the overall execution and reduce operational costs. CT operations have shown a significant processimprovement trend and better project economics as a result of real-time supported operations. This paper discusses the concept of real-time supported CT operations and the use of data delivery to improve decision-making in the CT industry, outlines the technology and interface involved in the datadelivery system, details the specifications required to meet the data-transfer definition, and demonstrates its target application and potential impact in the CT industry. Introduction IT tools have played an important role in the oilfield in improving communication and support in wellsite operations. Particularly recognized in offshore and remote locations and critical, high-costs wells, the need to implement a reliable communication infrastructure has become a milestone for improved process workflows that reduce operational costs. Countless projects have documented the business impact that this transformation in process work flows and methology

has made on this businesses. From reducing costs by simplifying procurements practices to speeding remedial actions in response to major safety and environmental problems such as well-control incidents, effective data delivery has transformed the quality, speed, and reliability of oilfield practices. While operators and services companies routinely take advantage of these conventional uses of improved communication capabilities, the industry is rapidly moving towards more fully optimizing and supporting operations through increased use of off-site multidisciplinary teams. For the CT industry, the availability of a more reliable communications infrastructure is an important step toward improved operational efficiency, service delivery, and risk management. It is widely recognized that all aspects of CT technology are not always taken into account during design and planning of drilling and completion processes. One reason is that, despite CTs benefits, the technology demands more operational involvement and support, and requires specific operational and engineering knowledge compared with conventional drilling and completion processes. Such technical resources are not often available at the wellsite. In many situations, the needed expert advice can be obtained only from a remote source. Moreover, improved information flow will be effective only if the data provided are accurate and complete. In some cases the success of the operation depends on the ability to provide accurate and timely engineering advice. The real-time supported operations model and datadelivery service presented extend the well-intervention operational work flow beyond the field to an entire community of experts who can monitor, evaluate, and impact the job execution as it happens. The model enables off-site personnel to use the data-delivery network to monitor critical parameters and interface with CT-related software applications for continuous process evaluation and design modification. Rather than being a one-size-fits-all service, this model allows off-site users to process and visualize the operational data using local applications. The real-time evaluation of CT interventions offers the following benefits: Streamlined and flexible access to job information for technical experts. Enhanced information delivery during CT operations. Ability to analyze job parameters in real time and optimize job management.

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Worldwide, secure access to wellsite data through Internet, intranet, or extranet channels. Facilitated collaboration to optimize the decisionmaking process. Reduced logistical and related operational costs. Minimized exposure of technical personnel to health, safety, and environmental hazards.

Real-Time Supported Coiled-Tubing Operations Real-time monitoring at the wellsite is not a new concept in CT operations; it is responsible for much of the reliability of the CT industry today. Real-time availability of measurements of CT string conditions always have been of primary importance in CT-conveyed operations. Accurate monitoring is an effective method of managing critical operational and maintenance needs and has been responsible for numerous operational successes to date. The determination of CT wall thickness; the measurement of outer diameter and ovality; the detection and characterization of metal loss, pinholes, and mechanical damage; the recording of acquired data, bending cycles, CT life span, and operational limits all have been key contributors to a major boost in reliability and confidence in CT operations. Additionally, operators have been able to monitor the condition and performance of their equipment, as well as the quality and effectiveness of their practices, adding value through safety management and optimization of CT operations. As the CT industry progresses, new CT technology and its applications involve greater demands. Larger CT sizes, highly deviated extended-reach applications, high-pressure, high-temperature conditions, conveyed fracturing treatments, and more-complex downhole tools require improved support and engineering. Gathering and evaluating real-time operational data as the execution progresses provide the basis for a better operational approach and are becoming a must to ensure the success of CT operations. Through the use of IT tools, visualization and analysis of critical CT operational parameters are no longer limited to a single wellsite workstation. Online data acquisition systems make information available at any time in any place. This capability allows the conveyance of unlimited technical resources to the CT well-intervention site. Coupled with reservoir and CT simulators, access to critical data enables remote users to analyze and modify the course of a CT job during execution, improve technical support, compare actual vs. predicted forces, facilitate generation and delivery of reports, monitor the well response to applied treatments, survey utilitarian tasks, etc. Additionally, because CT applications involve several different disciplines, significant coordination is required among all the parties involved. Realtime support provides a means for all disciplines to work in close collaboration within integrated teams, thereby improving communication with the wellsite to facilitate achievement of the best possible results. This principle has been proven in numerous large CT interventions projects worldwide, providing clear examples of the process improvement trend that real-time supported operations represent.

A Web-Based Data-Delivery Framework A Web-based data-delivery portal has been implemented to support transfer of CT data in real time through an Internet hub. The system allows two-way communication to enhance overall operations control. Uploading and downloading data are conducted through a central data hub. All data generated during a job remain in the database and are available not only during job execution but also afterward. All relevant personnel can access the data through an associated Web-based interface designed to display plots and parameters critical to the CT operations. All monitoring, display, and application components are Web-based so that no specialized software and hardware installation is required at the user workstation. A general schematic of the standard network data delivery configuration is shown in Fig.1.

Fig.1 - Data Delivery Framework.

This framework allows easy deployment and enables display of basic job-critical parameters and customized plots that can be used to generate outcome documentation and reports at any time. Additionally, files of all standard data types and formats can be exchanged. Multiple users can access the information from anywhere, allowing virtual collaboration with the wellsite. Several components are required at the wellsite, but most important is connectivity at the data acquisition source and the establishment of a local network. One of the key aspects of remote-asset connectivity is the reliability and versatility of the data transmission. An effective system must be flexible enough to transmit by satellite, microwave, integrated-services digital network (ISDN), cell phone, direct Ethernet connection, or by any other method available at a wellsite. The system is compatible with almost any connectivity method (intranet, third-party Internet, etc). Because of the nature of CT intervention, the CT control cabin has been specially configured to establish connectivity. To manage communication by different connectivity methods, a connection-manager application is used. This software configures the router, manages the local area network at the wellsite, and selects from among the available transmission methods to establish the link to the Web. The general setup at the wellsite is presented in figure 2. The system optimizes the communications setup depending on the connectivity available and ensures a trouble-

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SPE 89528

free conection through an auto-recovery mechanism in case of communication loss.

package that allows generation of job plots and reports at any time. Files downloaded from the hub server also can be interpreted with any compatible software that enables data streaming in real time. The main components of the viewer are as follows: Historical plot. Displays the main job parameters, including treatment pressure, wellhead pressure, rate, weight indicator, and CT speed. User plot. Displays a parameter selected from a list of available parameters. Tubing Forces Module overlay (TFM). Displays actual vs. predicted forces. Message window. Displays job messages and time the job was logged. For this application of the technology, CT operational limits, TFM, and life span are the data commonly displayed. The system can transmit unlimited parameters, depending on the field conditions. This capability allows for virtual replica of the wellsite data console remotely.

Fig.2 General Layout of wellsite configuration

Once connectivity is established, a proprietary component of the data acquisition system enables the transmission of all selected parameters. Data acquisition normally includes both measurement data and job status or event-log information. Additional job-design data can be transmitted through the system to ensure the monitoring capability is complete. Since CT job data are acquired over hours or even days, the ability to transmit files as they are created is essential. Once the acquisition system is configured for a specific job, no additional setup or intervention is required. All defined parameters are sent to the hub independent of the fact that remote users are acquiring the data. This feature overcomes the concerns associated with direct; point-to-point connections in which data are transmitted through the network and direct monitoring applications are executed. In such methods, a connection at the receiving end is required, and if the connection is lost, all the communication, data, and setup are lost. On the remote-user end, the data-delivery framework was designed to allow operators to create a virtual workstation simply by accessing a Web browser. A Web-based interface displays the critical plots and parameters used during CT operations. Accessing the central hub through the Internet minimizes the connectivity setup and hardware requirements. The portal is structured in a catalog mode so that all the information uploaded to the system becomes available and serves as a temporary database from which information can be easily downloaded and reviewed. The structured database maintains data folders based on field and well names, and all relevant information remains in a single folder. The interface used to display the critical plots and parameters used during the CT intervention is known as a realtime viewer (Fig 2) This Web-based feature provides display of basic job-critical parameters and customized CT plots. The monitoring tool serves as basic display tool in case that no application is executed. The system includes a reporting

Fig.3 Real-Time viewer.

Console messages

User Plot

Edit graphics

Real-Time TFM Overlay

Data Transfer and Delivery Performance The remote data-delivery concept has been in use for several years by conventional methods. These methods normally consist on point-to-point data links where data is made available through direct network connections and specific applications are executed streaming data directly from the wellsite. These conventional connectivity methods have been enabled by the availability of private networks, hardware installations and software components, but in most of the cases the implementation results are inherently inefficient. In much of the cases data delivery have been exclusively performed to static files or documentation where the data transmission performance may allows gaps in communication without affecting the performance of the system. For continuous stream of datasuch as is required in pumping services and other utilitarian tasks higher standards with regards the quality of data delivery are required from those

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developed for static file delivery. An effective end-to-end solution for remote job monitoring and real-time job analysis must meet standards for low latency and high reliability and conveyance that were not needed before. The implementation of the web-based portal facilitates the transmission and quality in data delivery. For CT applications, data-transfer requirements can be summarized as follows: Response times should be consistent and guaranteed (< 5 seconds). Data flow should be, timely and continuous, with no interruptions. Remote communication should not add any overhead or time to the job. The real-time flow of data should become part of the data-to-decision workflow, and hence an integral part of the operation. Wellsite remote connectivity can be considered the weakest link in the real-time data-delivery work flow. Remoteness, weather, terrain, infrastructure, conveyance, roughness, and operating conditions all are attributes that can impact system latency and service quality. After a comprehensive analysis of the issues, several controls and enhancements to the applications and infrastructure were made to improve the quality of remote data communications. The main metrics used to evaluate system performance are as follows: Latency, or the time between arrivals of data. This value is a very good approximation of the wellsite-toend-user round-trip system time and reflects the user perception of the service. Reliability or uptime, defined as the percentage of the time data are received in less than 30 seconds. The system provides 99+% uptime and an average latency of 5 to 6 seconds with the use of satellite phones and 2 to 3 seconds with a direct satellite system. Nevertheless, to keep improving the service, metrics also have been collected with the objective of providing a checklist for evaluation of various wellsite connectivity options.
Point to Point Setup and configuration required on both ends. Requires conection to Intranet. IP and ports must be known in advance. Setup procedure requires coordination both ends. User end requires acquisition application for display Data available only while connection is established. Web Based All configured at the wellsite. No intranet requirement Only the URL is needed. No voice communication for set up. Access via web browser. Viewers can be used for monitoring Data available from the beginning of the job Web based viewer is able to join the job at any time reviewing all historic data.

Chart.1 Comparison Point-to-Point vs Web Based delivery

Emerging Real-Time Enabled Technologies The model for real-time supported CT has facilitated the successful completion of interventions in challenging scenarios such as highly deviated wells and and extended reach applications. In CT operations on the Valhall Flank development in the Norwegian North Sea, wells have challenging trajectories with horizontal sections as long as 2,000 m and inclines of as much as 97. The engineering study in the project planning phase indicated the necessarity of introducing 2 7/8-in.-OD CT for effective reach. For the project a new-generation CT unit with 2 7/8-in.-OD CT as work string was used. The unit is fully automated with electric-over-hydraulic controls incorporated in a cyber-based chair. Launching this unit requires close and continuous monitoring of its performance. Real-time data provided a mean of achieving this objective, despite the remote location of the wellsite. In the job execution, an Internet browser provided real-time display of customized CT plots and allowed generation of outcome documentation and reports. It also enabled streaming of data to CT design modules and simulators, thus allowing remote, real-time evaluation and fine-tuning of the job design and procedures. During CT operations, all the job parameters are digitally monitored and recorded in the acquisition system at the wellsite. The system was configured to publish the job-critical parameters through an ISDN line to a dedicated server in Aberdeen. Authorized users at both the client and service company could access the published data and monitor the job in real-time through the Internet browser on their office or even homes computers. Particularly suitable for large projects as Coiled Tubing Drilling (CTD), data delivery methods are used to improve communication, enhance job design and accurate reach of target. In Balikpapan Indonesia, one of the evaluations made to determine the feasibility of CTD operations is the underbalance reach modeling by Tubing Forces Model (TFM). TFM simulates the placement of coiled tubing in all wells, vertical, deviated and horizontal, and is used to accurately predict whether a particular type of coiled tubing can be run into a well bore at a desired depth. Normally the designs are based on static critical parameters taken from offset wells. Such assumptions hardly represent actual conditions. Accurate design using the Forces modeling is important to verify the feasibility of the lateral sidetracking prior to realization of the sidetracking operation and hence define the technical feasibility of penetrating the target depth. During the underbalanced drilling execution, the TFM modeling in real time furthermore enhance the penetration of lateral sidetrack performed positively impacting overall execution cost and production gain. In CT services the real-time supported operations approach is seen as necessary for maximizing the applicability and reliability of the service. Much research remains to be done, but engineering becomes the correct approach in effectively implementing new advancements in the technology. Communication infrastructure and data management are the next step for improving CT interventions. Developments such as integrated downhole sensors, intelligent well completion, fiber optics, remote control, data management, and visualization are logical future applications. Enhanced

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monitoring systems will continuously improve on- and offshore CT operations, helping to facilitate the safe management and optimization of CT operations. Acknowledgments The authors express their appreciation to Schlumberger for the opportunity to present this paper. References 1. S.Murchie, J.T.Provost, T.Burke, G.Karr, S.O.Alam, D.Scheibner, A.Cieterne: Innovations in Global Electronic Data Delivery, paper SPE 56686 presented at the 1999 SPE ATCE Houston, Oct 3-6. 2.- M.Patrick, A.Rosen: Remote Coiled Tubing Monitoring 3.- Z.John, A.Ahsan,I.Reid: Optimized decision making through real time access to drilling and geological data from remote wellsites. 4. www.interact.slb.com

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