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Does Your Downhole Monitoring Provide Long-term Data Accuracy and Reliability?

The K Perm Permanent Gauge by Probe.

With Probe Permanent Gauges You Can Gather Data for Years to Increase Reservoir Management Efficiency.

When it comes to measuring and recording well performance and reservoir behavior, downhole permanent gauges continue to stand the test of time, especially in terms of reliability and long-term performance that are key to achieving the customer’s reservoir monitoring requirements.

Permanent gauges are installed downhole to monitor and deliver accurate pressure and temperature readings in real time, round-the-clock. Data is transmitted to surface via a downhole TEC cable. The data is immediately displayed on a local surface panel where operators view it in real time.  It is also communicated simultaneously by radio, satellite and secure network to designated engineers to view remotely.  Consequently, operators are achieving better reservoir management standards, optimizing producing wells, improving production and obtaining critical reservoir build-up data without intervention. Permanent gauges make it possible to monitor pressure and temperature accurately and remotely year after year, throughout the life of the reservoir.

Outstanding performance reliability

Probe specializes in downhole monitoring technology and offers a range of field-proven permanent gauges with a performance reliability rating of 96.7%.  Much of this high level of reliability can be attributed to the introduction of ebeam welding. Probe was first to seal its gauges internally and externally. This was in line with developing a cable head that features dual metal-to-metal seals. Every downhole gauge and accessory is made in the USA, and designed to withstand maximum shock and vibration.

A gauge for every operational need

Probe gauges are extensively used to monitor conditions in artificial lift wells, including gas lift, progressive cavity pump (PCP), naturally flowing, observation, and gas storage wells. The versatility of the gauge allows Probe to adapt the design to meet various applications.

Probe offers the industry three types of permanent gauges:

• The K-Perm™ Piezo-resistive Gauge delivers continuous pressure and temperature data, and is designed to withstand maximum shock and vibration.  Because it is four times more accurate than the other piezo/strain gauges on the market, it is very popular. The longest-running installation at time of publishing was in excess of 2,500 days.

• The K-Perm™ Hi-Accuracy Quartz Gauge, is permanently installed downhole and supported via a solid gauge mandrel, provides accurate pressure and temperature data. The longest-running installation at time of publishing was in excess of 2,100 days.

• The K-Perm™ Multi-drop Gauge is based on Probe’s piezo gauge technology. It’s designed to accommodate up to six gauges a single TEC cable conductor. With multiple gauges, the Multi-drop Gauge has recorded a reliability and success rate of 97.3% in Asia.  During the past seven years, the company has successfully supplied these gauges worldwide.  The longest-running installation at time of publishing was in excess of 2,200 days.

Probe’s permanent gauges are pivotal to its advanced well monitoring solutions portfolio. Our focus is on continually improving reliability and providing customers with data accuracy and reliability.

“We strive to improve monitoring technologies to help customers boost production and optimize wells, and our permanent gauges are no exception,” said David Smith, North American Director of Sales for Probe. 

“For example, to improve this line, we increased gauge accuracy from 0.1% full scale to today’s 0.024% full scale. This offers customers even greater confidence that they have a truly accurate assessment of well conditions, at all times,” he added.

With permanent gauges operating in the USA and overseas markets, Probe is confident that this reliable line of well monitoring technology will continue to flourish.  “By helping operators reduce operating costs, optimize production, and prioritize well site visits, this field-proven monitoring system will continue to ‘stand the test of time’ for years to come,” added Smith.

Field-proven Electro-hydraulic Setting Tool Serves Well Intervention & Abandonment Operations

The iSet™ Electro-hydraulic Setting Tool uses touchscreen technology to provide a safe, reliable way to set bridge plugs, packers, gauge hangers and straddles downhole.

When managing well intervention and abandonment operations, safety and reliability are top priorities, particularly when setting devices downhole.  Traditionally, this involves using explosive setting charges or hydrostatic pressure-activated devices. To perform in shallower wells hydrostatic assisted devices frequently require pressurized nitrogen modules to reach the requisite setting forces. Re-setting the tool between runs poses serious safety issues, as well as being time-consuming and costly.

But there’s good news. Probe has developed setting tool technology that resolves these issues, dramatically minimizing risks and costs, and improving efficiency. 

When Probe introduced the iSet™ electro-hydraulic setting tool in 2015, it rapidly became the industry’s favored non-explosive setting tool. By removing the need to use explosives, it is not only much safer and less complicated, users do not have to obtain special use or transport permits, saving time and money.

iSet™ Electro-hydraulic Setting Tool

The global market responds

Since entering the market five years ago, the iSet continues to perform reliably, whether being used to set bridge plugs, gauge hangers, and other downhole devices.

“We’ve deployed nearly 90 iSet™ tools for use in well intervention and abandonment operations around the world, with many customers using the tool repeatedly. The highest concentration is in the Middle East and Asia, followed by Europe, Latin America, Africa and China,” said Mike Rennie, Region Sales Manager – ESSA for Probe.  “Given concerns for safety in a hazardous area, we’re witnessing a trend among users to run jobs offline from a rig in Memory mode on slickline.”

The iSet™ is not only safer, it can be run up to 50 times without redressing between runs. Coupled with the fact that after the tool reaches the surface, it can be re-set very quickly and re-run in a matter of minutes, it is cost effective and efficient.

The iSet offers an alternative to explosive and hydrostatic pressure setting tools with benefits unique to its electro-mechanical design:

  • Runs on e-line or slickline and performs in pressures as high as 15,000 psi and temperatures to 150oC. 
  • Generates requisite setting force, which is critical when working in a lower pressure well.
  • The combination of Cyclops Touch touchscreen technology with alkaline battery power in memory mode and the tool’s rapid reset feature means that technicians can learn to run it in just half an hour.
  • Diagnostic parameters are recorded, including setting force, 3-axis acceleration, pressure, temperature, displacement, battery voltage, and motor current.  Armed with this data, the operator has a complete picture of the setting cycle, which confirms whether the downhole device is properly set.    

Memory and Surface Read-out Modes Offer Flexibility, Safety

When operating the iSet™ Electro-hydraulic Setting Tool, there are two options: Memory or Surface Read-out Mode. When in Memory mode, the system relies upon the Cyclops Touch, a touchscreen interface that provides two-way communication, making it possible to easily program and confirm the iSet’s setting in the well without disassembling it or a computer. This is a distinct advantage, especially when operating in potentially dangerous conditions.

Two sizes equally popular

Each of the two sizes – 3.6 inch and 2.165 inch O.D. – have proven to be equally popular, with operators using them in both well intervention and abandonment operations. The larger size provides a setting force capability of 60,000 lbs, while the smaller tool achieves 30,000 lbs, each over a 10-in. stroke.  To provide flexibility, it can operate on two different power sources.  When slickline-deployed in Memory mode, AA alkaline batteries drive the tool, while a panel at surface powers the iSet when used on e-line in surface readout mode.

For more information contact us or look for the iSet™ on display at OTC and ADIPEC in 2021.