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Well Integrity

Probe Chief Scientist Receives Distinguished Speaker Honor

HOUSTON – Probe is proud to announce that The Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analyst (SPWLA) have selected Jun Zhang, Probe Chief Scientist, as a Distinguished Speaker for the 2021-2022 series. Distinguished speakers were selected from the top papers submitted to SPWLA at the 62nd annual SPWLA Annual Symposium, hosted in Boston in May. These speakers are considered prominent contributors in the industry and the nomination is a coveted honor. Beginning August 30th, the Distinguished Speakers will actively participate in the SPWLA local chapters meetings and in the SPWLA monthly webinar program.

Zhang at the 2019 ICoTA Conference in Aberdeen, Scotland. Picture by Abermedia / Michal Wachucik

Zhang will be presenting the paper, “Case Studies on Multi-String Isolation Evaluation in P&A Operations.” The paper discusses the importance of cement sheath quality in plug and abandonment operations, as well in gas well decommissioning. Probe’s Multi-String Isolation Logging (MSIL) technology addresses the industry’s need to acquire data through multiple strings thus saving time and money by improving P&A efficiency.

“It is a true honor to be selected amongst the best papers submitted to SPWLA in 2021,” said Zhang. “This recognition is a testament to Probe’s technology leadership in well isolation logging.”

The paper presents various case histories of applying omnidirectional and segmented multi-string isolation evaluation technology in field trials in the North Sea.  

View the 2021-2022 Distinguished Speaker Series on the SPWLA website, click here.

HD: The Best Way to Gather More Data Faster in a Well

ProMAC™ Multi-arm Caliper Tool, which makes it possible to identify integrity problems, such as mineral deposition, corrosion, wear or mechanical deformation, inside a completion.

The HD Platform is an increasingly wider range of high-speed, highly configurable digital sensors play critical – and unique -roles in helping operators to log data much more efficiently. In addition to its range of Standard and Array Production logging tools, Probe has been focusing on cased-hole formation evaluation solutions:

  • The ProMAC™ Multi-arm Caliper Tool, which makes it possible to identify integrity problems, such as mineral deposition, corrosion, wear or mechanical deformation, inside a completion.
  • The RADii™ Segmented Bond Tool, which measures and maps the quality of cement behind casing in oil and gas wells.
  • The RAS™ Reservoir Analysis Sonde, a three-detector pulsed-neutron logging tool for measuring reservoir saturation using Sigma and Carbon-Oxygen techniques.
  • The Spectral Gamma-ray Tool, an evaluation tool that offers insight into the radioactivity and mineral composition of cased-hole formations.

More data gathered per well intervention

“For years, the demand for logging tools that are highly configurable and capable of gathering high quality data more efficiently has continued to rise unabated, so we believe that continuing to expand our truly intelligent, effective formation evaluation solutions is critical to our customers’ success,” said Martin Barratt, VP Global Sales of Probe.

“The HD Platform is the result of a concerted initiative to enhance our field-proven tools with the highest quality measurements in the industry. By enabling fully combinable configurations, we are confident that Probe delivers on every front. By employing HD Platform compatible logging tools, service providers can now acquire more data per run in every well intervention. This enables operators to meet key objectives with a minimal number of well entries, improving efficiency and reducing cost.”

The HD Platform: what it is and how it gathers data more efficiently

The new HD Platform consists of two parts: an inter-tool communications bus and mono-conductor telemetry which is managed by the Telemetry Control Unit (TCU). The inter-tool communications bus is a single wire bi-directional system that operates at 500kpbs, which is ample speed to accommodate many different combinations of logging tools. The controlling telemetry – or alternative memory tool – samples sensors at a rate of 50 times per second, allowing high data rate tools and, for example, multi-arm calipers to provide high vertical resolution. Commands and instructions are also sent to the sensors on the same single wire bus.

The TCU handles all communications to surface. This device controls the data collected by the tools below, and packages it for transmission to the surface system. It receives commands from the surface system via the fast downlink, and responds back to the surface, as necessary.

The TCU can be replaced by the Memory Logging Tool (MLT) allowing all HD sensors to be deployed on slickline and coil tubing, among others. The HD Platform is a modular design offering simple mechanical maintenance and supported by plug0in electronic boards. It is well suited to both conventional and remote environment operations. Looking ahead, as part of its continuing commitment to developing technologies that gather comprehensive data, Probe plans to integrate HD telemetry technology into all current and future cased-hole logging tools.

Multi-String Isolation Logging: A Cost-Effective Solution for Plug and Abandonment

MSIL: New Tech Spotlight
Jun Zhang, Chief Scientist at Probe, presents MSIL new technology to the Society of Petroleum Engineers ICOTA awards.

For years, the oil and gas industry has looked for a way to assess the isolation between geological intervals without pulling production tubing from the well. Until now, no technology could evaluate and determine cement bond quality and isolation without costly and time-intensive plug and abandonment processes. On May 14, 2019, two members from the Probe team, Jun Zhang and Pouya Mahbod, along with Conoco Phillips’ Randall Shafer, Dan Mueller, and Callum Anderson, introduced the innovative Multi-string Isolation Log (MSIL) at the Society of Petroleum Engineer’s Conference in Bergen, Norway.

Methodology

The MSIL solution introduces a novel methodology and associated logging apparatus to the industry, providing an innovative technology for multi-layer cement bond quality and isolation evaluation. Unlike conventional cement bond logs and ultrasonic imaging logs which require prior removal of production tubing from the wells, MSIL technology evaluates the isolation behind the casing without the need to pull tubing.

Following extensive pre-commercial testing, more than six field trials have been successfully conducted offshore in the southern sector of the North Sea. Side-by-side comparison of conventional independent third party CBLs after production tubing was removed from the well, which also included ultrasonic logs, confirmed and verified MSIL results. These trials demonstrated the applicability of MSIL technology to all typical casing and tubing weight and size combinations.

Accurate Assessment

The accurate assessment of cement bond and isolation conditions in multi-layered configurations not only reduces unnecessary costs, but significantly simplifies the traditional P&A process altogether. While many P&A operations can run as high as $500,000 per day, MSIL technology drastically reduces overall expenditure and ensures the most efficient operation process. It also paves the way in innovation for a wider range of rigless P&A solutions.

A publication about the new MISL technology can be found on the Society of Petroleum Engineers’ OnePetro website by clicking here.