Baker Oil Tools Smart Intervention™ Technology brings new level of process control
  by: OilOnline
  Friday, September 22, 2006

Houston, TX ... Measurement-while-drilling (MWD) and sophisticated drilling optimization technologies have substantially improved drilling performance and reduced non-productive time (NPT). Now Baker Oil Tools is bringing the advantages of drilling optimization, real-time downhole measurements and closed-loop process control to well intervention operations with its Smart Intervention™ Service.

Smart Intervention systems acquire critical data downhole and transmit it to surface to provide valuable information on intervention parameters that have never before been seen at surface. The information gives well teams a better understanding of what is happening at the “business end” of the intervention BHA. Armed with this knowledge, well teams can make informed, just-in-time decisions that can optimize well intervention operations and significantly reduce NPT and risk exposure.

According to Baker Oil Tools Business Development Manager Jim McNicol, most difficulties with intervention jobs result from a lack of accurate downhole information. “Traditional rig-floor instruments and gauges provide an indication of critical downhole job parameters based on measurements taken at surface. However, those measurements often do not reflect what forces are actually being exerted at and around downhole tools,” explained McNicol.

The enabling technology for Smart Intervention Service is the Sentio™ tool, a downhole acquisition tool based on drilling optimization technology developed by Baker Hughes INTEQ. The Sentio tool contains an array of sensors that measure weight or pull on tool, torque, rpm, bending stress, vibration and pressure simultaneously at a high data rate. A digital signal processor analyzes the data stream and provides static parameters and diagnostics, which are transmitted to a rig-floor monitor and can also be sent to a remote real-time operating center. Portions of the information can also be recorded in the on-board memory and stored, then retrieved later at surface for detailed evaluation.

At surface, the data is presented to the intervention operator, and based on the feedback, the team and the operator determine how to advance the intervention operation. Choices may include parameter changes in a milling operation, pulling out of hole after confirming successful connection to a “fish,” or working the pipe to overcome a weight transfer problem.

Depending on the type of intervention operation, the engineer may require different types of downhole information. For efficiency, customized transmission formats are being developed. In addition to the up-hole data transmission, the bottomhole assembly is capable of receiving downlink signals, and provides a link for remote control of future intervention tools. A rig-floor display screen presents the downhole parameters in the clearest and most meaningful manner and can be linked to a remote real-time operations center.

“By giving well teams a better understanding of what is happening at the ‘business end’ of an intervention BHA during an intervention operation, Smart Intervention technology can lead to more efficient and reliable well intervention and significantly reduce operators’ risk exposure,” explained McNicol. “Real-time decision making will help optimize intervention operations and avoid non-productive time,” he continued.

The industry’s first smart intervention systems were successfully deployed in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico in 2005. The systems provided a surface view of downhole measurements acquired from downhole intervention tools in milling, washing over, fishing, casing exit and completion operations to confirm that actual downhole conditions in deep, high-angle wells differ significantly from what is indicated by traditional surface measurements.