Top Up / Bleed off exercises
Maintaining the liquid levels in annular volumes is essential for safe, efficient, and compliant well operations. ScanWell’s acoustic monitoring solutions and expertise in bleed-off exercises helps operators to proactively manage annular integrity, ensuring cost-effective operations and reducing risks to personnel, assets, and the environment.
Liquid Level in Annular Volumes: Ensuring Cost-Effective Top-Up Operations
Annular volumes should generally be topped up with liquid, with a small gas cap preferred to prevent significant pressure fluctuations caused by temperature variations during production start-ups or shutdowns. Regular monitoring of the liquid level in the annular volumes is essential to avoid stress on the casing cement and the risk of hydrocaron influx. In cases where sustained pressure is detected, an Integrity Check is recommended.
ScanWell provides an acoustic instrument for measuring liquid levels in the annulus, allowing for rapid identification of top-up needs across all wells on the installation. This enables more efficient planning of top-up operations and accurate estimation of required liquid volumes.
Importance of Maintaining Liquid Levels in Annular Volumes
Annular volumes play a vital role in maintaining well integrity. Properly managing liquid levels in these volumes is critical to:
- Prevent Pressure Fluctuations: A small gas cap atop the liquid minimizes significant pressure changes caused by temperature variations during start-ups or shutdowns.
- Protect Casing Cement: Ensures the casing cement remains unstressed, avoiding mechanical damage or potential failures.
- Avoid Hydrocarbon Influx: Maintains sufficient liquid head pressure to prevent reservoir fluids from entering the annulus.
Regular Monitoring: A Proactive Measure
Monitoring liquid levels in annular volumes ensures early detection of issues, allowing for timely interventions and optimized operations. Key benefits include:
- Stress Mitigation: Prevents excessive stress on well components, extending their lifespan.
- Safety Assurance: Reduces the risk of hydrocarbon leaks, maintaining operational and environmental safety.
- Operational Efficiency: Enables cost-effective planning for top-up operations by identifying needs before they escalate.
ScanWell offers advanced acoustic instruments designed to provide precise, non-intrusive measurements of liquid levels in annular volumes.
- Rapid Assessments: Quickly identifies wells requiring top-ups across the installation.
- Optimized Top-Up Planning: Ensures accurate estimation of liquid volumes, reducing waste and inefficiency.
- Comprehensive Data: Supplies operators with actionable insights into well conditions, supporting decision-making.
Bleed-Off Exercises for Sustained Casing Pressure (SCP)
In cases of Sustained Casing Pressure (SCP), bleed-off tests are conducted to assess the integrity of annular barriers and plan necessary top-up operations.
Key steps and evaluations during bleed-off exercises include:
- Pressure Reduction: Bleeding down annular pressure to determine the leak rate and required liquid replenishment.
- Gas-Liquid Contact Depth: Measuring the depth of the gas-liquid interface to understand the annular dynamics.
- Fluid Analysis: Quantifying corrosive and toxic components to assess risks and material compatibility.
- Inflow Testing: Evaluating barrier integrity through controlled inflow, identifying potential weaknesses.
Benefits of ScanWell’s Approach
- Cost-Effective Operations: Optimized top-ups reduce operational costs and waste.
- Enhanced Safety: Early detection of issues prevents hydrocarbon ingress and environmental risks.
- Accurate Diagnostics: Advanced tools provide precise measurements, improving decision-making.
- Regulatory Compliance: Supports adherence to industry standards for well integrity management.
