C
ompletion and cementing operations are essential and
extremely important components in the successful
development of any well. Traditionally, these activities have
only relied on the use of surface data and models to infer downhole
conditions. As the industry looks to develop wells in ever more
extreme, technically difficult and challenging environments, the
potential for these models to be good enough diminishes. In such
situations, models relying purely on surface data can face significant
limitations, and the information they provide can be inadequate or
even totally inaccurate. This can lead to increased risk, decreased
safety and significant non-productive time.
The need to understand exactly what is happening downhole
during the completions and cementing process is, therefore, vital.
An effective telemetry system that can reliably provide access
to this critical downhole data in real time is an important tool to
help solve these problems. Access to this downhole data, which
has never been available previously, gives operators the ability to
increase efficiency and reduce risk.
A new alternative to existing telemetry systems, which satisfies
all the operational constraints of the cementing, completions and
drilling phases, has been developed by XACT Downhole Telemetry.
The company’s acoustic downhole sensor network transmits critical
real time data through the wall of any work or drill strings irrespective
of flow, fluid type, formation or depth. Importantly for completion
and cementing operations, it is fully through bore and requires no
modification or wiring of third party downhole or surface tools.
Using this network, it is possible to properly understand what
is actually happening downhole for the first time in cementing
ANDY HAWTHORN, XACT DOWNHOLE TELEMETRY INC, USA, EXPLAINS HOWACOUSTIC
TELEMETRY CAN PROVIDE REAL TIME DOWNHOLE DATA – INCREASING EFFICIENCY AND
REDUCING RISK IN COMPLETION AND CEMENTING OPERATIONS.
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