Probe, a supplier of cased-hole logging and advanced monitoring technology to the global oil and gas and geothermal industries, continues to make headway to dramatically increase its data-logging capabilities through the adoption of its high-speed digital (HD) telemetry platform.
Known as the HD Platform, 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 casedhole formation evaluation solutions:
¦ RADii Segmented Bond Tool: an implement that measures and maps the quality of cement behind casing in oil and gas wells.
¦ Reservoir Analysis Sonde (RAS): a three-detector pulsed-neutron logging tool for measuring reservoir saturation using sigma and carbonoxygen techniques.
¦ Spectral Gamma-Ray Tool: an evaluation tool that offers insight into the radioactivity and mineral composition of cased-hole formations.
"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," says Martin Barratt, vice-president of global sales at 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, and by enabling fully combinable configurations, Probe is confident that it delivers on every front.
By employing HD Platformcompatible logging tools, service providers can now acquire more data per run in every well intervention. This means that fewer entries into the well for logging purposes, which improves efficiency and reduces costs, helping operators to meet key objectives."
The new HD platform consists of two parts: an inter-tool communications bus and mono-conductor telemetry. The inter-tool communications bus is a single wire bidirectional 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. All tools below the telemetry or memory tools operate on DC voltage of between 18V and 55V. Power efficiency means the tools are extremely robust and reliable.
Mono-conductor telemetry makes up the second key component of the HD system. The telemetry control unit 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. As a result, the HD platform makes it possible to log data at variable speeds and is easy to transition between real-time and memory-logging capabilities. Operators will not only be pleased with its robust construction and field-tested performance, the HD platform is well suited to all operating environments, especially those offshore and in remote locations.
Looking ahead, as part of its continuing commitment to developing technologies that gather comprehensive data, Probe plans to integrate HD telemetry technology into all its cased-hole logging tools.
