Archer has launched the Point system, a well integrity resource that combines Archer’s proactive and systematic approach to integrity management, with its experience in over 4,000 integrity-related deployments worldwide.
Deployed proactively and systematically at the surface and downhole, the Point system offers a new approach to well integrity. The system leverages Archer’s understanding of integrity dynamics—what Archer defines as the behavior of the well system in response to its integrity—to unravel, decipher and describe what is happening in the well and locate integrity failures. Much of the technology is field-proven with different elements of the Point system having been used in over 2,000 successful deployments worldwide but never as one complete, proactive system with integrity dynamics at the core.
The Point system combines the right integrity measurements, expert assessment and analysis to evaluate barrier performance and identify the precise location of leaks and flowpaths without pulling the completion string. Underpinned by the Point system’s powerful integrity diagnostics and proprietary ultrasound technology, oil and gas operators can look forward to:
- Proactive and systematic integrity management that mitigates the risk of costly surprises with minimal interruptions to production. The Point system starts with a client consultation to develop a common understanding of the integrity challenge followed by an initial surface investigation and then—if required—downhole deployment.
- The complete integration of surface and downhole measurements, generating vital information on the well and providing operators with the ability to meet the simplest or most complex integrity challenges routinely and cost-effectively.
- The evaluation of barrier sealing performance rather than barrier condition and the ability to locate leaks and flowpaths beyond the tubing to provide a secure and comprehensive approach to integrity management.
- “When it comes to maximizing well performance, we need to look beyond a focus on reservoir and production dynamics and embrace a third equally crucial pillar—integrity dynamics. Understanding this is key to managing wells safely and profitably,” Ken Feather, V.P., marketing and sales wireline, Archer, said.
“Our Point system provides the most complete insight into integrity dynamics available in the industry today, enabling operators to locate barrier leaks and flowpaths throughout the well system efficiently, accurately and comprehensively,” he added. “This means better decisions on remediation more quickly, improved well profitability, and most important of all—reduced integrity risk.”
The Point system consists of seven powerful diagnostic programs underpinned by Archer’s proprietary ultrasound technology that enables a proactive and systematic approach to integrity management. The programs are designed to investigate or locate a range of failure types from the surface or downhole, providing operators with greater flexibility and helping to minimize required resources and cost.
A systematic approach
The Point system includes seven powerful diagnostic programmes that enable a proactive and systematic approach to integrity management.
CheckPoint®：Investigate barrier leaks and flowpaths from surface
Many operators realise that proactive integrity management pays dividends. Continuous integrity monitoring, or conducting routine integrity checks, provides the reassurance that critical well barriers are intact or an early indication of failure, enabling timely action to be taken before the problem escalates.
CheckPoint is the first stage in proactive well integrity appraisal. Deployed at surface, CheckPoint is used routinely, both to validate integrity and in response to a loss of integrity, to reveal detailed clues about the nature and location of the failure in the well. And because CheckPoint is performed at surface, it does not expose the operator to the disruption, cost and risk associated with logging interventions. Even better, CheckPoint programmes are inherently straightforward, easy to mobilise, and low cost.
LeakPoint®：Locate barrier leaks downhole
Leaks can reduce a well’s performance throughout its life and cause serious safety, environmental and reputational issues. With legacy leak–detection methods such as temperature or acoustic noise logs, the reliability of diagnosis varies as results can be affected by leak rate and location. Low-rate or multiple leaks and leaks beyond the primary tubular are particularly challenging.
LeakPoint is able to expose leaks in the primary tubular and surrounding casings or completion equipment clearly, reliably and consistently. Unlike conventional methods, LeakPoint detection technology is sensitive to a wide range of leak rates and locations. Results are vividly clear and unambiguous– leak locations are revealed with pinpoint accuracy. And more complex leaks beyond the A–annulus can also be diagnosed – even while a well is flowing.
FlowPoint®：Locate barrier leaks and flowpaths downhole
Losing annular integrity is one of the most dangerous and potentially damaging types of well failure. Contaminated ground water and annular blowouts at surface are among the most feared potential outcomes. Despite advances in cementing, unwanted annular flow and sustained annulus pressure due to poor cement sealing is a prevailing concern for many operators. Diagnosing flow behind casing has challenged well engineers for decades, and the most commonly used annular diagnostic methods downhole only evaluate barrier condition– not barrier sealing performance.
Building on the capabilities of LeakPoint, FlowPoint can locate barrier leaks and map unwanted annular flowpaths throughout the well system, enabling it to diagnose the most complex multiple failure scenarios efficiently and comprehensively.
Six key ingredients
The Point system is in a class of its own and defines a new industry standard of integrity management.
Proactive and systematic
Conventional integrity diagnostics can be reactive. Deployed routinely, as part of an integrity management programme or to investigate a known integrity issue, Point enables a proactive and systematic approach to integrity management. This mitigates the risk of costly surprises and ensures failures are located rapidly and completely.
Integrity dynamics
Diagnosing integrity properly demands a new understanding of well behaviour. Integrity dynamics is what we call the behaviour of the well system in response to its integrity. Point embodies our extensive knowledge of integrity dynamics to precisely locate leaks and flowpaths throughout the well system.
Barrier performance
Popular integrity surveys evaluate the physical condition of barriers – the Point system evaluates their sealing performance. Barrier condition does not provide a direct indication of integrity loss – Point does. Combining both provides the most secure and comprehensive approach to integrity management.
Surface and downhole
Traditional integrity logging is focused downhole. The Point system works at surface and downhole to help operators manage integrity better. Linking surface and downhole measurements means that Point can adapt to meet the simplest or most complex integrity challenges routinely and cost effectively.
Powered by ultrasound
Several techniques are capable of detecting integrity failures in a well. Proprietary ultrasound technology combined with complementary measurements, expert assessment, protocols and analysis positions the Point system in a class of its own.
Leaks and flowpaths
Reliable diagnostic systems need to locate all types of barrier failure throughout the well system with minimal disruption. The Point system is designed to cater for all scenarios – and works through tubing. This means comprehensive integrity evaluation without pulling the completion– minimising interruption to operations and the total cost of diagnostics.
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