Intelligent Pipe, A New Monitoring Solution For Your Wells

Abstract

Well integrity to prevent catastrophic damage has always been a key focus of the Oil and Gas industry and Oil and Gas operators keep working to reinforce it. Today, well integrity data available throughout the life of the well remains limited. Being able to know the wellbore parameters at different depths would help operators anticipate and identify problems throughout the life of their well. In addition, knowing the exact performances of each pipe will provide operators with the actual safety margin they have against well load cases, therefore allowing them to better monitor the well, based on real well data. The integration of a pressure and temperature sensor element in tubulars is possible thanks to the use of MEMS (Microelectromechanical systems) technology. Low-power consumption combined with an adapted transmission technology opens the door to the use of this intelligent technology inside an O&G well. Embedded sensors allow operators to access previously inaccessible well areas in real time. The qualification of this technology is carried out in a way as to ensure the integrity of the system and its long-term viability. This paper will present an innovative intelligent tube solution, from its qualification to its deployment. This solution will change the way wells are monitored. By combining the data retrieved by the sensors with the actual resistance of each pipe in the well, operators will be able to adjust their production parameters while ensuring the safety of their installation. This approach is new and, leveraging the latest IoT technologies, opens a new era for easier and optimized data-based Oil and Gas well monitoring.