Project Title: Testing low rate SCVF/GM measurement devices
Project Lead: Dr. Fred WASSMUTH Email: [email protected]
Project Lead Organization / Company Information:
Organization: InnoTech Alberta Department: Reservoir & Geosciences
Phone Number: 4038135114 Website/URL: https://innotechalberta.ca/
Mailing Address: 3608 – 33 Street NW
Project Cost Summary for 2019:
Is the requested funding amount different than Letter of Intent (LOI) form? Yes
2019 AUPRF Funding Request: $126,212 see attached table for budget details
Leveraged Funding:
Funding Source – Please include if funding is Requested / Secured / In-kind. Requested
Total Leveraged Funding InnoTech Alberta will provide laboratory testing equipment that is required for use in this project. This project may be eligible for financial support from InnoTech Alberta New Technology Fund.
Project Scope:
Discuss what answers will be sought, methods and purpose; describe the benefits to industry and how they address the identified policy issues and associated knowledge gaps. Which stakeholders will benefit the most?
A number of new technologies have been developed for measuring SCVF and GM. Accurately measuring low rate and highly intermittent SCVF and measuring steam in SCVF are two significant challenges. The AER is expected to update the rules (ID2003-01) regarding measuring and reporting SCVF/GM and industry needs guidance on the current status of technology in this area.
If a low leak rate of SCVF/GM is determined to be acceptable by energy regulators it will be important for licensees to accurately measure low pressure, low rate and intermittent flow from SCVF and GM. Licensees will need to know which wells must be repaired and which wells will not require remediation work.
When carbon taxes are applied to methane emissions, it will be beneficial for licensees to know what the actual leak rates are on wells with low SCVF/GM emissions. In lieu of accurate testing, the AER is assuming 1 m3/day on low rate leakers.
Steam in the SCVF/GM of thermal wells has obscured the actual amount of gas in the flow and is generally not measured. The steam caused casing corrosion and casing failures on thermal wells.
All companies with wells that have SCVF or GM will benefit from this project.
InnoTech Alberta proposes to conduct a review and to test the existing SCVF/GM measurement devices that are in service or under development.
• The specifications and operating limits of the low rate / low pressure testing devices will be itemized. The devices that are designed to handle H2S in the gas steam will be identified.
• With vendor participation, a laboratory test comparison would be made of the relevant low rate measurement devices. There are different options to conduct comparison testing. Some testing may be done by connecting devices in series with their individual data recorders. Then flowing natural gas though the devices at low pressure and at low and variable flow rates. In other tests a known volume of gas may be metered using the devices individually at low and variable rates.
• For devices that can measure steam, a modified testing procedure would be developed in which varying steam volumes and water would be introduced into the gas flow.
• As much as practical, guidelines for determining minimum testing time, based on flow rate ranges, will be developed. The objective is to identify the minimum testing time required to predict an accurate average SCVF/GM flow rate from wells with very low rate flow and low pressure and intermittent flow. Producers and vendors would be asked to provide results from a variety of ‘vent monitoring’ tests from wells to assess the minimum required testing times.
Recommendations will be made to identify minimum testing times necessary to determine average flow rates based on vent flow patterns.
A report will be provided which summarizes the results of this project. A list of existing testing methods and what is under development will be provided. As much as possible guidance will be provided on the applications for the devices. New technology development may be proposed where specific gaps are identified.
Project Benefits:[1186]
Technical Area your proposal addresses: Well Abandonment
Project Schedule with Milestones:
Provide a detailed schedule outlining what the milestones are and the timeframe in which they will be completed.
The project schedule with tasks, milestones, costs and time to complete has been attached in the word document.
Relevant Expertise of Research Team:
Provide a list of your research team with their affiliation below. Please include in the appendixes the academic background, prior research experience and experience collaborating with industry.
Fred Wassmuth, PhD, Team Lead, InnoTech Alberta
Gerry Boyer, P.Eng. Well Integrity Engineer, 40 years experience,
Hongqi Yuan, PhD, Senior Research Chemist, Spectroscoopist, InnoTech Alberta
Michael Beck, Surface Solutions, Well Servicing and Measurements
Peer Review and Communication of Results:
Provide details about your plan to communicate research results in reputed, peer-reviewed scientific or engineering journals; suggest two or three potential reviewers for the peer review of the final report.
Technology advisors in Alberta Innovates and National Research Council
Western Canada Regulators (AER, Saskatchewan Ministry of Economy, BCOGC, OROGO)
Energy Safety Canada – Drilling and Completions Committee (DACC)
Well Integrity and Abandonment Society (WIA)
Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) – Drilling and Completions
Canadian Heavy Oil Association (CHOA)
Documents to support application
