Increased earnings—using available sand monitoring instrumentation and knowledge to increase production, keeping safety issues in the driver’s seat
Geir InstanesClampOn Damsgaardsveien 131 N-5162 Laksevaag, Bergen Norway
The APPEA Journal 49(2) 589-589 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ08062
Published: 2009
Abstract
Sand production in producing fields can be a critical safety and economic factor. The behaviour of a sand reservoir as it relates to sand production is understood to a certain degree. The sand monitors that became available in the mid-1990s made it possible to use the knowledge of sand production to manage the associated safety issues more systematically. A remarkable improvement in earnings was also observed by operators who used this knowledge in combination with the available instrumentation to find higher, but still, production rates, while still maintaining a high level of safety throughout operations.
During the last 15 years, management practice of sand production has developed significantly. Real-time sand monitors are now a standard instrument in many installations. Producing with real-time sand monitors, which feature a utilising alarm function that warns if the acceptable sand rate is exceeded, helps maintain safety and does not necessarily just maintain the highest possible production.
This paper presents field cases where a more active use of the available knowledge and data can significantly increase production, while maintaining the highest possible degree of safety.
keywords: Sand production, sand monitoring, sand management, production optimising, ultrasonic monitoring, well cleanup, clamp-on
Geir Instanes is the vice president of ClampOn AS. He finished his education as an instrumentation engineer in 1988 and has been working with development of ultrasonic sensors in the oil and gas industry for almost 20 years. Geir is one of the entrepreneurs and owners of ClampOn, which was established in 1994 and has since grown to be the world’s largest supplier of ultrasonic intelligent sensors. Geir also holds the position of research and development manager with ClampOn and strives to continue the development of ClampOn’s instruments to remain in the forefront of sensor technology. Geir.Instanes@ClampOn.com |
Olav Brakstad is an engineer in electronics and instrumentation, focussing on radar and sonar technology. Olav started his professional career by establishing his own consultancy company before joining Systemcom as a systems engineer for long and short wave radio systems. He returned to the marine electronics industry in 1996, working for Westronic and then moved to ClampOn in 1999. During his 9 years with ClampOn, Olav has gained firsthand experience and extensive knowledge of acoustic sand monitoring systems. Olav is ClampOn’s sales manager for the Eastern Hemisphere. Olav.Brakstad@ClampOn.com |
