Press releases

Archer Launches Point® System for Better Well Integrity

Stavanger, Norway, 06/23/2016 

Point system and focus on integrity dynamics to provide operators with profitable wells and reduced integrity risk

Archer, a global oil services company and well integrity specialist, has launched the Point® system, a powerful well integrity resource that combines Archer’s proactive and systematic approach to integrity management, with its unrivalled 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 deep understanding of integrity dynamics—what Archer defines as the behaviour 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.

Ken Feather, Vice President, Marketing and Sales Wireline at Archer said: “The industry is at a tipping point. When it comes to maximising 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.”

He continues: “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. 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 programmes underpinned by Archer’s proprietary ultrasound technology that enables a proactive and systematic approach to integrity management. The programmes are designed to investigate or locate a range of failure types from the surface or downhole, providing operators with greater flexibility and helping to minimise required resources and cost. The programmes are based on:

  • CheckPoint—Deployed at surface routinely to validate integrity or to investigate a known integrity issue, CheckPoint programmes reveal detailed clues about the nature of any failure and its location in the well—enabling operators to develop a targeted plan for further action. CheckPoint is performed at surface, so it doesn’t expose the operator to the disruptions, costs and risks associated with logging interventions. CheckPoint programmes are also inherently straightforward, easy to mobilise, and low cost.

    Three CheckPoint options are available to investigate integrity failures from the surface: CheckPoint/A10 for primary barrier leaks; CheckPoint/A50 for all barrier leaks and a single annular flowpath; and CheckPoint/A70 for all barrier leaks and multiple annular flowpaths.

  • LeakPoint—LeakPoint takes CheckPoint one step further—downhole to locate barrier leaks rapidly, accurately and completely. The clarity and simplicity of LeakPoint data underpins confident remediation decisions, implemented with precision. 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 with leak locations revealed with pinpoint accuracy. Furthermore, more complex leaks beyond the A-annulus can also be diagnosed—even while a well is flowing.

    Two LeakPoint options are available to locate integrity failures downhole: LeakPoint/A10 for primary barrier leaks; and LeakPoint/A30 for all barrier leaks.

  • FlowPoint—FlowPoint builds on the capabilities of LeakPoint to locate barrier leaks and flowpaths throughout the well system, diagnosing the most complex failure scenarios efficiently and comprehensively. The forensic understanding delivered enables incisive decisions for the most challenging wells. 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. FlowPoint captures the ultrasound energy and temperature anomalies created by turbulent fluid flow through barrier leaks and annular flowpaths. From within the tubing, it can detect flow behind pipe with great accuracy—even through multiple casing strings.

    Two FlowPoint programmes are available to locate integrity failures downhole: FlowPoint/A50 for all barrier leaks and a single annular flowpath; and FlowPoint/A70 for all barrier leaks and multiple annular flowpaths.

Ultrasound energy—in the frequency range beyond the level of human hearing—can be generated by the turbulent flow of fluids through leaks and flowpaths in wells and can also pass through fluids, steel and cement, allowing for detection behind tubing and casing. The Point system’s sensitive ultrasound receivers, advanced digital signal processing, high-precision temperature sensors, proprietary detection algorithms and flow modelling engine enables operators to reveal the exact location of barrier failures throughout the well system with great clarity.

About Archer

Archer is a global oil services company with a heritage that spans over 40 years. With a strong focus on safety and delivering the highest quality products and services, Archer operates in 40 locations over 19 countries providing drilling services, well integrity & intervention, plug & abandonment and decommissioning to its upstream oil and gas clients.