Forprosjekt. Electric control system for smart wells

As part of its technology gap analysis, WS together with Statoil/I-LUP has identified a market need for a simple and cost-effective electric control system for smart well valves. The smart well market is expected to rise dramatically in the coming years, and especially many offshore platform and sub-sea wells will be equipped with this equipment. Currently some 120 wells are completed with smart well equipment per year. This corresponds to a market of some 250 MUSD. Most installed system are hydraulic co ntrolled, but in the future it is expected that a higher portion will be electric controlled. Two major US companies currently market electric systems. However, due to high pricing and complexity only a few systems have been installed. Hydraulic systems are used due to their track record and lower cost, but electric systems have certain advantages: - Only one cable is needed to control several valves, which eliminates problems with number of penetrations in tubing hanger and other equipment - Easier inte gration interface in sub-sea control systems and e-fields and no problems with regard to use of different control fluids - Data acquisition possible on same control cable Existing electric smart well systems use sliding sleeve valves for downhole flow co ntrol, which makes electric control complicated, because high force is required to move the heavy sliding sleeve in two directions. One of the players in the smart well market, Norwegian Triangle Equipment AS, has developed a unique rotation valve concept . This concept is currently hydraulic controlled and has gained industry recognition as a superior technical concept. The rotation valve is actuated by means of a mechanical spline and ratchet, and operated in 5 degrees multiposition steps in only one d iredtion. This makes it much easier to control electrically. WS has invented a simple, cost-effective control system where each downhole valve is actuated by a dedicated frequency and an electric actuator