AquaWell Permanent Downhole Water Fraction and Salinity Measurement

Hammertech is in the process of developing an online measurement of water content in multiphase flow based on a patented water fraction and salinity measurement principle. This project is carried out in collaboration with Statoil and Innovasjon Norge. Thi s technology is cost efficient, simple, robust, and enables a direct real-time measurement of water content in multiphase flow. The downhole application of the technology is substantially different from the subsea and topside application, although the me asurement challenge is the same. The gas/oil ratio generally is a lot lower, and the design of the sensor element must be adapted to the downhole restrictions in size and volume. In addition, temperature and pressure are generally higher. This adaptation necessitates extensive research into the design of the sensor element with respect to the core technology in coherence with the electrical and mechanical design restrictions of a downhole installation. Challenges will arise with power supply and consumpti on, high temperature electronics design, sensor configuration, communication, process control, and packaging. The application of a water fraction meter downhole is to identify water producing reservoir intervals. This is a particularly important measurem ent in intelligent well completions where proper control of the zonal water contribution is essential for optimal control such that oil recovery is maximized. A measurement of water salinity has the potential to differentiate between formation water bre akthrough and injection water breakthrough. Injection water breakthrough is especially important to identify to avoid mineral scale precipitation inside the well. A zonal measurement of water fraction and salinity would allow the well to be proactively c ontrolled for optimal reservoir performance. Reducing water production at the source is beneficial for transport, process and the environment in general. See enclosed project description for more datails.