It’s essential to perform regulatory or routine production testing for reporting and reservoir management.
While portable test separator packages are deployed in many fields, the innovative application of existing alternate technologies for gathering production testing data can lead to significant cost savings. One of these technology applications is multiphase tracer-based production testing (multiphase tracer technique, or MPTT), which also brings benefits such as a decrease in operational equipment and personnel requirements, while maintaining a high degree of accuracy and dependability.
The Challenge
As a leading Australian oil and gas company, Santos has completed conventional Well Testing of existing assets for many years. Traditional Well Testing to complete routine “Liquids Evaluation Testing” or “LET” comprises of a three-phase separator, choke manifold, tanks, and flare stack, as well as pipework and various instrumentation. A standard LET requires several truckloads of equipment to be rigged up, before diverting flow through the LET spread for a pre-determined flow over a period of several days. Recognising the need for efficiency and a less convoluted process, SGS approached Santos with an innovative technique to enable data extraction during steady state production without a conventional Well Testing installation or production downtime.
“SGS is proud to be the only company in Australia offering this form of Well Testing, and we are committed to providing operators like Santos with innovative solutions.” Zach Spark, Business Development Manager.
The Solution
With over 25 years’ experience in multiphase flow measurement and verification techniques, along with specialised sampling and PVT analysis expertise, SGS developed an onshore focused multiphase tracer testing (MPTT) that is useful for the verification of flowrate measurements on producing wells in steady state flow conditions. MPTT significantly reduces turnaround time (as low as 24 hours) from implementation to reporting - without the need for heavy transportation, or manual handling. MPTT also allows the client to batch several wells together, meaning multiple wells are tested in one round of analysis.
Benefits for Business
Traditional Well Testing required lengthy processes and time onsite to extract the data needed. SGS’s Multiphase Tracer Testing significantly improved turnaround time while reducing transportation requirements and carbon footprint. Santos is able to access their results within 24 hours, measuring their well performance without costly operational disruption or environmental risk and impact.
About SGS
We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. Our 96,000 employees operate a network of 2,600 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.
