Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Safety,
maintenance and troubleshooting
of
pressure and temperature
electronic
downhole memory gauges
includes
safety, maintenance and troubleshooting instructions
for:
iGauge
iGauge GL
iQuartz
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Table of Contents
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety Section 1
Pressure page 1
Sour service page 2
Batteries page 3
Maintenance Section 2
Replacement of O-rings page 1
Special O-rings for operations in gas wells page 1
Electronics housing O-rings on iGauge or iQuartz page 2
O-rings and V-packing on iGauge GL for 1.00” side pocket page 3
O-rings and V-packing on iGauge GL for 1.50” side pocket page 4
Maintenance of FHPC contacts page 5
Transformation of a gauge into a slick line tool page 6
Transformation of a gauge into a surface recorder page 6
Maintenance of special iQuartz housing relief valve page 7
Cleaning of the iQuartz sensor bellow page 7
Replacement of L battery page 8
Spare parts list page 9
Accessories list page 10
Connection cables list for all gauges page 11
Carriers for drill stem test page 12
Battery type list page 13
Troubleshootin g Section 6
The gauge cannot be neither "stopped and tested" nor read page 1
Communication stops during data reading page 2
The gauge does not start after programming page 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 1 Safety
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety Memory gauges are pressure tools. If careful procedures are not followed,
pressure could be trapped inside the tool and the dismantling operation
could become dangerous.
Memory gauges are designed for and can be run in a sour gas environment.
Usual maintenance and safety practices for sour service equipment must be
followed in order to protect personnel using the tool and to ensure the
longest possible tool service life.
Memory gauges use lithium battery packs, which have special handling and
disposal procedures.
Pressure As any downhole tool, a memory gauge can trap pressure. While every
precaution must be taken to insure that pressure cannot enter in the gauge
by:
- regularly changing the O-rings,
- always cleaning the O-ring grooves before installing new O-rings,
- using the right O-ring type for a given environment,
(see the following sections for more details), it is always possible to face
the rare event that pressure entered in the tool but did not get out. It is
particularly true in gas wells when the gauge has been left for a long time in
the well: pressure could enter slowly by migrating through the O-rings but
does not have time to bleed-off when the gauge is retrieved.
Most of Metrolog memory gauges are built for this problem not to happen:
the iGauge pressure sensor will be pushed out of its seat if pressure inside
the tool becomes higher that the outside pressure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 1
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 1 Safety
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Then, when the O-rings and the thread friction have been cancelled, parts of
the gauge can be pushed with a very strong force and cause damages
and/or injuries.
Sour service All Metrolog's memory gauges have been designed to be run in sour service
environment but, in this case, O-rings must be changed between every run
and the bottom nose filled in with grease. It is also possible to protect the
sensor with a specific buffer tube and silicone grease.
The insert gauge concept allows the gauges to be run in carriers when the
well fluid is particularly aggressive. The carriers, when full of high
temperature oil, will act as buffer tubes.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 2
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 1 Safety
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Batteries Lithium batteries used by Metrolog memory gauges are Lithium based
batteries that are a potential hazard in case of wrong usage or wrong
operation. We thus advise the users to observe particular precautions when
using Lithium batteries, such as:
WARNING In mos t of the coun tries , stri ct r egula tions a ppl y for the di sposal
or the d es truc tion of Li thiu m ba tteries . Pleas e conta c t
sp ecialized co m panies or M etrolog.
In order to protect the users, these batteries are equipped with a double
level of fuse. One fuse is built in the cell itself, a second fuse has been
added at Metrolog's request by the battery manufacturer. However, it is
important to understand and respect the above rules and to treat these
batteries with special care with a full understanding of their specificity; the
protection by fuses is of no use in case of deformation or crushing of a
battery by a mechanical action.
x15 (L15E, 2L15E, etc...) batteries are limited to 150 °C or 300 °F.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 3
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 2 Maintenance
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Replacement of O-rings
1. Apply the minimum possible stress. Pass the O-rings around the smaller
diameter available (follow the instructions below).
2. Because of the inevitable stress applied when installing new O-rings, once
installed, wait 2 minutes before placing the housing that will cover them.
This gives time for the O-rings to relax and to take back their original shape.
Their main characteristic being to have a very low permeability to gas, they
greatly reduce the gas entry (by diffusion) into the gauge.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 1
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 2 Maintenance
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
The electronics housing O-rings must be changed regularly above all if the
gauge is used in gas environment or in corrosive fluids:
1 Unscrew the electronics housing by using two flat spanners (one on the
gauge body, one at the top of the housing).
4 Install new housing O-rings (n° 111) by sliding them around the
electronics. Use if needed the supplied O-ring sliding tool.
5 Reconnect the battery by inserting first the guide pin then by pushing
slowly the battery connector in place.
6 Grease the O-ring thoroughly. Slide the electronics housing back in place
with the same care than for removing it. Screw it and tighten it slightly.
WARNING Do not ov er-ti ght e n t he housi ng. It would d eform the bottom
of t he housing that has not bee n de si gned to ha ndle ove r
torq ue beca use of it s siz e.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 2
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 2 Maintenance
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
1 Unscrew the latch by using a flat spanner on the gauge body and a pipe
range on the latch.
2 Remove the upper V-packing set. Unscrew the top adapter. Replace the
top adapter O-rings (n° 113). Grease them cautiously.
3 Insert a small screw driver into the GL inserting tool and pull cautiously
on the iGauge GL heart in order to remove it from its seat.
6 Connect a new battery by inserting first the guide pin then by pushing
the battery connector in place.
7 Grease the iGauge GL heart O-rings cautiously and insert it back in its
seat with the GL inserting tool.
8 Re-assemble the top adapter. Tighten it and place a new V-packing set.
Re-assemble the latch and tighten it firmly.
9 Unscrew the GL nose. Replace the V-packing set and re-assemble the GL
nose. Tighten it firmly.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 3
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 2 Maintenance
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
1 Unscrew the latch by using a flat spanner on the gauge body and a pipe
range on the latch. Do not use pipe range on the GL body.
4 Insert a small screw driver into the GL inserting tool of the top iGauge
heart and pull cautiously in order to remove it from its seat.
Insert a small screw driver into the GL inserting tool of the bottom
iGauge heart and pull cautiously in order to remove it from its seat.
7 Connect a new battery on each iGauge heart by inserting first the guide
pin then by pushing the battery connector in place.
8 Grease the iGauge GL heart O-rings cautiously and insert them back in
their seat with their GL inserting tools.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 4
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 2 Maintenance
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
The FHPC contacts of an iGauge or an iQuartz must be kept clean at all times. Do
not clean them with a sharp object nor with a metallic tool but with cloth or
cleaning paper.There is no other routine maintenance on the FHPC contacts than
cleaning.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 5
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 2 Maintenance
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
The concept of the iGauge and the iQuartz is that the tool heart can be
assembled with different accessories for the gauge to be run:
- as an insert gauge (in carriers),
- as a slick line tool ,
- as a surface recorder.
The iGauge or the iQuartz is normally supplied with the accessories to run it
as an insert gauge. The procedure is the same for both recorders.
(Figure iM3 - iGauge accessories)
(Figure iM4 - iQuartz parts description and accessories)
1 Unscrew the insert housing by using two flat spanners (one on the
sensor holder, one at the top of the housing).
3 Grease the O-ring thoroughly. Slide the slick line housing in place with
great care. Screw it and tighten it firmly using the purposely-designed
flats.
4 Unscrew the insert nose (with a big screwdriver for example). Install a
new nose O-ring (n° 014) on the slick line nose and screw it. Tighten
firmly using the purposely-designed flats.
1 Unscrew the insert nose (with a big screwdriver for example). Install a
new nose O-ring (n° 014) on the test nose and screw it. Tighten firmly
using the purposely-designed flats.
When a iQuartz housing with relief valve is used, the status of the relief
valve must be checked after each run. The relief valve rod must be flush
with the bottom of the relief valve nut. If the relief valve rod has popped
out, it means that the gauge internal pressure was greater than the outside
pressure and that the relief valve has completed its task.
(Figure iM9 – iQuartz housing relief valve detail).
2 Pull the relief valve rod and spring out (a M3 screw can be used to latch
into the relief valve rod in order to help pulling on it).
5 Replace the relief valve rod and push it down in its seat, replace the
relief valve spring and nut. Tighten the relief valve nut with the
screwdriver.
6 Check that the relief valve rod is flush with the bottom of the relief
valve nut.
The iQuartz bellow is covered by one of the iQuartz noses that should never
been taken off in the field. Its cleaning (which is the only needed maintenance)
should be done in the lab by a trained technician and there should be no
mechanical stress applied to it neither with the finger, metallic object or else.
To clean it, just use a small brush and diesel. The bellow is not fragile as
such (it resists to the gauge pressure range) but bending or marking it
would affect the accuracy of the gauge and its resolution.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 7
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 2 Maintenance
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Replacement of L battery
1 Unscrew the electronics housing by using two flat spanners (one on the
sensor holder, one at the top of the housing).
4 Install a new battery by inserting first the guide pin then by pushing the
battery connector in place.
6 Grease the O-ring thoroughly. Slide the electronics housing back in place
with the same care than for removing it. Screw it and tighten it slightly.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 8
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 2 Maintenance
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
The spare parts needed for regular maintenance include only O-rings, screws,
V-packing (for the iGauge GL) and battery clips. Life duration of O-ring is 10
years. Please keep them away from UV.
O-ring part numbers are given for a set of 10 pieces of Viton 709/90 O-ring.
For part number of Viton 858/95 O-rings, replace S by F: for example, the
part number of a pack of 10 n° 111 V858/95 O-rings is D.30.P.F111.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 9
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 2 Maintenance
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Accessories list
fo r iG a uge a nd iQ ua rtz The concept of the iGauge and iQuartz is that the heart can be assembled
with different accessories for the gauge to be run:
- as an insert gauge (in carriers),
- as a slick line tool ,
- as a surface recorder.
The iGauge and the iQuartz are normally supplied with the accessories to run
it as an insert gauge.
The following table gives the part number for each part or each kit.
for iGaug e
insert housing D.50.A.HOUI
insert nose D.50.A.NOSI
kit with insert housing and nose D.50.A.HNI
for iQua r tz
insert housing D.50.A.HOUI
insert nose D.50.A.NOSQI
kit with insert housing and nose D.50.A.HNQI
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 10
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 2 Maintenance
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
fo r iG a uge G L The iGauge GL is used as insert in a gas lift special 1" OD or 1.50” dummy.
The following table gives the part number for the accessories needed
according to its application.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 11
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 2 Maintenance
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
The FHPC-I connection cable clips onto the gauge in such a manner that the
top of the FHPC connector - opposite to the cable - be in line with the
housing extremity.
(Figure iM6a - iGauge connections)
(Figure iM6b - iGauge connection cables)
The following table gives the part number for cable and part.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 12
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 2 Maintenance
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Carriers for iGauge and iQuartz
The following table gives the part number for each carrier and its spare
parts.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 13
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 2 Maintenance
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 14
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 3 Full Bore Internal carrier operation
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Up to 6 iGauges can be used inside the Full Bore Internal DST carrier for
recording the internal pressure during a DST, for example.
To easily insert the iGauges inside the carrier, use the below procedure:
WARNING Ta ke gre at c are not t o drop t he i nte rnal sl eeve too harshly i n
orde r not t o da ma ge it s t hre ad.
18, 19 Use the FBI screw driver and the iGauge handler to tighten the
internal sleeve.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 1
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 4 Acid kit
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
3 Place the FHPC masking plug in its location taking care of different
slope angles not to put it upside down. Grease must fill all spaces.
Clean gently the grease excess.
4 Place 3" (8 cm) of Viton shrinkable tube above the FHPC contacts.
The length of the tube must be big enough to cover completely the
FHPC masking plug.
5, 6 Hold the gauge with one hand and start blowing hot air with the hot
air blower.
WARNING Ta ke gre at c are not t o he at t he ga uge too m uch. H andl ing the
ga uge wit h a bare ha nd all ows t o fe el t he t em pe rat ure a nd to
stop bl owi ng hot ai r, i f t he te m pe rat ure be come s t oo hi gh.
Ta ke gre at c are not t o burn y oursel f !!!
WARNING For a re gul ar shri nka ge, sta rt bl owi ng hot a ir at one ext re mit y
of t he t ube (a s shown on t he fi gure s), all a round t he ga uge,
close from t he ha ndl ing ha nd, be fore sta rti ng mov i ng a way
from t he ha nd li ng ha nd.
7 Blow hot air all around the gauge for a regular shrinkage and
optimum protection.
After the job, clean the gauge with fresh clean water, remove and replace all
O-rings after cleaning all O-rings grooves with fresh clean water.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 1
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 4 Acid kit
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
To remove the Viton protection, just cut it with a knife or a cutter, remove
the FHPC masking plug (that can be used again) and clean the FHPC contacts
cautiously.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 2
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 5 Slick line carrier
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
The pressure port of the slick line carriers for iGauge and iQuartz is located
inside the fishing head. It is important to check that the port is free from
debris and that the buffer tube is clean.
(Figure iM11 – Slick line carrier head)
To dismantle the buffer tube section from the slick line head:
2 Use a standard screw to pull the Teflon buffer tube out of its seat.
3 Clean the buffer tube seat and make sure the communication hole does
not contain any debris.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 1
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 6 Troubleshooting
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Troubleshooti ng with PC
Sym p tom : After clicking the 'Stop & Test' icon or the 'Read Data' icon,
the message "Gauge Communication Failure, Gauge not
Communicating" is displayed on the screen.
Reasons: There is no communication between the PC and the gauge for
one or more of the following reasons:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 1
Metrolog SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL
October 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Section 6 Troubleshooting
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Sym p tom : After clicking the 'Read Data' icon, the PC starts reading the
gauge, but after a while the message "Gauge Communication
Failure, Gauge not Communicating" is displayed on the
screen.
Reason: The gauge battery is nearly flat.
Solution: Replace the gauge battery.
If no new gauge battery is available (at well site for example),
remove the gauge battery, and connect the right PRM4 cable
directly to the gauge battery connector in place of the
battery. The FHPC cable now supplies current directly to the
gauge.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Safety, maintenance and troubleshooting manual Page 2
Figure iM1 - O-rings installation
Right Wrong
Figure iM2 - iGauge parts description
FHPC contacts
iGauge heart
Insert nose
(D.50.A.NOSI)
Figure iM3 - iGauge accessories
Insert housing
(D.50.A.HOUI)
FHPC contacts
iQuartz heart
iQuartz iQuartz
slick line nose test nose
(D.50.A.NQSS) (D.50.A.NQST) iQuartz bellow
iQuartz
insert nose
(D.50.A.NQSI)
Figure iM5 - iGauge GL parts description for 1.00 side pocket
GL inserting tool
(D.50.A.INT)
iGauge GL heart
(D.50.P.GLH)
GL body
(D.50.P.GLB)
GL nose
(D.50.P.GLN)
Figure iM6a - iGauge connections
to PC
Figure iM6b - iGauge connection cables
iGauge
Emergency connection
cable adapter for igauge
(D.50.P.SOSI)
L15E
iGauge (not supplied with carrier but shown for better understanding)
(D.50.G.SPI)
Metrolog
4
Metrolog
7
Metrolog
10
11
12
Metrolog
13
14
15
Metrolog
16
17
18
Metrolog
19
20
Metrolog
Figure iM8 - Acid kit installation
High temperature
grease
7
1 2
3 4
5 6
Metrolog
Figure iM9 - iQuartz housing relief valve detail
GL inserting tool
(D.51.A.INT)
iGauge GL heart
(D.50.P.GLH)
Modified RK lock
n° 113 O-ring (4) (D.51.A.LOCK)
GL body (1.5 )
(D.51.P.GLB)
GL nose (1.5 )
(D.51.P.GLN)
Figure iM11 - Slick line carrier head
Pressure buffer
(D.50.P.BUF)
M10 screw