SPE-169197-MS

Advances in Real-time Data Monitoring for Pressure Pumping

I. Svensson, Baker Hughes, M. Sach, Baker Hughes, A. MacLeod, Baker Hughes

Copyright 2014, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Bergen One Day Seminar held in Grieghallen, Bergen, Norway, 2 April 2014.

This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper have not been
reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its
officers, or members. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is prohibited. Permission to
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Abstract

In the 2000s the focus for real-time data transfer, monitoring and visualization has been in the drilling domain. The WITSML
open exchange standard has been a key factor to this success. Compared to the legacy WITS standard, WITSML has
advantages in interoperability, the ability to load historical data and the capability to get updated data, e.g., for post-acquisition
quality control and assurance.

Recently, Baker Hughes has completed several developments related to the transfer of real-time data from pressure pumping
services based on WITSML. One typical case history is real-time monitoring of wellbore intervention performed with coiled
tubing in Norway, and another important application is fracturing operations in the US. We will also show examples of
integrated coiled tubing drilling operations in Norway and acidizing and gravel pack jobs done in Brazil.

Baker Hughes is now also supporting the new WITSML stimJob object. Fracturing operations can create large volumes of
data, and the stimJob object creates a valuable and timely post-job treatment report. The data in the report can be integrated
with other data, like production data, for production optimization. We will show examples of successful transfer of stimJob
data to Geological and Geophysical support applications.

History
Significant advances in network infrastructure for rig operations in the recent decades have led to an increase in demand for
data sent from the rig site to data centers for data visualization, monitoring and analysis. These requirements lead to the
development of WITS, DART and later WITSML.

Figure 1: Typical Data Van used to support land-based Pressure Pumping Services.

WITSML is an open standard based on XML and the first version was released in 2001. The exchange standard supports
transfer of data in near real-time both via Web Services (SOA) and via standard XML file transfer. The WITSML protocol is
today supporting seamless transfer of data between various software applications, from the rig site to data centers and between
data centers. Since the protocol is open, there are multiple software application vendors, services companies and operators
using the standard.
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Traditionally WITSML has been used in the Drilling domain very effectively. This success of the WITSML standard has
resulted in the extension of the specification by Energistics to support more well construction activity such as completions,
well intervention and hydraulic fracturing.

Emerging Technology for Pressure Pumping

The Pressure Pumping division of Baker Hughes, formerly BJ Services,, has also been involved in the technology
development that has taken place. Especially in USA and Canada, there is a growing demand for real-time services for
Pressure Pumping operations. In response, both software solutions and telecom solutions were developed to support remote
operations.

The real-time remote monitoring solution, which is still in service, consists of the following 3 components:

Sender
The sender application is used to send data from the data acquisition system at the rig site to the Server. The sending of data is
easy to setup for the personnel at the rig site. The sender application supports a proxy server and a special authorization code is
generated for each job.

Server
The central Server stores data from multiple locations. After the job is finished, the data will automatically be deleted after 14
days. The Server application can also be used to connect a remote data acquisition computer for enhanced Visualization,
analytics and real-time ASCII export.

Viewer
The Viewer application is the end user display, fetching data from the Server application. The viewer can be used in standard
browsers and also on handheld devices. The job authorization code is needed for access.

The overall solution also transfers the display formats, units and channel setup automatically from the rig site. Data resolution
and frequency is 1 second. Minimal support is needed; however this package does not support or rely on the WITSML
standard.

Figure 2: Traditional displays used to support hydraulic fracturing operations.

Development of a new solution

Well operators familiar with WITSML standard noted the variety of Service Log  Name Index
Cementing PP_Cement DateTime
proprietary remote real-time solutions provided by their Pressure Pumping
Gravel  Pack PP_GP DateTime
vendors and began asking for solutions which supported WITSML. These Fracturing PP_Frac DateTime
requests led to the development of a new solution leveraging the remote Acidizing PP_Acid DateTime
witnessing system currently used by drilling operations. Coiled  Tubing PP_CT DateTime
Coiled  Tubing  TeleCoil PP_CT_TC DateTime
Coiled  Tubing  TeleCoil PP_CT_TC Depth
The new system is centralized around using and supporting the WITSML,
Coiled  Tubing  Mud  Ctl PP_CT_MUD DateTime
which makes it much easier to transfer the data to other applications. Initial Coiled  Tubing  Mud  Ctl PP_CT_TIME DateTime
successful trials where completed on several locations using a variety of Squeeze PP_Squeeze DateTime
configurations. However, as the scope and frequency of usage increased, it Pumping PP_Pumping DateTime
was necessary to standardize the log setup. Figure 3: A standard set of WITSML logs to
support various Pressure Pumping
operations
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We therefore have developed a standard set of WITSML logs for Pressure Pumping, which is used to support data transfer and
display of data for a wide variety of applications, as noted in Figure 3. The global standardization of Log names, mnemonics
and units makes it much easier to setup a new job and to reuse displays.

The data transfer setup is very flexible. At some jobs, we provide a rig aggregation server for extended displays at the rigsite
as shown in figure 4. We can also transfer data via the Pressure Pumping Server application or to a remote operations center.
We can also convert data from the Pressure Pumping data acquisition system to WITSML directly at the rig site.

Figure 4: Data transfer setup using a rig aggregation server

Cementing Operations monitoring

The Cementing solution is based on setups in Mexico and USA. We have a ready-to-use standardized setup for monitoring
Cementing operations that can be used world-wide. Display units are fully configurable by the end user and data can be
exported to many common formats like WITSML, LAS, and CSV. WITSML data is also available in real-time for WITSML-
compatible applications connecting through the Internet.

Figure 5: Cement Data monitoring display

Following the Macondo accident, extended monitoring of cement operations has become more important both for Baker
Hughes and for our customers. 24/7 monitoring can be performed from our operation centers by subject-matter experts and by
the customers over the Internet.
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Gravel Pack and Acidization monitoring

For two supermajors in Brazil, we have deployed real-time monitoring of Gravel Pack and Acidization/Squeeze jobs on more
than 20 wells. This data is also integrated with traditional mud logging data.

The data transmission is setup, transferred to, and monitored 24/7 by our remote operations center in Macaé and further the
displays are made available and used by our customers.

Figure 6: Real-time Monitoring of Gravel Pack operations

Coiled Tubing Well Intervention

Baker Hughes Pressure Pumping Services recently completed a new technology job in Norway as part of a contract for a major
client. The service was a successful collaboration between coiled tubing services and wellbore intervention product lines in
the Norwegian Geomarket.

The job consisted of four coiled tubing runs with a new system for transferring downhole data, which provided real-time
downhole pressure, temperature and casing collar locator (CCL) data to verify depth and BHA performance. All data from the
coiled tubing unit and the downhole system were streamed real-time using real-time monitoring Services. Data was transferred
into the Baker Hughes and customer operations centers onshore, providing job-critical data to the supporting engineers
onshore.

Figure 7: Monitoring of Coiled Tubing Operations with focus on controlling weight and pressures

The pressure sensor values provided feedback to the milling operation and confirmed operation of the downhole tool to
enhance cleaning operations while downhole on three runs. On the final run depth control was critical for setting a 270-450
Hex Plug in the exact position to maximize water shut-off potential. CCL correlation was used to position the 270-450 Hex
Plug at the designated depth, and then the downhole pressure was used to confirm the activation of the tool and the setting of
the plug.
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Figure 8: Real-time depth based CCL log used for depth correlation

Prior to mobilizing coiled tubing, the well in question was producing 85% water cut causing a major decline in oil production
for the previous year. This trend was reversed almost immediately with the precise placement of the Hex Plug on the final run.
The production rates in the days following the successful setting of the plug indicated water cut at 25% and oil production at
500 m3/day and trending upwards, representing a 300% increase in oil production compared to the production immediately
prior to the coiled tubing operation.

Coiled Tubing Drilling

On an old field in Norway, Baker Hughes deployed a coiled tubing drilling unit, along with an integrated portable mud control
system for a 3 well project. The project’s objective was to establish a simultaneous drilling operation next to the platform’s
main rig to maximize the number of sidetracks being drilled. The mud control system was developed in conjunction with a 3rd
party vendor and incorporates many advanced sensors, such as Coriolis flow-meters, for monitoring of mud flow in and out,
density and temperature. Drilling is performed with slim-hole tools connected to the coiled tubing string with MWD/LWD
data sent via mud pulse telemetry.

A rig aggregation system was deployed at the rig site to integrate data between all the services and systems needed to perform
the operation, including 3rd party service company data. Data from mud logging, coiled tubing, mud control and MWD/LWD
were integrated into one Well (Well ID) and seamlessly displayed together in the web-based remote displays. The same data is
available at the rig site and onshore with a 1 second density and update rate.

Figure 9: Integrated web-based display of coiled tubing and mud control data for coiled tubing drilling
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Using the integrated data solution, the primary service provider, 3rd party suppliers and the client have access to the
information in a secure manner that allows instant decision making, as well as performance verification and historical data
display. Parameters being integrated originate from the coiled tubing unit, mud pumps, and various safety systems that are also
connected to the platform’s central control room, mud treatment unit and downhole drilling systems.

Figure 10: Integration of Coiled Tubing, Mud Control and MWD/LWD data

WITSML stimJob report

Hydraulic Fracturing treatments can produce vast volumes of data which can suffer from information overflow. Properly
managed, the data generated from these operations can be used to optimize parameters to increase the production from a well
by comparing the production data results after the Frac operation.

There are new regulatory reporting requirements that require a standardized exchange of data from the service providers to the
governing organizations. Historically, data was provided to the well operator on paper, or in various proprietary formats,
resulting in errors importing or manually entering the data into new systems.

To address these challenges, a working group
Exchange standard for hydraulic fracturing in
version 1.4.1.1 of the WITSML™ standard and
post-job summary view of what was pumped,
interpretations of the data gathered.
within Energistics© global consortium developed the stimJob Object Open
November, 2010. The stimJob Object was updated and incorporated into
released in July, 2012. The stimJob report contains treatment data which is a
how it was pumped, observations made during the job, and a summary of

Baker Hughes have deployed support for the stimJob WITSML object/report in USA and can provide an XML file generated
post-job for each stage of the hydraulic fracturing operation. The file that is generated is compliant with the current standard
and contains data recorded from the operation including rates, pressures, volumes, densities and additives.
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The file that is produced can then be transferred to other software applications. We have successfully worked with clients that
are using various Geological and Geophysical support applications for Well Stimulation. The success of this import shows the
advantages of developing and supporting open exchange standards.

Figure 11: stimJob XML file exchange from Baker Hughes to a G&G support application

Benefits
The new system for Remote Monitoring of Pressure Pumping operations has the following advantages:
• Data from the rig operations are accessible anywhere to the end user
• Data is available for displaying, printing and export to other applications
• Standardized log setup for data transmission ease global deployment
• Remote monitoring from expert centers enhance the service at the rig site
• For coiled tubing operations with downhole data support, web-based surveillance can support critical operations,
such as setting a Hex Plug in the exact position using CCL depth correlation

Using the Baker Hughes StimJob Report has the following benefits:
• Standardized post job reporting for fracturing operations
• Consistent data vocabulary to eliminate errors in the interpretation of the data
• Consistent data formats to ease the transfer of data into the operator’s data systems
• Reduce the cost of managing fracturing treatment data

Future recommendations
For the future we are currently planning further enhancements and development for pressure pumping. Some projects that are
on the agenda are:
• Mobile app support for pressure pumping
• Automated stimJob reporting
• Continued development of displays and functionality to enhance visualization of pressure pumping jobs/data

Conclusion
We have in this paper outlined technology developments that have occurred in remote monitoring for pressure pumping during
the past few years. By using open exchange standards, i.e., WITSML, we can provide standardized setup and transfer of data
from the rig site to service company and customer data centers. We have observed that WITSML is also a key component of
data integration between different systems at the rig site. The use of remote real-time monitoring of pressure pumping jobs by
experts adds value to the service at the rigsite.

In addition, we have described how reporting via the WITSML stimJob object adds value to reporting results from hydraulic
fracturing operations. This is a good example of the industry working together to extend new standards to enhance the
decision-making process in rig operations.
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Acknowledgements
The authors will like to recognize Baker Hughes for permission and support in writing this paper. Also thanks to all colleagues
and subject matter experts supporting and developing these services.

References
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Intelligent Wellsite Completions. Presented at the 2012 SPE Intelligent Energy International in Utrecht, The Netherlands

Erland Saeverhagen, Arve K. Thorsen, et al., 2012, Paper SPE 150155, From Standard Operations via Re-manning and
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