Of the many components involved in oil and gas extraction, two of the most critical—
and that require constant, close attention— are the Casing and Tubing. The Casing
lines the wellbore, insulating it and protecting the surrounding soil and groundwater
from contaminants like mud and fracking fluids. It’s constructed to withstand high
loads and stabilize the wellbore, protecting it from collapse or failure.
The Tubing, located within the Casing, is the pipe or conduit that transports the oil and
gas from deep inside the well to the surface. By closely monitoring Casing and Tubing
pressures, operators collect important information about well safety and performance.
Among other things, Casing pressure indicates the build-up of gas pressure in the
outer walls of a well. Monitoring the Casing pressure helps prevent cracks in the well
casing, increasing the life of drilling equipment and, perhaps most critically, to prevent
blowout.
Operators measure the Tubing head pressure at the wellhead. Flowing Tubing Pressure
(FTP) is a good indicator of the health of a well, and is given special attention since
pressure naturally declines over time as a well ages. Therefore, to keep proper records
and to make appropriate adjustments, well operators must record a well’s Casing and
Tubing pressure simultaneously.
The nVision Reference Recorder is the Solution
Using Crystal’s versatile reference recorder, simultaneous tests can be
completed on the surface, saving both time and money. The nVision
reference recorder can record two pressures simultaneously at up to
10 times per second, and store
500,000 readings.
nVision graphs your latest recorded
data on its large LCD screen,
allowing you visualize data in
real time as it’s being recorded.
With the ability to zoom in and
out, pan across, and download data, even while
even while recording, nVision makes it easy to
identify trends or anomalies.
We designed the nVision reference recorder to
protect its highly accurate sensor modules against
rough handling, over-pressure, and caustic chemicals;
and we’ve made them easy to change in the field, so
you can switch configurations and keep on working!
Click here for a pdf copy of the application note