Case study: down hole viscosity sensor
Background
The oil industry combines a demanding environment with high levels of investment and risk. This fuels demand for product innovation, even for service companies in the sector. Our client is a leading Scandanavian petrochemical services company, providing oil sampling and on site analysis for reservoir and process management requirements.
The opportunity
As part of a consortium of oil industry companies, our client saw a market for a complete sampling tool that would operate in situ - 'down hole' - rather than retrieving samples for laboratory analysis. For their customers, downhole sampling can save time (with results in real time rather than the day or more required for laboratory analysis) and reduce the time and money spent on unsuccessful test drills. Their commitment to maintaining their position as a leading - and uniquely creative service company - is underlined by their ongoing efforts in the development of downhole sampling tools incorporating additional sensor technology.
Our approach
The tool contains a suite of sensors and Sentec have focussed on the design of a sensor head that measures fluid density and viscosity. The environment downhole is extremely harsh and delicate sensor mechanism or electronics would not survive:
- Up to 1000 bar
- Up to 180ºC
- Highly corrosive
Sentec's work progressed through several phases
- Concept generation of potential physical techniques for fluid characterisation
- Concept evaluation against key criteria
- Development of lab prototypes for testing
- Development of engineered prototypes for site testing
Results
Through Sentec's work, the client has had rapid delivery of a functional prototype which has given the consortium security and direction for their marketing efforts.
