ITF issues two calls for proposals
Feature Articles, Sep  14  2009 (Digital Energy Journal)

- ITF, the oil industry technology facilitator, has issued two calls for proposals for global technology developers to come forward with solutions to challenges facing in-well communications and the use of Light Weight Intervention Vessels (LWIVs) for subsea well abandonment.

In-well communications

Calling for proposals to address challenges facing in-well communications, ITF is specifically looking for technological solutions to eliminate the need for production logs and retrofit of technology in wells that have been installed without gauges.

The following challenges have been identified as specific technology requirements by ITF members for the in- well communications theme:

- Instrumentation

o As future developments are likely to be HPHT, new tools are required that must be resistant to these environments.

- Communication between Wells

o Improving reservoir connectivity through advances in downhole seismic, well and reservoir management and continuous resistivity measurements well to well.

- Wireless Technologies

o The key to widespread application of wireless technology is power and bandwidth on demand and improvements in signal pickup for offshore platforms, downhole power and data compression.

- Smart Technology

o Smart techniques to improve flow measurement and control flow, methods to control downhole robots, fibre optics for communication and monitoring and self controlled well technologies.

Any organisation seeking sponsorship for innovative technologies is encouraged to submit proposals for research, development, and / or field trial to ITF.

LWIV for well abandonment

Issuing a second call for proposals, ITF is encouraging any organisation or individual to come forward with proposals for improving the operating limitations associated with LWIV well abandonment.

ITF is looking for technology proposals that can help provide solutions to the following:

- Solving the cable issue

o Ability to remove the gauge cable secured to the outside of completion tubing in order to meet Oil and Gas UK guidelines.

- Logging through tubing

o Ability to identify / confirm what fluids or other materials (cement) are in each annulus, the condition of the tubing and casing strings, and where the top of good cement is in each annulus.

- New materials challenge

o Development and qualification of a reduced cost alternative material (to cement) with suitable properties for the plugging and abandonment of oil and gas wells.

- Tagging and verification of cement plugs with wireline

o Ability to verify the location of the permanent barrier where coiled tubing or jointed pipe is not available

- Cementing multiple annuli

o Ability to place cement in the B & C annuli with the completion tubing still in place.

- Wellhead removal

o Ability to remove the wellhead with the completion tubing still in place i.e. cut through production tubing as well as the 9 5/8”, 13 3/8”, 20” & 30”/36” casing strings a minimum of 10ft below the seabed.

ITF is inviting proposals from any organisation including SMEs, academia, research institutions, large organisations, consortiums or alliances. Proposals may be submitted by a national or international organisation, and equal opportunities will be extended to all those submitting proposals.

The closing date for applications for both calls for proposals is October 21, 2009 although developers can register interest in the call through the ITF website.

Owned by 22 major operator and service companies, ITF works with technology developers and its members to identify exploration and production (E&P) technology needs and support the development and implementation of new technologies into the industry.

ITF

<<BACK