Wireline formation testing helps operators determine accurate pressure gradients and fluid contacts to obtain mobility profiles and monitor depletion in development wells.
This Middle East operator’s typical pretests logging program included a selection of 10 to 15 station depths per well. However, various downhole conditions led to several invalid pretests during each logging run. Acquiring accurate pressure data required up to four times the number of pretest points than initially planned. Each invalid pretest added an additional 15 to 20 minutes per station, increasing the total logging time to at least 3 hours per run. To improve data acquisition efficiency, SLB recommended using the intelligent automated pretest workflow from the PressureXpress reservoir pressure-while-logging service.
The PressureXpress service leveraged industry-leading AI and machine learning (ML) algorithms to automate manual tasks, quickly set default parameters, and reduce time on invalid stations. It classified pretests as either normal or tight in less than 1 minute. Additionally, the service identified invalid tests, such as no seal or lost seal, in as little as 5 seconds. These efficiencies helped the operator cut time on invalid pretests by 50%.
