Expro unveils innovative new downhole memory camera
Expro unveiled today its latest SL2K Memory Camera at the 2009 SPE/ICoTA Coiled Tubing and Well Intervention Conference and Exhibition held in The Woodlands, Texas.
The SL2K Memory Camera is a highly portable and mobile downhole memory camera system that enables the operators to view conditions in wells without the expense of an electric line logging unit. The 1-11/16 inch OD battery-powered memory camera can be deployed on slickline or coiled tubing and is used to survey wells with H2S or CO2. The tool has a 225deg F and 10,000psi rating, although the temperature limit increases to as high as 250deg F in low pressure conditions.
The SL2K Memory Camera has already been deployed on 15 projects in the Gulf of Mexico and the North Slope of Alaska.
“The improved features of the Expro SL2K Memory Camera facilitate fewer trips into the well for our customers, offering operators a more cost-effective and efficient way to identify downhole problems,” said Jeff Whittaker, Expro Technical Champion, downhole camera services. “Eliminating unnecessary trips into the well is very important for coiled tubing operations, where one single trip could cost from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on well conditions.”
The new model has an improved memory over the previous one, with an 11-fold increase in the number of captured images. It can capture up to 2,200 video images that are viewed when the tool is retrieved and program up to three time intervals at capture rates of 1, 2, or 5 frames per second, which is an equivalent of a 36-minute e-line survey, or a 5-minute motion video.
Another added feature of the new SL2K Memory Camera is that, unlike its predecessor, depth is recorded at the surface during the survey and integrated on to the video images post survey. This is extremely beneficial since knowing what the problem is does not provide the full story. An operator also must know where the problem is relative to the completion detail in order to properly address it. The added depth information is essential when multiple problem areas are identified in the survey. The depth, temperature and annotations made during the survey are all integrated on to the video images post survey. The survey is then recorded on to a CD that includes ProView - Expro’s playback and review software.
The SL2K Memory Camera enables operators to obtain downhole images on slickline when the cost or logistics of mobilizing an electric line unit or fiber optic unit are prohibitive. The ability to increase or decrease the capture rate allows operators to modify the logging survey to better suit their needs for diagnosing stationary objects or inspecting dynamic motion such as fluid entries or safety valve actuations.
