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their expectations.” permanent monitoring systems, which “Baker Hughes and provide valuable information used in the

Petrobras have a long and decision making process for the control successful history of joint of production or injection. All these technology development systems require multiple control lines

Production for addressing pre-salt and cables to link the downhole tools to challenges, and this has the associated surface equipment, which led to important break- serves as the interface between the opera- throughs in pre-salt devel- tor and the system,” Figueiredo says. opment,” Figueiredo says. In subsea systems, the wellhead and

Since 2005 Baker Hughes wet X-mas trees are installed on the has invested around $300 seabed, providing a means of controlling million in Brazil (infra- the wells through a series of valves, pip- structure, technology tools ing, chokes and other related equipment. and personnel qualifca- Deepwater subsea trees are operated by tion), much of which was remote-control systems, through hydrau- earmarked for pre-salt lic actuators. The well control systems felds development. At on the surface are linked to the trees by the Marlin feld in 2003, means of dedicated lines in an umbili-

Baker Oil Tool’s InCharge cal or by sophisticated electro-hydraulic

Intelligent Well System multiplex systems mounted on the trees, proved to be ideal by being controlled through a subsea electronic user-friendly and by its all- module. Figueiredo explains that, “The electronic design, which electro-hydraulic multiplex systems are incorporated a one-pen- becoming more popular because of their etration approach and a quicker response time, increased reli- power-on-communications ability, and lower umbilical costs. These architecture that required subsea control systems not only need to little to no retroft of control functions on the trees, but also existing subsea trees. This need to be able to interface with and con- helped in terms of decreas- trol downhole equipment, such as safety ing customer OPEX. “The valves, downhole chemical injection system now has been valves, permanent monitoring instrumen- greatly developed, with tation, and intelligent well valves.” new tools and techniques Penetrations through the tubing hanger implemented, which has provide a means of communication greatly increased the over- between the subsea control system and all scope of the Intelligent the downhole equipment. Subsea control

Well System and enhanced systems normally have two hydraulic its capabilities, in order circuits for controlling downhole func- to deal with the specifc tions: one high pressure (HP) normally challenges posed by ultra- dedicated for the safety valve and one deepwater pre-salt wells, low pressure (LP) normally used for the which are spudded into intelligent fow control valves.

“Baker Hughes’ completion fuids for the geologically complex reser- pre-salt are well developed and do not con- voirs,” Figueiredo says.

FASTrak from Baker Hughes. Photo from Baker Hughes.

stitute a major challenge. We have drilled

Although there is no than 50% of the directional drilling mar- well control technology development over 80% of pre-salt wells in the Santos ket with Petrobras,” Figueiredo says. “In being done at Baker Hughes’ technology

Basin,” Figueiredo says. These presalt opti- addition, we’ve invested a lot in subsea center in Rio at the moment, the center mized completion fuids are designed to completions, establishing an important has been instrumental in creating, devel- ensure a smooth transition between the res- leadership position for our artifcial lift oping and implementing dependable ervoir drilling and the completion phases. business in deepwater environments. We high performance solutions to maximize

There are clear brine fuids, fltration units, viscosifers, fltration control agents, have around 60% of that market share. production and recovery since its inaugu- scavengers, and surfactants. Each serves a

This represents a huge growth from seven ration. The oil and gas industry has gen- special purpose in providing the best pos- or eight years ago, and it has a lot to do erally defned intelligent wells as wells sible wellbore scenario for intelligent well with having the right strategy in place equipped with downhole remote fow completion operations.

and pursuing the most promising oppor- control devices used to open, close, or tunities in the market, not only with regulate fow from and to multiple zones Well monitoring instrumentation

Petrobras, but with other companies, as without the need for well intervention. measures pressures, temperatures, fow well. It also has to do with understanding “Intelligent wells completion systems rates, water cut, and density in the our customer needs and delivering above are usually complemented by downhole wellbore with both electronic and fber

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