CARBONTRACKER

Technology for accurate produced gas measurement while drilling

M-I SWACO engineered the CARBONTRACKER gas-flow meter measurement system to measure the volume of gas produced while drilling. The CARBONTRACKER is a step-change innovation in helping operators minimize the environment impact of their operations, including the carbon footprint.

The CARBONTRACKER is suitable offshore or onshore and is particularly beneficial in shale gas plays. The CARBONTRACKER installs directly into the flare line to provide real-time accurate gas flow measurement and composition. The CARBONTRACKER gas-flow meter is applicable for any situation requiring a determination of the amount of gas being flared while drilling. It is also suitable for reservoir characterization by detecting and monitoring nuisance gas during tight-gas/shale gas, underbalanced-drilling (UBD), or managed pressure drilling (MPD) operations.

Until now, flare line gas meters designed for drilling operations did not have the accuracy or reliability to detect small quantities of gas.  This inability was especially detrimental when drilling tight gas formations. The CARBONTRACKER gas flow-meter provides the capability to accurately detect and quantify even the smallest gas flows down to 0.1ft/sec.

The increasing need for the Reservoir Characterization of tight gas underbalanced drilling is recognized with the direct economic advantages of the CARBONTRACKER gas-flow meter. The CARBONTRACKER flare line gas-flow meter from M-I SWACO is accurate at flow velocities ranging from 0.1 to 275 ft/sec (0.03 to 83.8 m/sec). It installs in the flare line between the MUD/GAS SEPARATOR (MGS) and the flare stack, measuring gas-flow velocity, temperature and pressure to determine actual and standard volumetric flow as well as mass flow rates.

The system uses highly accurate ultrasonic gas-flow measurement technology combined with a precision pressure and temperature sensing transducer to measure gas-flow velocity, temperature and pressure to determine actual and standard volumetric flow as well as mass flow rates. This information is sent to the Drilling Rig Data Acquisition System as a Wellsite Information Transfer Specification (WITS) data output signal, enabling direct communications with any capture device such as a data logger system, laptop, or hardwired or wireless memory stick. The information can be dynamically communicated to the reservoir engineering department on a real time basis or stored for later interpretation and use.

Rather than making decisions based only on log data to predict production, drilling operators can now conclusively find the location of productive gas zones while drilling underbalanced. As the industry seeks cost-reduction technologies, the CARBONTRACKER gas-flow meter provides operators with the real-time information while drilling, allowing more accurate and cost-effective decisions to be made.

The CARBONTRACKER has no moving parts, needs little or no maintenance and requires no personnel to operate once it is installed. The CARBONTRACKER flare line gas-flow meter operates with high accuracy in dirty or wet conditions. In addition, it does not protrude into, or obstruct the flare line in any way.

Applications

The CARBONTRACKER gas-flow meter is designed for use on offshore and onshore drilling rigs to detect and quantify any gas produced while the well is being drilled.  It can be used on any drilling rig where gas detection and measurement is required. It can be quickly easily retrofit to existing rig flare lines to provide gas measurement in underbalanced drilling (UBD) and managed pressure drilling (MPD) operations.

Benefits

• Reduces costs - The CARBONTRACKER gas-flow meter effectively quantifies the true production potential of formations while drilling underbalanced. With CARBONTRACKER, you can determine conclusively in real-time the location of productive gas zones and the production rates.  This real-time reservoir data improves the decision-making process and potentially reduces overall exploration and development costs.
• Protects the environment - The CARBONTRACKER gas-flow meter allows operators to precisely measure the amount of gas being flared or vented while drilling. This measurement enhances the potential to improve well delivery efficiencies. More importantly, CARBONTRACKER allows operators to better quantify and reduce their overall environmental impact and carbon footprint.