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DEA June 2009

Phil Snider Marathon Oil Company

Ron Clarke iiiTec

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RFID DOWNHOLE TOOLS AND DEVELOPMENT

DRILLING ENVIRONMENT

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What is “RFID”

RFID = Radio Frequency Identification

Three components to send/receive information without direct contact.

– Transceiver (reader)– Antenna (usually combined with the reader)– Transponder (tag)

KEY POINT – Unique Identification Codes

Common applications– Identifying pets and livestock– Tracking goods– Toll road Applications

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Other RFID Background and Terminology

Active and Passive Tags– Active Tags contain batteries and can typically transmit

data at greater distancesCar and toll road applications

– Passive Tags contain no batteries and only transmit data when the reader / antenna “excite” the tag.

Pet identification

Most current RFID applications in the oil industry use Passive tags and integrated circuit technology.

– Interest is growing in SAW technologySurface acoustic wave

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Oilfield RFID Applications: Terminology we utilize

Type I Application– Unique identification codes are downhole

RFID tags in casing collars, for example

– Conveyed tool performs operations when the correct code is identified.

Type II Application (Main focus of this presentation)– Reader tools are downhole– RFID Tags or unique codes are conveyed into the well– Tool performs operations when correct code identified.

Type III Applications– Surface reading for inventory control and tracking

Drill pipe tagging for example.

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RFID Tool Design Considerations

Frequency of the Tags and readers must be the same– Most tags are obtained commercially from other industries– Currently using 125 KHz tags for design work.– Recommended industry consider standardizing frequencies

or at least have this dialog.

Communication speed is a function of:– Antenna length– Antenna power– Tag and reader frequency– Distance between the antenna and the tag– Tag orientation

Generally drop several tags– Velocity of the tag

Design the systems to operate at high pump rates

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RFID Type II Application Graphic

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Some other key points on software

Tools are designed to only operate on the first desired unique code

– Allows a handful of chips to be dropped– If tags accidentally re-circulated through the mud system

Downhole electronics reliability– A much bigger issue for drilling applications– Good industry understanding due to prior tools

Rotary steerable, MWD, LWD, etc.

– Design methodology remains confidential

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Field Case Histories to date

Firing Casing Conveyed Perforating Guns– Marathon, Alaska, March 2002

Dropped RFID tag fired externally mounted guns when the correct code was received.8,000 foot well 150 degrees F.

Drilling Circulating Sub– ~15,000 foot well in the North Sea, August 2005– Multiple tags dropped to open 8” circ sub for clean-up

Ports opened at 10,100 feet and seawater pumped.Ports subsequently closed as well

– Multiple field trails underway at this timeCirc subs, frac sleeves, multiple completion tools

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RFID Center of Excellence Funded

Funding significant surface facilities to insure tools run downhole encountered few problems

– Learn at surface– “its not what you expect, it’s what you inspect”

Facilities include– Flow loops with erosion testing capability

Piping and tanks with fluid heating, (rent pumps, reduce costs)

– 18,000 feet of 1.75” coil (pressure pulsing tests as well)– Environmental chambers with necessary plumbing and data

gatheringPressure, temperature, cycling

– Vibration and shock testing– Electronics lab (clean room) and change room– Suitable for electronic board assembly

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RFID Drilling Under-ReamersDetailed economics of the operator’s portfolio suggested under-reamers had high value

– Deepwater applications

Design philosophy – control the mechanical actuation of existing under-reamers

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Circulating Subs

No limitation to the number of tools in the string

Can open or close with tags, and can incorporate time-based operations.

– Command opens the tool and “close again in 10 minutes”– ~20 cycles of the tool per run with current battery system

Advantages – No ball seats or flow restrictions– Can operate in air or foam fluid systems

Significant design related to sealing under pressure

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Circ Sub ApplicationsIncreasing flow / hole cleaning above motors

Flow splitting

Wellbore clean up in multiple size casings

Spotting LCM’s without plugging motors / MWD’s– Significant tool design related to isolating flow to the BHA

Spotting kill weight fluid in the vertical section of horizontal wells

– Field trails :Bakken, North Dakota underway

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Drilling Disconnects

Current project – RFID actuated drilling disconnects

Tags utilized to actuate a specific disconnect if pipe is stuck.

– Multiple disconnects in the same stringAttempt to disconnect at the deepest tool first

Primarily envisioned as a system for deep water– High cost operating environment– High drilling penetration rates

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Other RFID Actuated Drilling Tools

Expand on demand stabilizers and reamers– Key advantage: Finite control– Can close if necessary

Stage Collars for cementing

Bent subs

Many other tools possible: Stay focused.

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ConclusionsRFID actuation of downhole tools is a reality

– Many completion tools under development as well

Technical Advantages include:– Tools can be operated multiple times– Tools can be configured to operate in finite amounts, rather

than fully open or fully closed.– Tools have larger, concentric through bores that can allow

wireline operations ( e.g. surveys, back-offs, free point indicators) to be run.

Field trials are underway and learning’s continue

LITHIUM BATTERY INDUSTRY WIDE CONFERENCE– Safety, Design aspects– Marathon hosting Sept. 30 / October 1