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Field Testing
Seven separate field tests have been conducted to validate the Deep Trek data fusion system. Field testing has consisted of two types of test protocols: test-well performance and field-noise recordings. The performance tests were conducted in commercial test well facilities, ranging in maximum depth from 2,000ft to 5,000ft. All test wells were completely cased and topped by fully equipped drilling-rig platforms. The casing in each well was constructed from a ferrous material (steel), which extended the entire length of the structure and strongly attenuated the electromagnetic waves broadcast from inside the bottom of the well to the surface.Testing at a depth of 4,944ft using the lowest possible downhole transmission power setting of less than 1.7 W resulted in consistent successful data transmission in the presence of strong rotational noise. Using industry developed models, this data can be extrapolated to estimate a typical functional operational depth in excess of 13,000ft in the presence of drilling noise.
Surface power amplifier
A field test was conducted in February in a 9,517-ft well being drilled in North Texas. The data fusion receiver was deployed as part of the MWD telemetry support equipment for the top-drive drilling rig being used to drill the well. The receiver was able to decode EM telemetry uplinks from the bottom of the well throughout the 10 days the rig was operational. This operational profile included the successful recovery of uplinks while sliding and drilling. Test results were excellent despite portions of the well including a geological formation (the Lower Barnett) known to be unfavorable to EM transmission.
These field test results show using data fusion technology provides a measurable advantage over existing EM systems and should facilitate the development of hightech drilling tools that will provide access to increasingly deeper energy resources. E-Spectrum Technologies is seeking industry partners to collaborate in introducing these technologies to energy exploration markets.
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