A New Multiphase Holdup Tool for Horizontal Wells

Nicholas D. Ryan - Sondex Ltd. UK

Derek Hayes Sondex Ltd. UK
Presented at the SPWLA 42nd Annual Conference, Houston. June 2001
Frequency measurements from each of the 12
sensors are transmitted back to the surface. The
first prototype tools had 24 arms (Fig.1) but were
considered to be overly disruptive to the normal

ABSTRACT
Traditional PL analysis requires phase holdup and
fluid velocity measurements. Flow in a horizontal
well may feature regions of segregated, intermittent
and distributed flow, the principle reason being
segregation of different density fluids combined
with the effects of well deviation (no horizontal
well is truly horizontal). Because of phase
separation, the measurement of true holdup in
horizontal wells using centre-sampling PL tools is
difficult, if not impossible. As an approach to
obtaining a true holdup in horizontal wells, a new
tool has been developed which uses multiple
sensors that can be deployed either around the
circumference of the pipe or at dual radii. Being at
the same depth position in the well, the sensors
measure phase holdup with greater confidence. The
sensors used are micro-capacitance sensors, which
respond to the permittivity (dielectric constant) of
the surrounding fluids. Capacitance sensing circuits
output different frequencies for gas, oil and water
making this a 3 phase tool. The tool is termed the
"Capacitance Array Tool " (CAT).

Fig.2: 12 Arm Dual Radius CAT

flow pattern; therefore the number of arms on the
production tool has been reduced to 12 (Fig.2). The
final radial position of the arm is selected by a
machined angle at the base of the arms giving the
operator a choice of sensor distribution (see Fig.4
and Fig.5). As the tool may rotate during logging
an internal sensor is used to determine the high side
of the hole at all times.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOOL.

The tool consists of a multi arm tool with
electronics at the top, a finger section in the middle
and a motor section at the bottom. The sensors are
deployed in arms, which are motored open and
closed in response to commands from surface.

SENSOR TECHNOLOGY
RESPONSE

AND

SENSOR

The sensors of the tool (Fig.3) are in principle

simple and essentially consist of a single electrode.
Because of the very low value of capacitance
measured it is imperative to have near perfect
insulation throughout the 177 degrees centigrade,
15000 psi range of the tool. This has been achieved
through careful selection of electrode materials and
precise assembly procedures. The electrode
assembly is enclosed in a special casing, which
provides the desired electrical characteristics.
Metal bonding techniques are then used to
encapsulate the sensor assembly. To prevent
contamination by fluids bridging between the arm
and the sensor, the supporting arms are kept clear
of the sensor and the sensor is coated with a
proprietary material to minimise adhesion of the

Fig.1: Prototype 24 arm CAT

normalise the response. Ideally, calibration is

performed downhole. For liquids the end point
values do not change dramatically from surface to
downhole, however with gas, permittivity changes
with pressure and temperature, thus downhole
calibration is recommended. The recorded data can
also be post job re-calibrated.

liquid phases. Signals are communicated between

the probes and the main body of the tool via
corrosion resistant tubing with metal to metal
sealing for low maintenance. Responding to the
capacitance value around the probe the oscillator
circuits produce a low frequency in water, high
frequency in oil and a higher frequency in gas.
Sensor frequencies are typically sampled 72 times
per second (dependent upon the telemetry) and
relayed to surface where they can be processed for
presentation.

LOGGING
The tool is run between centralisers in combination
with standard PL tools such as temperature and
flowmeters. Logging can be either depth based
when pulling out of hole or by logging station.
Logging stations have the advantage of giving a
time based average holdup and allowing the visual
identification of differing flow regimes.
HOLDUP MEASUREMENT
For a tool with sensors at the casing ID (Fig 4)

Fig 3: Micro Capacitance Sensor, Scale in cm.

The sensing element is within the small tube.
The sensor response in mixtures is similar to that of
conventional capacitance tools, which exhibit a non
linear response in relation to whether the dominant
phase is conductive or non conductive. The sensors
have a radius of investigation of about 3mm. The
environment that the tool will be run in and the fact
that the sensors are micro means that they are
expected to measure the individual segregated
phase that surrounds them rather than emulsions
(though the tool will work in emulsions). Thus the
sensors will in most situations report either gas, oil
or water. The outer sensors are positioned 0.3"
(7.6mm) from the casing ID which results in a
minimum measurable holdup of 3-7% in a
stratified flow, depending on tool rotation (Fig.4).
If desired, the inner sensors can be pre-configured
on a fixed diameter of approximately 3" (76mm)
(Fig.5), or alternatively, all the sensors can be on a
single diameter at a position away from the pipe
wall. This arrangement may prove to give better
results in vertical and deviated pipe sections.

Fig.4: 12 Sensors at Single Radius (Casing ID)

CALIBRATION
In common with conventional capacitance tools,
The sensors deliver frequency ratios of
approximately 3.7:3.0:1.0 over the gas oil water
range. Each sensor has unique end points and is
thus the tool is calibrated in air, oil and water to

Fig.5: 12 Sensors at Dual Radii

holdup may be calculated geometrically. Holdup is
the fraction of the wellbore that a phase occupies;

than absolute distance for the weighting function.

This is possible thanks to the tools built-in highside sensor, and recognises tendency for the phases
to exhibit horizontal segregation. The extra
information can be used to improve the
calculations. The user is provided with controls,
which permit the choice of vertical or absolute
distance weighting or a mixture of the two.
Because the chosen weightings have immediate
effect on the coloured image, it is easy to select the
optimum settings (Fig.6). In vertical hole, for
example, the vertical distances have no meaning,
and absolute distance would be used. Numerical
values for Yw, Yo, and Yg are displayed directly
on-screen, and can be output, together with the
sensor readings, to an LAS file for input into

therefore in terms of fluid level the correlation is

non linear. For example using a centred 1 11/16"
(43mm) tool in 6.3 (160mm) ID horizontal casing
a change from 0 to 10% holdup at the bottom of the
pipe will show a fluid level change of 0.94
(23.9mm) whereas a change from 50% to 60%
holdup will result in a fluid level change of 0.60
(15.2mm) This means that the tool is more
sensitive at high and low holdups. It is thought
that a good way to evaluate inflow of a horizontal
well is to observe flow at the peaks and troughs
where either the light phases are squeezing
though or the heavy phase is spilling over. In
this environment the tool is particularly useful. For
plug and slug flow regimes, time based averages
are used to output phase holdups.
For dual radii tools the holdup calculation is not so
straightforward, as though the inner arms are at
fixed radii, the outer arms are at variable radii
depending upon casing ID (Fig. 5). The user is
required to input casing ID to be able to calculate
holdup.
IMAGING OF DATA
Visualisation or imaging is a first-rate way to
transmit complex information as it allows the
downhole holdup profile to be seen in a way
similar to that of the viewer standing alongside or
facing the wellbore. The sensor density and the fact
that all the sensors are at the same depth position in
the well allows us to image the dynamic holdup
information produced by the tool. The CatView
software provides a sophisticated approach to both
calculating and displaying multi phase holdup.
There are several options, which allow the user to
visually tune the image (and thus the correct
calculated holdups). Normalised sensor readings
are mapped to both colour and phase-content, using
a multipoint data table. Real time interpolation
generates actual values for RGB colour and Yw,
Yo and Yg fractions for the fluid local to each
sensor. The whole cross-section is then calculated
on the basis of distances from all the active
sensors, so that a point close to and mid way
between two sensors will be assigned an average
value. The algorithm allows all sensors to
contribute to every part of the cross section, with a
weighting based on inverse distance, raised to any
power. Experiments have shown that inverse
square weighting gives good results, but users can
choose any power. In order to achieve optimal
results it is preferable to use vertical distance rather

Fig. 6: CatView of stratified 3 phase flow.

Yw 0.610, Yo 0.245, Yg 0.144
analysis software.
For horizontal well analysis phase holdup is one
half of the solution, the other is knowing phase
velocity. Though the illusion is of velocity when
viewing moving interfaces by time drive, the tool is
actually telling us how long it takes for a bubble to
pass the sensors. Thus it cannot identify the
difference between a short bubble travelling slowly
and a long bubble travelling fast. Phase flowrate
tools do exist and others are being developed
however fullbore spinner data together with slip
velocity models can be used to provide phase
velocity. One approach to obtaining phase velocity
is by using tandem CAT tools to cross correlate
transit time of interfaces between tools of known
axial separation. From the transit time the fluid
velocity can be determined.
FLOW LOOP RESULTS.
The tool has been tested in horizontal, near
horizontal and deviated flow loops trials. These
trials show not only that stratified flow can be

Fugure 9 is a side image comparing video camera

data and CAT data in a flowloop deviated 45
degrees. This is 2 phase flow of oil and water.
Segregation of the heavier phases to the lower side
of the hole is apparent in the CAT image but to a
lesser extent in the video data. The CAT will give a
better holdup estimation than centre sampling tools
and may help to explain anomalous spinner
responses.

detected and imaged but that downhole flow

regimes and flow patterns can be identified.
Slug flow pattern in a horizontal flowloop

CONCLUSIONS
By deploying multiple multi phase sensors in a
radial pattern it is possible to measure acrosswellbore segregated holdup and to detect fluids
which would not be seen by centre sampling tools.
In horizontal wells this will provide invaluable
information especially at peaks and troughs where
phases are either squeezing through or spilling
over. To convey the large amount of information
3D visualisation software is used which can be
tuned by the interpreter before writing an output
LAS file of individual phase holdup. The next
advances will be to combine segregated holdup
data with individual phase flowrates. For the
moment interpretation is by measuring total flow
and using slip velocity correlations.

Fig.7: CatView of Slug flow

Yw 0.635, Yo 0.283, Yg 0.082
Figure 7 is a time based 3D image. The holdup of
all 3 phases is visible. A slug can be seen before
and where the oil meets the top of the flow loop.
This tells us the flow regime and an average of the
readings will give us a better idea of holdup.

The tool will be undergoing field trials in Mid 2001

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Fig.8: Slug flow viewed from the side

Nicholas Ryan, BSc, SPE works in sales and field

support for Sondex Ltd, Bramshill UK.

Figure 8 is a side view of slug flow data.

Derek Hayes, PhD works in tool development for

Sondex Ltd, Bramshill UK.

Segregated flow in a deviated flowloop.

CREDITS
The development of this tool has been sponsored
by Halliburton Energy Services, Logging and
Perforating division.
The tool and sensors have been developed by
Derek Hayes and Noel Bernatt at Sondex.

Fig 9: Holdup image and video still of 2 phase

diesel-water flow at 45 degrees deviation.