PistonTrack® Heave Compensator Monitor From Sensorlink
PistonTrack® Heave Compensator Monitoring System
PistonTrack® is a compensator monitoring system for enhanced drilling safety and efficiency. It monitors the position of the piston inside the hydraulic accumulator in the heave compensating system.
Safer Operations
Heave compensating systems are used on most floating drilling vessels to decouple the drillstring from the vertical motion of the rig. During critical operations, for instance well testing and BOP landing, compensator lock-up may cause disaster.
PistonTrack is not affected by changes in the composition of accumulator fluids due to rough operating conditions, as has been experienced in other systems.
Well-defined Graphics
The graphical display has been designed to give the driller a real-time, clear and intuitive picture of the accumulator’s position and movement. The information is presented as a bar graph with gas, piston and liquid indicated with colors and a trend line showing the position for the last 2.5 minutes.
PistonTrack® is based on the advanced electronics and software, and is suited for remote diagnostics, maintenance, and upgrade (ready for e-field and integrated operations).
Efficient Installation
PistonTrack® can be installed on all types of drilling rigs. It is suitable for new-build or retrofit on existing installations with:
•Cylinder-based draw works
•Top compensator
•Wireline and cylinder-based riser tensioner systems
The system can be installed, calibrated and commissioned in one week while the vessel is in operation. The calibration and fine-tuning after installation requires movement of the piston. The normal procedure requires a trial with full motion for calibration, an hour for analysis of data, and a final verification run.
Graphical user interface
The PistonTrack® graphical display has been designed to give the driller a clear and intuitive graphical picture of the accumulator position and movement, thus allowing operation of the rig within safe limits.
PistonTrack® can be accessed remotely from shore, allowing adjustments and monitoring in response to the request of rig personnel.
References
Pistontrack is currently installed and in service on the following semisubmersible drilling rigs and ships:
•Bideford Dolphin
•Snorre B
•Borgland Dolphin
•West Navigator (main rig)
•West Navigator (aux rig)
•West Venture (main rig)
•West Venture (aux rig)
Technical Specification
PistonTrack is based on a proprietary electromagnetic method. The system works by monitoring the piston from an array of individual sensor elements clamped to the outside of the accumulator. PistonTrack is reliant on mounting a permanent magnet on to the piston before operations.
Sensorbar with 3 sensing elements
Length x width x height: 1000 x 67 x 37 mm
Material: PE80, antistatic polyethylene
Max. cable length to EX cabinet: 15 m (50 ft)
EX protection class: EX-m (molded polyurethane)
Ex housing near accumulator
Material: AISI 316 (stainless steel)
EX protection class: EX-d, IP- 68 – Up to 4 sensor bars per EX housing
Power supplies:
– Datalogger: 24 V DC, 5A
– Measurement system: 24 V DC, 20A
Data logger and operator display
•Industrial PC with PistonTrack® software and graphical display
•Remote support, upgrade and maintenance
•Online connection via local area network
•Optional 4-20 mA analog output
Data communication
Simplex RS485 with signal ground
Power consumption
Data logger and display: 25 W (typical)
Sensors and electronics: approximately 7 W per primary sensor
Heave Compensation
Monitoring the heave compensator system on platforms
Unintentional lock-up or bottoming out of the heave compensator on a floating drilling rig has potentially serious consequences, particularly when the rig is rigidly attached to the wellhead. The situation can be very dangerous for rig personnel, and often leads to serious equipment damage.
Similar risks of equipment damage and down time are encountered when landing and installing blow out preventers (BOP). Solutions to these problems are now available with the PistonTrack® system.
PistonTrack® is used for monitoring the heave compensator systems on floating drilling rigs, and works by an electromagnetic measurement principle. A sensor array is mounted on the outside of the compensator, and information from the sensors is then processed and consolidated to determine the position and velocity of the floating piston inside the compensator.
