TECHNOLOGY HORIZONS|SCHLUMBERGER
Early in the life of a well, gas
pressure in the oil helps push it toward
the inlet and out. Over time the gases
become depleted so it becomes
more difficult to recover the oil. At that
point, fluids or gases are pumped into
the ground around the perimeter
of the oil well and increase its
production.
In her role developing a small part of
the model, Archer had to write a
computer program based on an existing
mathematical algorithm that would
simulate the effect of such pressures on
oil flow. She found it necessary to
perform some changes to the original
mathematical model in order to
finally deliver an effective pressure
simulation program.
Based on her success,
Schlumberger offered her another eightweek
internship the following summer
at its research centre in Ridgefield,
Connecticut. It was a chance to gain
insight into yet another aspect of its
work. This time, her goal was to build a
test rig to characterise the operation of
a sonic array, a device used in
boreholes of oil wells.
In use, sonic arrays transmit sonic
compressions into a rock formation and
receive back a shear wave. From the
picture built up from the reflected wave,
researchers can determine if oil exists in
a formation surrounding the borehole.
‘The specific sonic array system I
worked on had been built by a third
party, so I was helping to build a test rig
to analyse its specific properties. By the
time I left the entire rig had been
completed and was ready for another
group of researchers to begin using to
characterise the array,’ said Archer.
With her internships over, Archer
returned to Cambridge to complete her
degree. After graduating, she rejoined
Schlumberger as a research scientist
and was accepted into the company’s
Tech & Field development programme,
which accepts only five per cent of
newly-hired Schlumberger engineers or
scientists each year.
The purpose of the scheme is to
provide candidates like Archer with the
opportunity to gain field operations
experience before joining one of the
company’s research centres around the
world. ‘The idea is that exposing
graduates to life in the field enhances
8
Miriam Archer
their ability to create more effective
solutions once they return to the
research centre,’ said Archer.
The programme began with a field
assignment lasting 15 months in
Kalimantan in Indonesia, where Archer
was employed as a drilling and
measurements engineer on the Total
gas fields off the Borneo coast.
‘Exposing graduates
to life in the field
enhances their ability
to create solutions’
As a gas well is drilled, several
different instruments behind the drill bit
measure properties of the rock around
it. One measures the resistivity of the
formation, indicating whether or not
hydrocarbons are present. A second
emits neutrons and gamma rays, the
amount of reflected particles providing
an indication of the density and porosity
of rock that is being drilled through. A
third, a direction and inclination tool,
determines both the depth and the
inclination of the drill bit.
Archer had to ensure the tools were
consistently operational and process
the data once it had been acquired. She
then passed her findings to a geologist
on the rig who was responsible for
interpreting the data to optimise the gas
drilling operations.
After successfully completing the
field assignment, Archer returned to
Schlumberger’s research centre in
Cambridge in October 2007. She is
now helping to build a system for
production logging, equipment that will
measure the flow rate of oil, gas and
water from a well.
‘Although existing instrumentation
outside the oilfield can measure specific
phases such as gas, water or oil, we are
attempting to develop a low-cost
system that can measure the flow rate
of all three combined, which is a little
trickier,’ she said.
As part of Schlumberger’s
commitment to provide employees
across the globe with training, all new
hires go through a dedicated
programme that includes specific
training of interest through the first three
years of employment. The aim is to
ensure they gain the competencies
needed immediately and prepare them
for potential future opportunities.
Archer takes part in this scheme,
which is a mix of formal instruction and
hands-on experience. While working on
the new measurement system at SCR
as her main task, she also has the
chance to meet and learn from a range
of colleagues during the training
sessions.
TECHNOLOGY HORIZONS SUMMER 2008
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