In the period March 24th-29th qWave performed several successful test operations at the NORCE Ullrigg Test Centre in Stavanger, Norway.
An important objective was to test the prototype tool in as near as possible well conditions to be expected during the planned offshore field test. To test the qWave patented acoustic shockwave technology in these conditions.
Another objective was to run image logs prior to the qWave operations and also afterward to visually inspect the perforations created by the acoustic shockwaves and fractures created during the measurement of minimum horizontal stresses.
“The operations were completed without incidents, on time, and with good collaboration with the Ullrigg crew and wireline operator. We now have a log of the well that we can use to study the effects of our operations down-hole, this is very valuable knowledge that we did not have before” says Andre Sætre, Operations Manager at qWave.
“It confirmed that the recent improvements to the prototype are performing as intended. The prototype was run three times in the well without any major technical issues. There were many learnings noted that we will apply to our continuous improvement of the technology and knowledge” says Robin Greene, Project Manager at qWave
Our Joint Industry Project partners Vår Energi, DNO, and OMV have supported the Ullrigg test financially, and the project has been granted support from Ulla-Førrefondet, Climit-DEMO, and the Norwegian Research Council. Equinor has supported the test from a technical and rock mechanics point of view, both during preparations, at location at Ullrigg, and after the test. Significant contributions from many partners have enabled this test and enables continued R&D into a new technology that will benefit CO2 storage projects, oil & gas, and other well operations.
“We regard the test as a success. It demonstrated that the prototype technology is robust, which was important to verify before the offshore field test later this year. We have good test facilities in our lab where the day-to-day research and development is performed, but only by testing in a well environment are we able to verify all the complexities of the technology, we are very lucky to have so many that support us to make this possible”, says Jan Ove Nesvik, CEO at qWave 
