ABERDEEN-based Safe Influx, the world’s only provider of automated well control technology,
has been granted a patent by the United Kingdom Patent Office covering “key elements” of its technology.
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The firm said the patent recognises the ability of the Automated Well Control to detect the presence of a fluid influx condition in a wellbore, make a decision against criteria to shut-in, and then automatically initiate an initial well control protocol that results in the well-being safely shut-in.
The Safe Influx Automated Well Control system enables fast identification, decision-making and reaction to well control events.
The company said the “revolutionary” technology is capable of reducing the size of an influx compared to conventional techniques, and this means a reduction in delays, costs and operational issues in getting back to drilling.
Additionally, the confidence obtained with reliably smaller influxes can lead to much more efficient well designs, leading to an estimated 15-20% saving in well costs.
“We are very pleased that Safe Influx has been granted this patent for our Automated Well Control, which reinforces our position in the industry”, said Bryan Atchison, Safe Influx co-founder and managing director.
He added: “I believe that applying automation in well control represents a step change in the area of process safety.
“Implementing this novel technology allows faster decision making, and significantly reduced well control risks and costs.
“The system’s ability to detect and automatically initiate and complete the vitally important well control protocol without manual intervention will represent a much-needed step change for the industry.”
