Intelligent Wellhead, ProFrac test new data protocol
Jul. 6-Intelligent Wellhead Systems and ProFrac have teamed up to test a new data protocol for hydraulic fracturing operations.
The two companies have completed successful field tests of MQTT - Message Queuing Telemetry Transport - in partnership with an operator on a pair of two-well pads in the Haynesville and on a three-well pad in the Permian Basin. A test on an additional three-well pad in the Haynesville is ongoing.
"As of June, we began testing with an operator in the Permian. Testing is going well and we see this new protocol continuing to be implemented across all basins," Tracy Gray, vice president, strategy and marketing with Intelligent Wellhead, told the Reporter-Telegram by email.
MQTT is designed to offer the safe and efficient transfer and visualization of wellsite data during hydraulic fracturing operations to enhance wellsite connectivity and improve data transmission.
"MQTT makes the data setup and ingestion process simpler, cheaper, faster, and more accurate. With MQTT, metadata, including the channel name for each data curve, can now be sent, unlike with other protocols. Also, instead of mapping just the serial order of data, the data channel name can now be mapped as well. No manual data entry is required, eliminating errors in data due to manual entry," Gray said.
With MQTT, not only is the mapping process simpler, but it's also completed prior to the start of the job so data ingestion begins at the start of the job, with the whole burden of channel mapping and data manipulation during the job is removed from the data van operator, she continued. That saves companies time and money.
Once the job commences, data is now easily transmitted accurately and reliably without being dependent on aligning channel order and crews are now mapping based on previously agreed channels.
"This negates the issues brought on by changing channel names or channel order during the job. The process of manually entering, changing or quality checking data is eliminated, significantly decreasing the time and cost of data manipulation. Enhanced data quality means added confidence in downstream operations. All data including reports, analysis, and planning are more reliable. Added trust between the operator, the service company, and the aggregator company bring new levels of assurance and added safety to wellsite operations," Gray said.
ProFrac Services, a subsidiary of ProFrac Holdings, provides hydraulic fracturing services. Intelligent Wellhead Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pason Systems Inc., provides automation solutions, with a focus on valve management solutions, digital controls, data management and cloud-based solutions, and integrated wellsite management.
This story was originally published July 6, 2024, 9:49 PM.
