Overview
Looking for a more efficient and reliable method of collecting, transmitting and analyzing data, A&H Well Services designed a custom system using several technologies to expand their capabilities and give customers real-time access to step test and pumping test data.
Challenge
When Andrew Peters left the oil industry for groundwater testing in 2019, he noticed well testing–especially time-consuming tests like flow tests–often involved a lot of effort for very little data.
“I showed up at a job and I was watching a technician pull all these hand numbers,” Peters recalls, “He had about seven different sheets of paper, one for turbidity, one for pH, one for temperature… And that’s fine. But why would you do that to yourself?”
The process of writing numbers by hand in the field and typing them into a spreadsheet afterwards frustrated Peters. He saw an opportunity to work with more data through continuous monitoring. Not only would this save time, but it would increase the reliability of the data by eliminating human error and would replace spot-checking data with more frequent measurements to provide a more accurate look into well activity during each test.
“I showed up at a job and I was watching a technician pull all these hand numbers,” Peters recalls, “He had about seven different sheets of paper, one for turbidity, one for pH, one for temperature… And that’s fine. But why would you do that to yourself?”
The process of writing numbers by hand in the field and typing them into a spreadsheet afterwards frustrated Peters. He saw an opportunity to work with more data through continuous monitoring. Not only would this save time, but it would increase the reliability of the data by eliminating human error and would replace spot-checking data with more frequent measurements to provide a more accurate look into well activity during each test.
Solution
Using In-Situ’s Aqua TROLL 600 multiparameter sonde alongside a Level TROLL 700 and his own flow instrumentation allows Peters to observe how pumping rates during a step test impact temperature, conductivity, pH/ORP, dissolved oxygen and turbidity.
Peters credits inspiration for his customized solution to his time in the oil industry. “The oil field is used to playing with big data,” Peters says, “I wanted to bring reliable big data into the water industry.”
Since this type of data collection isn’t typically used for this application, setting up his system required a few different tools. “We’re using analog and digital communications and radio and telemetry and we tie it all together in a pretty plug-and-play system,” Peters says.
Peters’ system, Total Blue™, is a patent-pending mobile test system available for license that automatically implements a draw-down test on a well. Using flow, depth, pressure, pump and water quality sensors, the system displays sensor data in real time on a computer or handheld device so users can view, start or pause their test, without having to be on site. A valve controlled remotely allows users to terminate the test based on their view of the data.
In-Situ’s equipment has integrated well with Peters’ data collections system. The usability of the Aqua TROLL and Level TROLL helped Peters and his team customize their process, since they functioned well alongside other types of instruments and software.
“We have two streams of data come in simultaneously. Through a conversion process we’re able to get data from the Aqua TROLL in less than five-second intervals and the depth and rate data in at less than five seconds as well,” Peters says.
Peters credits inspiration for his customized solution to his time in the oil industry. “The oil field is used to playing with big data,” Peters says, “I wanted to bring reliable big data into the water industry.”
Since this type of data collection isn’t typically used for this application, setting up his system required a few different tools. “We’re using analog and digital communications and radio and telemetry and we tie it all together in a pretty plug-and-play system,” Peters says.
Peters’ system, Total Blue™, is a patent-pending mobile test system available for license that automatically implements a draw-down test on a well. Using flow, depth, pressure, pump and water quality sensors, the system displays sensor data in real time on a computer or handheld device so users can view, start or pause their test, without having to be on site. A valve controlled remotely allows users to terminate the test based on their view of the data.
In-Situ’s equipment has integrated well with Peters’ data collections system. The usability of the Aqua TROLL and Level TROLL helped Peters and his team customize their process, since they functioned well alongside other types of instruments and software.
“We have two streams of data come in simultaneously. Through a conversion process we’re able to get data from the Aqua TROLL in less than five-second intervals and the depth and rate data in at less than five seconds as well,” Peters says.
Results
Remote monitoring has saved time and effort, while continuous monitoring has made well tests more transparent.
“There are things that happen during a flow test that can compromise the data,” he says. “You might not even see that with handwritten data, or it might look like an anomaly. With continuous monitoring, if you so much as bump a controller or anything else you can see that change.”
Access to continuous, reliable data removes guesswork and provides confidence that both A&H Wells and their clients are getting an accurate representation of the well.
“There’s so much integrity in the data that it removes the need to have an engineer or technician on site,” Peters says. “We trust the instrumentation. You know you got exactly what you asked for.”
Incorporating the Aqua TROLL 600 into their process has added to what A&H Wells can conclude from a test. Tracking water quality parameters continuously can lead to insights into the health of the well in the general. For example, the relationship between turbidity and pumping rates can reveal issues with screen size.
In a typical test, turbidity starts high and then decreases rapidly, staying more or less steady after that. “If things aren’t cleaning up,” Peters says, referring to persistently high turbidity rates, “then we start to draw the conclusion that the screens weren’t sized properly or not developed long enough.”
Peters hopes to incorporate water quality parameters into even more well tests going forward, to better understand the effects of different pumping rates and their relationship to water quality.
“There are things that happen during a flow test that can compromise the data,” he says. “You might not even see that with handwritten data, or it might look like an anomaly. With continuous monitoring, if you so much as bump a controller or anything else you can see that change.”
Access to continuous, reliable data removes guesswork and provides confidence that both A&H Wells and their clients are getting an accurate representation of the well.
“There’s so much integrity in the data that it removes the need to have an engineer or technician on site,” Peters says. “We trust the instrumentation. You know you got exactly what you asked for.”
Incorporating the Aqua TROLL 600 into their process has added to what A&H Wells can conclude from a test. Tracking water quality parameters continuously can lead to insights into the health of the well in the general. For example, the relationship between turbidity and pumping rates can reveal issues with screen size.
In a typical test, turbidity starts high and then decreases rapidly, staying more or less steady after that. “If things aren’t cleaning up,” Peters says, referring to persistently high turbidity rates, “then we start to draw the conclusion that the screens weren’t sized properly or not developed long enough.”
Peters hopes to incorporate water quality parameters into even more well tests going forward, to better understand the effects of different pumping rates and their relationship to water quality.
featured products
Aqua TROLL 600 Multiparameter Sonde$4,095.00Pricing only valid in the U.K.A fully customizable multiparameter sonde with interchangeable sensors, long-lasting battery power, and a smartphone interface that delivers accurate data and enables simplified calibration, panoramic data view and report creation. Ideal for short-term and long-term deployment. Available in vented and non-vented options.
Level TROLL 700 Data Logger$1,495.00Pricing only valid in the U.K.In-Situ’s premier water level logger, ideal for groundwater professionals who require higher data resolution, expanded memory and advanced logging modes for specialized applications.
