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TABLE OF CONTENTS
3. Surface Testing Equipment .......................................................................................................3
3.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................3
3.1.1 Test Pressure.....................................................................................................................................3
3.1.2 Service category ................................................................................................................................4
Section 3: Page 1 of 22
Section 3: Page 2 of 22
This section covers guidelines for the use of Surface Testing Equipment. Under this definition we cover all
equipment used for containing and controlling well pressure and well flow during Testing Operations, from the
flowhead or wellhead to the burner or the flare. Surface Testing equipment belongs to category 1.2 (highpressure section, from the flow head to the heat exchanger choke) or category 2 (low-pressure section from
the heat exchanger choke to the burner).
3.1 Overview
All surface testing equipment used by Schlumberger shall be pressure rated. The rating is expressed as a
Working Pressure, WP and a Test Pressure, TP.
The equipments manufacturer normally assigns Working and Test Pressure ratings. Occasionally
Schlumberger will assign a lower rating to meet more stringent requirements. In all cases the Schlumbergerassigned Working Pressure rating (WP) must be used.
It is forbidden to submit any piece of surface testing equipment to a pressure higher than its WP rating during
operations.
The Working Pressure rating is valid in a given temperature range. Depending on the equipment type and its
specifications, a different type of equipment shall be used for temperatures outside the range specified, or the
equipment can be used but the Working Pressure rating will be reduced.
In an assembly of different components, the WP of the weakest component at the operating temperature
gives the overall Working Pressure rating of the system.
3.1.1 Test Pressure
Test Pressure for surface testing equipment is usually as follows:
Table 3.1 Test pressure for surface testing equipment
Working Pressure Multiplier
(psi)
Test Pressure
Remarks
(psi)
20,000
x 1.5
30,000
15,000
x 1.5
22,500
10,000
x 1.5
15,000
10,000
5000
x 2.0
Various
x 1.5
Various
x 1.5
Various
x 1.5
All ranges
x 1.0
Section 3: Page 3 of 22
0C (32F)
Or
-20F (- 29C)
-20C (- 4F)
< - 20C (< - 4F)
Low Temperature:
Arctic Conditions
- Note that the cooling effect of gas expansion at chokes and restrictions must be taken into consideration
when determining the Minimum Design Temperatures of the equipment.
- Maximum Operating Temperature
Defined for each equipment:
250 F (121 C)
Or 320 F (160 C) or 350 F (177 C)
Section 3: Page 4 of 22
Section 3: Page 5 of 22
Section 3: Page 6 of 22
Nature of Fluid
Oil
S2 + ESD
SS1
D1
> 15,000
Legend
Oil H2S
S3 + ESD
SS1
D2
S2
SS0
D1
S2
SS0
D1
< 3000
Gas
Gas H2S
S2 + ESD
SS0
D2
S2 + ESD
SS1
D2
S3 + ESD
SS1
D2
S3 + ESD
SS2
D2
Production string mandatory
S3 + ESD
SCSSV
D0
S2 = Master valve + flowline valve
S3 = Master valve + flowline valve + SSV (Surface Safety Valve)
SS0 = Subsurface valve not mandatory
SS1 = 10K WP E-Z valve (EZV-CCB) or Subsea Tree or SCSSV
SS2 = 15K WP EZ-Valves (EZV-CC) or Subsea Tree or SCSSV
D1 = DST valve
D2 = DST valve*) + DST safety valve
D0 = Downhole valve non mandatory with production string
High flow rate = flow rate 30 MMSCF/D gas and/or 8,000 BPD liquid
Remark: The above valve configurations are understood as a minimum
recommended setup and may be upgraded at customers discretion.
*) Exception to this recommendation is acceptable for Ultra HPHT operations using the J string, due to the single shot
nature of these tools. The a high reliability of single shot tools and the importance of keeping the string as simple as
possible justifies this exception.
Section 3: Page 7 of 22
Redundancy of safety at every stage, with sufficient segregation of operations to prevent system failure
due to any component breakdown.
Total protection at surface:
a) On a semi-submersible rig, incorporate the Subsea-Tree (Sen Tree) into the ESD system
b) On a jack-up or land rig run an E-Z valve linked to the ESD.
c) Wellhead valve closure and shutdown of test equipment if well parameters exceed the operating envelope, the
pilots are actuated or surface equipment essential to well control fails creating a safety or environmental hazard;
closure at subsea safety valve in case of catastrophic failure
d) Bypass of the automatic ESD controls in a) and b) whenever wireline or coil tubing is in the well; only manual
actuation allowed.
Operating time of the safety system commensurate with the well and reservoir characteristics; less than
10 seconds full closure of the surface safety valves when operated manually or by the slowest pilot
device.
Note that the above guidelines are only a summary for an ideal situation. Relevant technical documentation
must be consulted, and a specific detailed well test design evolved for each high pressure / high temperature
/ high flowrate job.
Section 3: Page 8 of 22
Standard
High Temperature
High Temperature
Rilsan
PVDF Coflon
PVDF Coflon
Applications
DST
Extended test
Nominal size
3-in. bore
60 ft long
10,000 psi WP
15,000 psi TP
15,000 psi WP
22,500 psi TP
21/2-in. bore
60 ft long
15,000 psi WP
22,500 psi TP
Temperature
rating
Connections
Limits of use
No concentrated acids
at high temperature
No concentrated acids
at high temperature
Pressure rating
Section 3: Page 9 of 22
Section 3: Page 10 of 22
The Pipework must be sized based on flow velocity, pressure drop, and erosive and corrosive effects criteria as
described by the API RP 14E.
A surge factor of at least 20% should be added to the anticipated maximum flow. API RP14E recommended erosion
velocity limitations may be exceeded for temporary well test installations, provided pipework is inspected at frequent
intervals. If high velocities and/or sand production is regularly handled, pipework shall be inspected before each job.
Section 3: Page 11 of 22
Section 3: Page 12 of 22
Detailed procedures for wellsite pressure testing are to be found in Maintenance Manuals or Field
Operations Manuals.
Section 3: Page 13 of 22
Unknown
Equipment Service
H2S Eqt.
H2S S770
H2S >150,000
H2S Eqt.
Note: H2S Partial Pressure (PP)= Total Pressure (WHP) (psia) x H2S concentration (ppm) x 1/1,000,000
b) H2S operating safety rules as per Wireline & Testing H2S manual (www.oilfield.slb.com/qhse/ under Risk
Management) are to be followed on any job where presence of H2S is expected. All personnel must be
H2S qualified. H2S monitoring equipment must be installed and operative.
Special breathing apparatus (SCBA or continuous external air supply) shall be used whenever the H2S
concentration in the gas produced by the well, associated with produced oil or released from drilling mud,
exceeds 10 ppm. (10 ppm is the trigger level for standard Schlumberger detection equipment).
c) All H2S-rated surface testing equipment must conform to NACE MR-0175. Flow-through threaded
connections (where the seal is done on the threads) exposed to well fluids are not acceptable except as
outlined in paragraph 3.4.8.2. All surface testing pipework unions must be welded or integral with seals,
except for special, purpose-built equipment.
d) Any piece of equipment which cannot be positively identified as H2S-rated shall be considered not suitable
for H2S Service.
e) Any H2S-rated equipment on which unqualified welding or any other unapproved local modifications have
been made is no longer approved for H2S use and any H2S service identification must be removed.
Repairs and modifications to H2S-rated equipment can be carried out only in qualified shops, approved by
a Schlumberger Technology Center. Welding must conform to NACE rules.
e) Whenever H2S presence is expected or suspected pressurized gauge tanks (surge tanks) shall be
exclusively used. Gas shall be vented to flare in a closed system. A wind direction indicator shall be used,
and it shall be clearly visible even during nighttime operations.
Section 3: Page 14 of 22
For high-latitude operations where daylight periods may be very short or nonexistent, a specific
procedure must be established by the concerned Districts, in accordance with their customers, based on
the adequate lighting principle.
Section 3: Page 15 of 22
Section 3: Page 16 of 22
Section 3: Page 17 of 22
Flowhead
Surface Safety
Valve
Choke
Manifold
Pipework
Crossovers
Visual inspection
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Item
Heat
Exchanger
Separator
Surge
Tank
Burners
Burner
Boom
Including coil
Visual inspection
Wall thickness checks of vessel and
pipework
Hydrostatic test at Test Pressure
Valve seat test at Working Pressure
NDT crack test of pad eyes
Baskets +
Containers
All structural
welds
Note that the North Sea certifications requirements include a low-pressure (300 psi) test of flowhead and choke
manifold valve seats.
Section 3: Page 18 of 22
X-ray inspection or ultrasonic inspection can be carried out instead of disassembly and visual inspection
for certain components.
All pressure safety valves (PSV) shall be inspected and recalibrated every 12 months.
More frequent inspection and re-calibration of the PSV might be required due to job exposure. Only qualified third
party vendor should perform re-calibration. It is strongly recommended that the location keeps PSVs in stock to
allow rotating operational PSVs for calibration.
After inspection and reassembly, the equipment shall undergo a hydrostatic body test and an operating
seat test.
The hydrostatic body test shall be conducted at rated Test Pressure, TP. Hydrostatic seat tests for valves and
operating tests shall be conducted at rated Working Pressure, WP.
For large vessels such as separators or surge tanks, the hydrostatic body test shall be required only during a
Major Re-Certification, generally every five years. (Fixed separator and surge tank piping must go through the
Annual Survey as for all other pipework).
Section 3: Page 19 of 22
Section 3: Page 20 of 22
Section 3: Page 21 of 22
Effective Date
Modifications
001
First Release
002
Second Release
Warning: The controlled source document of this standard is stored on the Schlumberger OFS-QHSE www.homepage. Any paper version of this standard is
uncontrolled and should be compared with the source document at time of use to ensure it is up-to-date.
Section 3: Page 22 of 22