Weatherford International launched Vero automated connection integrity, an artificial intelligence solution to minimise safety risks and validate well integrity without human error.
“Vero is the most disruptive technology to ever hit the tubular running services industry,” said Dean Bell, president of well construction at Weatherford. “It’s very exciting. It brings in artificial intelligence, finally, to an area that was devoid of technology and allows us to very precisely control the makeup of tubulars that are installed permanently in the well and to evaluate them.”
Vero employs two new proprietary features: AutoMakeup™ technology, which precisely controls the makeup of tubular connections automatically, and AutoEvaluate™ software, which continually assesses torque against original equipment manufacturer specifications. By applying artificial intelligence from pipe manufacturing to well installation, Vero removes the uncertainty of human judgment from the connection process.
Weatherford says this will minimise the chance of catastrophic well failures associated with poorly made connections, as well as significantly reduce the total cost of well ownership, minimise safety risks, and protect corporate reputation.
“By replacing the inherent flaws of human judgment with AutoMakeup and AutoEvaluate technologies, Vero goes beyond tubular running,” Bell said. “We expect it to minimize the associated risks, both onshore and offshore, and help our customers to consistently and reliably build wells that last a lifetime.”
In trial tests, Vero ran seven completions in offshore Azerbaijan with more than 2,900 connections, and in the North Sea made up more than 1,200 completion connections with no connection damage. The company says it delivered fives times more makeup consistency than usual and achieved a record run rate.
