A Novel Approach to Reliability Qualification Testing: Key Constituent in Successful Development of Electrohydraulic Flow Control Device

Abstract

Flow control devices (FCD) play a vital role in an intelligent completion’s ability to enhance reservoir management capabilities by allowing the operator to control inflow and outflowremotely. Among FCDs, the most versatile type is electrohydraulic. However, because these electrohydraulic FCDs are permanently installed in severe downhole conditions, it is important to integrate the reliability qualification testing (RQT) in the overall development effort. This paper describes a novel approach to product development which integrates RQT as a key component. RQT incorporates testing for all criteria, including function, environment, and reliability. It typically includes accelerated testing, which is performed to reduce testing time while helping ensure product reliability is verified. RQT is applied in the form of a systematic, streamlined, and concurrent verification program to help improve the reliability of the product. Design for reliability (DFR) tools, such as FMEA (failure mode and effects analysis), help identify the key failure modes and failure mechanisms (causes of failure) related to the product. It is of utmost importance to understand these failure mechanisms in detail and correlate them to the stresses applied during testing. RQT planning uses the analyses performed during the design phase, such as FMEA, reliability predictions anddevelopmenttesting results, to highlight the risks associated with the product. And, further integrates this information to efficiently design the tests. The primaryobjective of RQT is to determine whether the product will meet the mission reliability target. RQT planning not only identifies the need for component reliability testing, but also substantiates reliability targets at the component level. Multiple ingredientsare required todevelop an efficient RQT, such as (a) performing risk-mitigation studies during design phase, (b) defining a mission reliability target at the system and component level, (c) addressing the range of environmental conditions, (d) using accelerated test plans, (e) optimizing test parameters, sample size, test time, etc. This paper presents an efficient RQT plan, developed for FCD, as well as all associated accelerated testing models for system reliability predictionsand statistical confidence. Also discussed is a uniqueapproach for identifying and integrating key elements of a holistic RQT, which can be used to design an efficient test plan. This approach unites the reliability studies performed during development stages, and further, uses accelerated testing for successful product development, resulting in both cost and time-to-market improvements.