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SACPID PROCEDURE FOR DRILL STEM AND TEST ANODE MEASUREMENTS

(CPE-PROCEDURE-02)

Abqaiq
Room E-3120, Tel. 572-5378
April 17, 2000
SACPID/CPE&TSU–22/00
DRILL STEM AND TEST ANODE
MEASUREMENT PROCEDURE
CPE-PROCEDURE-02
Sr. Supervisor
SACPID/SACPS
ROOM E-2580
Abqaiq

Supervisor
SACPID/UIU
ROOM E-2800
Udhailiyah

Supervisor
SACPID/AIU
Bldg. 5-121
Abqaiq

Please use the attached detailed procedure to measure the drill stem and test anode resistances
needed for deep anode bed final designs. This procedure will ensure that the measured values are
accurate and reliable. Based on the resistance measurements, CPE&TSU will provide the final
design showing the optimum anode spacing inside the hole and the final bore hole depth.

We are prepared to conduct presentations and hands-on field training for the CP
Inspection/Operations to further simplify the procedure, if required.

If you need more details, please contact Husain M. Al-Mahrous at 572-5153.

Hassan A. Al-Muaibid, Supervisor

SACPID/CPE&TSU

GMR/HMM: hmm

Attachment: Drill stem and test anode procedure

(CPE-PROCEDURE-02)

Issued: 3-2000 New Procedure

Rev. 0
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SACPID PROCEDURE FOR DRILL STEM AND TEST ANODE MEASUREMENTS

(CPE-PROCEDURE-02)

ec: Gen. Supvr., SACPID

Gasem Al-Rasasi, E-2560, Abq.
CPE&TSU CP/Corr. Engr.
Letterbook
CONTENT:
This procedure outlines the logging of the drill stem and test anode resistances. This
procedure will assist the respective area CP Engineer to quality control the resistance
measurement method. Reliable measurements are needed for the design of deep anode beds
and to decide on the final hole depth and the optimal anode spacing. The procedure includes:

1. Responsibilities
2. Preparatory Work
3. Measuring the Wellhead Cable Resistance
4. Measuring the Drill Truck Resistance
5. Logging the Drill Stem Measurements
6. Logging the Test Anode Measurements
7. Filling the Drill Stem and Test Anode Form
NOTE:
Unless otherwise indicated, CONTRACTOR is required to do the following:

1. RESPONSIBILITIES
1.1. CONTRACTOR will provide all required material and equipment to drill the hole and
do the required tests.
1.2. CONTRACTOR will drill the hole to the required depth decided by Engineering.
1.3. Engineering will provide recommendations to successfully drill the hole and deal with
loss of circulation zones.
1.4. CONTRACTOR will log the drill stem and test anode measurements and submit the
values to Inspection/Operations.
1.5. Inspection/Operations will ensure that the measurements are reliable and forward them
to Engineering for their evaluation and recommendations.
1.6. Engineering will evaluate the drill stem and test anode resistance measurements and
decide on the final bore hole depth and the optimum anode spacing.
2. PREPARATORY WORK
2.1. Use two # 8 AWG wires (S/N 15-111-101) free from any insulation damages or sharp
twists or ties. Verify that each cable is one piece with lugs on both ends. One wire
should be exactly 20 meters long, and the other wire a minimum of 200 meters. The

Issued: 3-2000 New Procedure

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SACPID PROCEDURE FOR DRILL STEM AND TEST ANODE MEASUREMENTS

(CPE-PROCEDURE-02)

200-meter wire is needed to connect the wellhead to the drill truck at the proposed deep
anode bed location, which is usually located more than 150 meters from the wellhead.
2.2. Provide a calibrated 4-pin resistance meter (Nilsson, Biddle, Megger etc.) with new and
spare batteries. The meter will typically have four terminals labeled C1, P1, C2, and P2.
2.3. Use one of the meter copper plates to short C1 with P1 of the meter.
2.4. Use the second copper plate to short C2 with P2 of the meter.

C1 P1 C2 P2

2.5. Uncoil the 20-meter wire to make one big loop and connect one end to C2 and the other
end to C1. The big loop is needed to eliminate the inductance error factor when taking
the resistance reading with the wire coiled.
2.6. Measure the resistance and record this value as the “20-meter calibrated resistance”. Use
this value as a reference to compare different meters, and to approve new meters.

C1 P1 C2 P2

2.7. Disconnect the 20-meter cable from C2.

3. MEASURING THE WELLHEAD CABLE RESISTANCE

3.1. Connect one end of the 200-meter wire to the well casing using a “C” clamp. The
connection spot must be cleaned with a file or sandpaper to remove the paint and mill
scale.
3.2. Uncoil the 200-meter wire and connect the loose end to C2 on the resistance meter.
3.3. Attach the loose end of the 20-meter wire to the wellhead with the same clamping device
that will be used to connect the 20-meter wire to the drill stem during actual
measurements.
3.4. The reading you will measure is the combined resistance of the 200-meter wire, plus the
20-meter wire, plus the two mechanical connections to the wellhead.
3.5. Record this total value as the “Wellhead Cable Resistance”.

C1 P1 C2 P2

Issued: 3-2000 New Procedure

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Wellhead
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SACPID PROCEDURE FOR DRILL STEM AND TEST ANODE MEASUREMENTS

(CPE-PROCEDURE-02)

4. MEASURING THE DRILL TRUCK RESISTANCE

4.1. Disconnect the 20-meter wire from the wellhead, and temporarily disconnect the 200-
meter cable from C2.
4.2. Fasten the 20-meter cable to the drill truck frame.
4.3. Connect one end of the meter test lead (less than 1-meter long) to C2, and connect the
other end directly to the drill stem pipe. Measure the resistance and record as the “Drill
Stem to Drill Truck Resistance”. If this measurement is 0.05 ohm greater than the “20-
meter calibrated resistance” that was previously recorded, then the resistance
measurements made during drilling must be made with the 20-meter cable connected
directly to the drill stem pipe. If the difference is less than 0.05 ohm, connection through
the frame of the truck is adequate.

C1 P1 C2 P2

Drill Truck

5. LOGGING THE DRILL STEM MEASUREMENTS

5.1. Disconnect the test lead from C2, and reconnect the loose end of the 200-meter cable to
C2.
5.2. CP Operations will identify the deep anode bed location from the proposed design
construction drawings and the marker stakes.
5.3. Drill a 12” diameter, 3-meter deep hole.
5.4. Install a 12” casing at the top 3 meters of the hole, and fill the annular space on the
outside of the casing with cement. Cement ratio shall be 50 Kg of Portland cement for
every 19 liters of potable water. The annular space should be filled with cement from the
bottom of the 3-meter hole to the top.
5.5. Drill the hole to the proposed depth, logging the drill stem to ground resistances at 3-
meter increments starting from the surface to the bottom of the hole. Use the Drill Stem
and Test Anode Form to report the readings.

Issued: 3-2000 New Procedure

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SACPID PROCEDURE FOR DRILL STEM AND TEST ANODE MEASUREMENTS

(CPE-PROCEDURE-02)

5.6. Report in writing any loss of circulation of the fluid inside the hole or cavities, and
contact the respective area CP Engineer who will advise whether to continue with the
drilling or abandon the hole.
5.7. Make certain that the drilling is vertical and verify the integrity of the hole.
5.8. In case of drilling a second hole, it will typically be within 20 to 25 meters from the
original hole, and satisfying the requirements of the Standards for distance to the nearest
buried pipeline, and distance to the nearest well casing.

C1 P1 C2 P2

Drill Truck Wellhead

6. LOGGING THE TEST ANODE MEASUREMENTS

6.1. Remove the drill stem pipe after completing the drilling and the drill stem logging.
Connect the test anode cable to the meter and short the other terminal of the meter to the
body of the test anode. Report the value as the “Test Anode Cable Resistance”.
6.2. Fill the drilled hole with water and lower the test anode at 3-meter increments.
6.3. Measure the test anode to ground contact resistances to the bottom of the hole.
6.4. Inspection/Operations will send the measured drill stem and test anode values to the
respective area CP Engineer for his evaluation. He will come up with a final design
based on the measured resistance, which might differ from the proposed design package.

C1 P1 C2 P2

Test anode inside Wellhead

drilled hole

Issued: 3-2000 New Procedure

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SACPID PROCEDURE FOR DRILL STEM AND TEST ANODE MEASUREMENTS

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7. FILLING THE DRILL STEM AND TEST ANODE FORM

7.1. Fill out the following form and submit it to Operations/Inspection.

Drill Stem and Test Anode Form

Well No. Location
Aramco Representative: Tel. # Fax # Drilling started on
Aramco Engineer: Tel. # Fax # Completed on
20-meter Calibrated Resistance ohm Length m
Wellhead Cable Resistance ohm Length m
Drill stem to Drill Truck Resistance Test anode Cable Resistance
Report the measured drill stem and test anode resistances as you read them from the meter
Date Time Depth (m) Drill stem Test anode Remarks
3
6
9
12
15
18
21
24
27
30
33
36
39
42
45
48
51
54
57
60
Data collected and checked by
NAME JOB TITLE ID# SIGNATURE DATE

Notes:
1. Uncoil the wellhead and the test anode cables before measuring their resistance.
2. Reject cables with splices or insulation damages.
3. IfIssued: 3-2000
you loose circulation of the fluid inside the hole, then interrupt drilling and inform New Procedure
Rev.
the 0
Aramco Representative who will discuss it with the respective area CP Engineer.
4. Use only Portland cement to seal off lost circulation zones.
5. Report the measured drill stem and test anode values as you read them on the meter,
including the cable resistances.