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Question:
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What does PAS stand for?
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Answer:
| Pressure ASCII Standard. |
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Question:
| How do I submit PAS files? NEW |
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Answer:
| You must zip the PAS file and pdf (image file of raw test data) together (see below for how to zip files together) and must have a .zip extension (eg. 00_01-02-003-04W4_0.zip). Image files are required to accompany all PAS files with the exception of GAN, OAN, WAN and PRD files, although it is recommended to do so. |
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Question:
| How do I “zip” PAS and image files together? NEW |
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Answer:
| First, you must have a file zip application available on your computer such as Winzip. Go to where your files are stored, click on the PAS and corresponding image file. Right click your mouse and choose “Winzip” then click on “Add to Zip File”. A pop up box will appear, check the Add to archive box to ensure your file will be saved to the correct place (Desktop, folder, etc.) and name the file, then click Add |
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Question:
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What is the difference between “Validate” and “Submit”?
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Answer:
| When you validate a file, it is not retained/stored by the ERCB, only “submitted” files are stored. |
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Question:
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Do I need to validate my ZIP file before I can submit it?
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Answer:
| No. The Validate selection was designed for those companies that create PAS files and are not responsible for submitting them, but would like to verify the files prior to giving them to the licensee for submission. |
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Question:
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Do I need an appropriate designated role in order to validate PAS files on behalf on my client?
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Answer:
| Data validation is permitted on any well by anyone with general access to validate PAS files. Note that even if they are successfully validated, the files will not be accepted as a submission. Further, to submit well test data, you must be set up as a delegate for the licensee with the required user role. |
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Question:
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What is the drill leg (Well Information, [DRILLEG]) in the PAS file and how do I find it?
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Answer:
| This refers to any subsequent drilling event after the original drilled well. If the events have different total depths, then each event will be a different drill leg (/0 = DRILLEG 01, /2 = DRILLEG 02, etc.). The total depths are reported in the Petroleum Registry or are available through the licensee’s drilling and completions group. |
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Question:
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What is wrong with the file when I get the following error?
Value [4175.8] of ~TEST DATA,TBASL.M,{Test/Prod. Interval Base M Kb (Log)} must be larger than 0 and smaller than or equal to [2512.00] of Well Total Depth.
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Answer:
| The wrong drill leg is being reported in the file that is associated with that particular total depth and must be reported with the correct drilling event as described above. |
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Question:
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What does it mean when I received the following error message:
The licence number, uwi, drill-leg and well test completion date combination is invalid.
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Answer:
| In order to verify the submitted data, one of the first checks done is to confirm that the well licence matches the UWI, drilling occurrence (DRILLEG), and the appropriate dates (i.e., tested vs. drilled or abandoned). The message means that one of the four combination items do not match ERCB records or the test date falls after the well was abandoned. |
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Question:
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I received the error message in Question 7, but the licence number, UWI, drill leg, and well test completion date are all correct. Why would I still be receiving this message?
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Answer:
| In some cases, the licence may have been abandoned or suspended before the test date. The license abandonment status might be a reporting error by the licensee, which can be rectified by contacting the ERCB Operations Group. The licence suspension status results if the licensee does not complete the process in accordance with Section 4: Reactivating Suspended Wells of Directive 013: Suspension Requirements for Wells. |
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Question:
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If I have old data in a previous PAS version (e.g., 2.0 or 2.1), can these still be submitted?
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Answer:
| Unfortunately no. Effective July 5, 2004, the current acceptable PAS file format is version 4.0. Any older data in the version 2.0 or 2.1 format must be converted to 4.0. Some software vendors have built converters into their programs. The ERCB, however, cannot endorse any one system. |
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Question:
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For initial tests conducted before the well is placed “on production,” what should we be using for the [TISI] (time/date well shut-in)?
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Answer:
| Although there is no actual shut-in time for an initial test, the operator should have a record of when the last treatment, perforation, or disturbance occurred. Use that date and time. |
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Question:
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If a well has been shut in for an extended period (> 1 year), as a service company I may not have access to find out the actual shut-in date. Can I report it as unknown?
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Answer:
| No. A valid date on which the well was last “disturbed” (e.g., produced, completed, worked-over) is required. The onus is on the licensee to provide a meaningful shut-in date. |
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Question:
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What should be reported in an image file?
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Answer:
| An image file is intended for information that is not or cannot be included within the PAS file or cannot be easily regenerated by the user’s software (e.g., operation summaries, type curve plots, discussion results, and conclusions from the original analyzer). |
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Question:
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How do I choose the [FTDT] (final test date/time) for my PAS file if the gauges continue to record data after the final or representative pressure is attained?
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Answer:
| The final date and time reported as FTDT should correspond with when the final pressure was reached. Note that the gauges can continue to report data even as they are being pulled from the hole. |
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Question:
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If my wellbore is not vertical, will my PAS file be rejected because the [TTOPT] (tested/producing interval top @ TVD) is greater than [TBAST] (tested/producing interval base @ TVD)?
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Answer:
| No, not as long as you flag the [WTYP] (well type indicator) as either (D)eviated or (H)orizontal. Because the log depth is measured down the hole, the base will always be lower than the top, but when it comes to true vertical depth (TVD), the measured base can swing up above the top (which is now technically the top of the formation/pay/zone). |
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Question:
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How do I report [GONB] (gauge on bottom) and [GOFB] (gauge off bottom), if additional stops were made past the interval of investigation?
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Answer:
| The GONB and GOFB should correspond to the interval tested; therefore, if gauges are moved to test another zone (unrelated to each other), these should be treated as separate tests and submitted accordingly. |
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Question:
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What is the maximum file size accepted through Well Test Capture (WTC) system?
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Answer:
| The WTC system will accept a 50 MB (compressed/zipped) file. |
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Question:
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Has the current 3.5 MB file restriction on PDF images been reviewed to allow larger file sizes?
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Answer:
| At this point, the ERCB has not placed a restriction on the maximum size of an image. However, the ERCB expects users to ensure that file size is minimized (without losing quality) so that all parties are not affected with a file storage problem. The ERCB will audit these files to ensure that the best quality is being supplied to the public database. |
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Question:
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How do I report a pressure of zero @ surface?
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Answer:
| Given that the reported pressures are at Absolute Atmospheric Pressure, an average adjustment for Alberta has been set at 93 kPa. Therefore, 0.00 kPa @ surface = 93.00 kPaa. |
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Question:
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How do I report the [WSFL] (well fluid type at test date) for GAN, OAN, and WAN PAS files? Should it be what fluid type we are analyzing or what the well is classified as?
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Answer:
| It should be the type of dominant fluid or production pay from the zone of investigation. |
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Question:
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Why do I need a [SERCO] (service company code) in my GRD and TRG files?
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Answer:
| If the image file does not contain information provided by the company that ran the test and if there were a problem with the data, without the SERCO there would be no way to track down the information from the service company. |
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Question:
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How long should I wait before contacting the Well Test Group if I haven’t received an error message?
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Answer:
| With the July 30, 2005 enhancement to the Online Validation and Submit process, instant on-screen Accept or Reject (with errors) Notifications are provided. There is a follow-up e-mail sent to the submitter, however, if the submitter does not receive this e-mail, there is no way to re-send it as the ERCB does not retain a copy on the system |
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Question:
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Why are commas required at the end of data tables?
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Answer:
| They are needed as column delimiters. |
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Question:
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Do I need the data table gauge (DTG) for acoustic tests?
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Answer:
| No. However, if the surface pressure was obtained after April 1, 2005, the header data gauge section must still be provided. This is to validate the gauge information/reliability if required. |
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Question:
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If my AOF was done inline, can I still submit my PRD as an image file and ignore the inline table?
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Answer:
| No, if the data was obtained inline, then the information must be provided in the Data Table – Inline Rate and Pressure Summary. |
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Question:
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If I have a test where gas was initially flared and then tested into the pipeline (i.e. inline), how would I record this in the TRG file? Would I answer (Y)es or (N)o to the [AIN] (inline indicator)?
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Answer:
| The AIN in the TRG file should be flagged as “N” and the results should be supplied in the PRD file indicating total amount flared and flowed inline. The image file can further elaborate on the how the test was conducted. |
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Question:
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Why do we need > 330 hours (2 weeks) of data and 28 lines in the Data Table – Inline Rate and Pressure Summary when all the gas flowed inline?
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Answer:
| First, the ERCB does not have any access to daily rates (only monthly averages) to validate stabilization; therefore, it can use SCADA or PVR to provide the daily rates. As to the 28 lines, the ERCB originally wanted four weeks of data but did not change the edit when the compromise was made. So, either provide 28 lines or double the data for each day (i.e., same value for noon and midnight). |
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Question:
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If during a gradient run, stops are made down into deeper formations, how do I report the static gradient for the upper zone?
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Answer:
| For the tested interval ([TTOPL] and [TBASL]), use the perforated intervals tested. For the stop depth ([SDGAL]), use the stop depth closest to the midpoint of the subject perforations. |
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Question:
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How can we submit a GRD file (i.e., static gradient) for a well that was tested prior to production and there isn’t 14 days of shut-in?
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Answer:
| If the well has less than 14 days of shut-in, but there is 2 hours of recorded pressure data at or near MPP that proves the pressure is stable (i.e., building < 2.5 kPa/hr), this could be submitted to fulfill an initial pressure requirement. Otherwise, it must be submitted with the Test Purpose = (O)ther. |
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Question:
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Why do I get an error that my pressure is still building when I have supplied analysis (P* or Pr)?
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Answer:
| For gauge tests: If the Pressure Results – Summary [REPMPP] (representative pressure @ MPP) equals [PEXTR] (P*) or [PAVG] (Pr), then the reported pressure in the gauge table must be completely stable. This is computed by using the [LMP] (last measure pressure) vs. the [PRGA] (gauge pressure).
For acoustic tests: Same as above, with the exception that the LMP is compared to the [PSUR] (data table acoustic). |
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Question:
| I am receiving the following error message: “Must enter a file name with no special characters in the name and.zip extension.” NEW |
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Answer:
| You are probably using a version of Internet Explorer new than 7.0. The ERCB does not support versions other than Internet Explorer 7.0 at this time, please refer to WTC News section of the Well Test Data page in DDS for instructions. |
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Question:
| I have an error but do not understand what it means? NEW |
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Answer:
| Go to the Well Test Data page in DDS, under Related Resources section, there is a link to the PAS formats that includes mnemonic definitions that can aid in understanding these error messages. There are two types of files provided, pdf or excel, either one will provide the same information |
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Question:
| I am receiving an error message: “At least 6 hours of data must be submitted in DTG(1)”. However, there is 6 hours of data provided in this table, what do I do? NEW |
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Answer:
| The LMP (last measured pressure) must be reported as the pressure at the time reported for the GOFB (gauge off bottom). |
