Q. How do I use my old VH data files in the new version?
A. Refer to the section on Getting Started on steps to use your existing VH data files in the new version.
Q. How do I import Fann 70/75 data into the new version?
A. Refer to the section on Getting Started on steps to import Fann 70/75 data.
Q. How can I get Fann 70/75 data for a well I am planning for next year?
All Fann 70/75 tests run in the Houston, Aberdeen, and Stavanger Technical Services Laboratories are located in a single database on the M-I
SWACO Intranet. The website can be accessed from: [Link] The website allows any user on the M-I SWACO
Intranet to search database based on certain criteria, and then download selected datasets to the local PC. The files are downloaded as MS Excel files
that can be directly imported into VH 3.3 using procedure described above. To save download time, the files are zipped, so users need to unzip the
downloaded file and save the Excel files into any folder on the local PC before importing into VH 3.3. Contact Randy Ray (rray@[Link])
or Sanjit Roy (sroy3@[Link]) for access.
Q. How do I demo NAVIGATOR to my client without having to run VH all over again?
A. VH NAVIGATOR results can be saved to a file on your PC (with .NAV extension, for example [Link]) once VH simulation has been
performed and results are displayed in NAVIGATOR. In VRDH program, VRDH Results screen, click on "Run" to peform simulation. Then click on
the "Navigator" button to display NAVIGATOR. Verify that your well is displayed correctly in the NAVIGATOR. From the "File" menu in
NAVIGATOR, select "Save As", give a descriptive name to the file, and click on "Save". This creates a ".NAV" file which contains results of the
simulation. To verify file is created correctly (and to simulate conditions under which you will demo to your client), exit NAVIGATOR and VH
completely. From the "VIRTUAL HYDRAULICS NAVIGATOR" short-cut in the desktop, launch the VH NAVIGATOR. Select "File", then
"Open". Select the ".NAV" file you just created, and click "OK". The results saved in the file should now populate the NAVIGATOR, and you will
be able to navigate the well as usual. This feature allows you to save results of multiple simulations that can be displayed one after the other without
having to run VH - the same NAVIGATOR session can be used to display any number of simulation results. Also, the VRDH SnapShot that shows
simulation results as a traditional SnapShot is saved as a picture file (with .WMF extension). The picture file has the same name as the navigator file
(for example if navigator file is called "abc [Link]", then the SnapShot is saved as "abc [Link]"). In the NAVIGATOR screen select "View" and
then "SnapShot" to display the VRDH SnapShot. You can however run only one instance of NAVIGATOR at one time.
Q. How do I create a new file in the new version?
A. A new VH data file can be created in two ways, either from the "New File" button in the main VH application screen (top-right hand corner), or
from the "New File" button in the File Manager screen.
Q. Why are the ECDs and pump pressures different in versions 2.71 and 3.1, and which should I use?
A. Version 3.1 contains improved models for pressure-loss calculations, which affect ECDs and pump pressure - most notably, the new version uses
the new pressure loss equations being proposed for the new API RP 13D bulletin, so should be more accurate. Other changes in the 3.1 version
include updated temperature profile and Virtual Rheology calculations which could affect your numbers slightly. Most notably, the temperature
profile calculations now include heat generated due to frictional heating in the drill-string, bit, and annulus, so downhole temperatures could be
slightly higher as compared to version 2.71, which will also affect the density and rheology of the fluid. In general, you should use results from
version 3.1. If however you have a lot of confidence in version 2.71 results, and version 3.1 is generating results significantly different results
(outside your comfort zone), verify your inputs (especially if the 3.1 file was generated by converting a 2.71 file). If inputs look correct, and your are
still not satisfied, please contact the Applied Engineering group in Houston (Sanjit Roy, sroy3@[Link], or J.R. Smith,
josmith@[Link] with Technical Services group) for assistance.
Q. Can I still use VH 2.71 if I install VH 3.1, and will my old data files still work after I convert them?
A. You can simultaneously use both versions 2.71 and 3.1, even though it is is advisable to use version 3.1 as much as possible. If your 2.71 data
files are converted using procedure described in this document (see Database Conversion), you will still be able to use your 2.71 data files in that
version.
Q. What is the Ty/YP ratio in Temperature Profile input and what value should I use?
A. The Ty/YP ratio is the ratio of Yield-Stress over the Yield Point of the fluid and is described elsewhere.
Q. Do I have to use the same file name when converting 2.71 data files? Will the conversion overwrite my 2.71 file?
A. By default, the 3.1 data file has the same name as the 2.71 data file (the user can change it before converting), however since they are saved in
different directories in the computer (typically C:\VIRHYD\VHWELLS for version 2.71 and C:\Program Files\Virtual Hydraulics 3.1\VHWELLS
for version 3.1), your 2.71 files will not be affected in any way, and can still be used in version 2.71.
Q. Is there any way to organize my data files in VH 3.1?
A. In version 3.1, data files are saved in the VHWELLS sub-folder by default (C:\Program Files\Virtual Hydraulics 3.1\VHWELLS), however you
can create sub-folders in the VHWELLS folder and organize your files in any desired way (for example you could have a different sub-folder for
each client, or based on well type, etc.). The data files can be stored in any of these sub-folders, and VH 3.1 will work normally with these files.
Remember to NOT move the data file that is currently active in VH, since in that case when VH is next run it will not be able to find the last active
file. Instead, to move your last active file, first run VH, change the active file (open in File Manager) to some other file, exit VH, and then move the
file to the desired sub-folder.
Q. Is there an easy way to e-mail VH data file? And if I receive a file via e-mail, how do I bring it into VH? Also, do I have to e-mail the
Fann 70 file also?
A. The active VH data file can be easily zipped and e-mailed using an utility built-in to VH. In the top right-hand corner of screen, fifth button from
right, click the button that says "zip active well file" which takes the active well file and archives it using WINZIP automatically and allows the user
to save it in any location on the computer. The zip file can now be e-mailed easily. To import a zipped file into VH, first save the zip file in any
location in the computer. Then, click the button in the top-right hand corner of main screen that says "Open a zipped well file", which copies the data
file into the VHWELLS sub-folder in the computer. Make sure that a file with the same name does not exist in the same location, otherwise it may
be overwritten (a message warns the user). All Fann 70 data used in any record in the well file is included with the well data file, hence it is no
longer necessary to also e-mail the Fann 70 file.
Q. What is the minimum display requirement for VH and the VH NAVIGATOR?
A. Your computer desktop needs to be a minimum of 1024x768 pixels to display the VH application correctly. If using a larger desktop, you can
maximize the VH screen which automatically resizes all VH screen contents. Also, the font size in the computer has to be set to normal (96 dpi) to
display VH correctly (Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Display -> Advanced, and set font size to Normal).
In order to display VIRTUAL HYDRAULICS NAVIGATOR correctly, a minimum requirement for your PC is to have a graphics accelerator card.
Specifically, the graphics card should contain at least 32 MB of video memory, and support Pixel Shader version 1.1 and Vertex Shader 1.4 (refer to
video card documentation or online). Preferably, a graphics card from the nVidia GEForce or ATI RADEON family suffices. If the NAVIGATOR
runs extremely slow and your PC is not running dual monitors, most likely your video card is out of date. If you notice distorted effects, such as
lighting issues or the drill string appearing strangely in the inside view of the wellbore, your card most likely does not support vertex or pixel
shaders. If you are running dual monitors with your PC, you should maximize the NAVIGATOR window (using button in top-right hand corner of
screen) on either monitor (preferably primary monitor), otherwise NAVIGATOR will not run smoothly.