Method and apparatus for automated pressure integrity testing (apit)

A method of conducting a pressure integrity test for an underground formation whilst fluid is supplied to and/or released and returned from the underground formation under pressure, the method comprising:

• using an automated monitoring and supervisory system to monitor the pressure of the fluid that is being supplied to and/or returned from the underground formation in real-time,
• using the automated monitoring and supervisory system to monitor the volume of fluid that is being supplied to and/or returned from the underground formation in real-time with a volume sensor capable of measuring volume of the fluid in steps of 10 litres or less and with a sampling rate of 5 seconds or below,
• using the automated monitoring and supervisory system to determine one or more relationship(s) for the monitored pressure and for the monitored volume as the pressure and the volume vary relative to each other and/or with time during the real-time monitoring thereof, and
• using the automated monitoring and supervisory system to analyse the monitored pressure and volume data using the relationship(s) either in real-time or after completion of the pressure integrity test in order to provide information and/or warnings concerning one or more of:
• parameters relating to the underground formation, the performance of the test during testing, the outcome of the test, the quality of the monitored data, or test metrics such as leakage rate, trapped air, unstable pump rate, plugged choke, system compliance, surface pressure and surface volume.