Swissbit AG, a leading manufacturer of industrial-grade flash memory solutions, provided a 32GB S-450 SD memory card to Hitwell Deep Well Imaging, Inc to test “High-Temperature Grade” video usability.

In order to simulate conditions of a high-pressure/high-temperature well imaging project and to test the robustness of the SD storage device, the engineers at Hitwell first loaded a 32GB S-450 from Swissbit with pseudo-random data up to full capacity. The true test was when they “baked” the card for more than 60 hours at 325°F (165°C). After cooling the SD device, it looked normal except for an insignificant minor deformation of the shell. Inserted into a reader, it was recognized as a drive without fail, and all of the original data remained fully intact. The “SD card test” recording took place in a commercial oven where the “storage data” was a non-factor to a well client.

For the “real-time” client project, the SD memory card will be placed inside the internal camera assembly. The camera will shut-down after taking the client’s well images, but then will remain downhole for an extended time. Although the camera protects its electronics with a vacuum flask which slows down the flow of heat, the SD memory card will remain exposed to high temperatures of up to 325°F (165°C) for as much as 60 hours. After retrieval of the data, the card will finally be disposed of.

Although the tested temperature range is well outside of the card’s standard specification (-40°C to 85°C), the results prove the impressive robustness and data retention of the Swissbit SD memory card. Due to the full molding of the inlay of the card, the external deformation of the shell does not affect the inner data structure of the card.