Print this pageUsing an Integrated Approach to Production Optimization in a Mature Field
Sinha, Satyendra P., Ibrahim AL-Kandari, Khalaf AL-Anezi, KOC, Ahmadi, Kuwait
Production optimization ensures that wells and facilities are
operating at their peak performance at all times to maximize production.
Frequent changes in well and surface equipment down time, maintenance work,
evolving reservoir conditions etc. usually make it impossible for the team to
keep the asset tuned for optimal operating conditions. The current manual
production optimization approaches are both time consuming and error prone due
to the complexity and large volume of data that have to be considered. In the
present work several tasks and processes have been streamlined and automated
with effective linkages to achieve a near real time optimization. The
measure–calculate-control cycle is implemented every twenty-four hour which
maintains the system at optimal operating conditions at almost all time. Used
on a daily basis to manage mature assets and make operational decision, the
system integrates production data management and reservoir modeling with
transient pressure analysis, well modeling and surface network modeling optimization.
A sequential non-linear programming solver is used to optimize hundreds of critical
parameters.
A
multi-disciplinary team approach has been used to implement the process of
production optimization using internet, computer network, communication links,
timely team meetings and corporate database. The focus has been on reducing
the cycle time for conversion of data to information, decision and actions by
developing an appropriate system. The benefits of optimization are
significant. Gains include a moderate improvement in uptime, along with a
significant improvement in produced volume and overall reduction of lifting and
operating costs.