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Optimal production targets and maximum utilization of production resources
are achieved through the use of several sources of information, such as
reservoir mass balance calculations and depletion strategies, well test
results and use of simulation models. This is made possible by linking skills,
data and tools together in real time – independent of location.
Some of the enabler technology areas are:
1. A system and communication IT infrastructure
2. Applications for remote operations and remote operations support
3. Reservoir management
and drilling operations
4. Production
optimization
5. Information management systems
6. Operation support and maintenance
8.2.1 Reservoir management and drilling operations
Solution for data acquisition, modeling
and visualization between facility
operators
and central company experts
to provide:
• Drilling
simulation
and
visualization, automatic
diagnostics and decision
support, real-time measurements
while drilling in order to locate the best targets
• Reservoir models based on real-time reservoir data, analysis of 4D
seismic, in-situ measurements of changes. On-line integration with
well-serviced company data
• Optimization models for increased production, based on
in-reservoir
properties during production, with decision support incorporated to
improve productivity
8.2.2 Production optimization
Optimizing the production or improving productivity is a complex problem. In
addition to the production optimization of the downhole, subsea and topside
process, one has to consider operational costs,
hardware damage, reservoir
performance, environmental requirements and operational difficulties within
each well and/or topside. To further complicate optimization, the individual
challenges will change over time, e.g., reservoir behavior changes as an
effect of depletion, shutdown of wells due to slugging,
failed sensors and the
change of efficiencies within the topside process system. Some of the
applications included in production optimization are:
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• Flowline control to stabilize multiphase flow in gathering systems,
risers and flow lines.
• Well control that will stabilize and optimize gas lift and naturally
flowing wells. This application should prevent flow and pressure
surges while maintaining minimal backpressure and maintain
maximum production as well as continuing production at the
optimum lift gas rate.
• Gas-lift optimization is provided to ensure the best possible
distribution of lift-gas between gas lifted wells.
• Slug management helps mitigate variations in inflow impact. The
separation and hydrocarbon
processing during startup, upset and
normal operation.
• Well monitoring systems (WMS) are used to estimate the flow rates
of oil, gas and water from all the individual wells in an oil field. The
real-time evaluation is based on data from available sensors in the
wells and flow lines.
• Hydrate prediction tools help to avoid hydrate formation, which may
occur if a subsea gathering system is allowed to cool down too much
before the necessary hydrate preventive actions are performed.
• Optimal operation is defined by a set of constraints in the wells and
production facilities. A constraint monitoring
tool monitors the
closeness to all constraints. This provides decision support for
corrective actions needed to move current operation closer to its true
potential.
• Advanced control and optimization solutions to improve the
performance of product quality control, while adhering to operating
constraints. This is typically done with two technologies: model
predictive control to drive the process closer to operating targets,
and inferential measurement to increase
the frequency of product
quality feedback information.
• Tuning tools are designed to optimize and properly maintain the
optimal setting of control loops in the process automation system.
8.2.3 Asset optimization and maintenance support
An asset optimization (AO) system reduces costly production disruptions by
enabling predictive maintenance. It records the maintenance history of an
asset and identifies potential problems to avert unscheduled shutdowns,
maximize up-time and operate closer to plant production prognoses. This
functionality supports maintenance workflow as the AO system
communicates with a maintenance system, often
denoted as a computerized
maintenance management system (CMMS).
