The Challenges Of Implementing At Scale Field of the Future Technologies In The North Sea

Abstract

Abstract For BP the North Sea is an important mature basin which produces around 15% of the company's total global production of around 4000 mboed. However, like many mature basins sustaining a profitable and competitive future is challenged by the overall decline in oil and gas production rates, increasing trend in unit operating costs, the integrity and operability of the ageing infrastructure and the changing demographics of the work force. In this perspective, North Sea has become a key exemplar that illustrates how BP's FIELD OF THE FUTURE programme can help to meet numerous challenges in the management of mature areas. To help manage and reduce the negative impact of these business challenges BP is implementing a North Sea regional FIELD OF THE FUTURE Technology programme. The vision over the next 5 years is to deploy FIELD OF THE FUTURE technologies at scale across most BP operated fields with the aspiration to improve overall production by 5% and reduce operating cost by 10%. For the North Sea mature assets the main focus is around four technical projects: Advanced Collaborative Environments (ACE); Real time data monitoring and surveillance; Advanced control and optimization; Automation and remote control. From the outset BP has discovered many challenges in deploying and implementing at scale across a region. This paper will share some of the key challenges and insights involved in implementing at scale the technical projects through the appropriate process, organisation capability and technology across the region. Introduction The North Sea is a mature province which has been producing oil and gas since 1965, today the North Sea in the UK, Norway and the Netherlands sectors produce around 9.2 million barrels of oil equivalent with the forecast decline rate of around 7 % over the next 10 years [1]. Compound the decline in production rates with increasing trends of unit operating cost from today's average of around $8/bbbl to around $12/bbl in 2015 makes for a tough challenge in the future. In order to sustain a profitable and competitive future it is imperative that new improved processes and technology are put in place over the next few years that directly improve the overall plant operability and efficiency and at the same time reduce the cost of operations and maintenance. In the North Sea BP produces around 550 mboed and operates some 20 fields and 3 terminals; all fields and infrastructure are in decline accept for the recently developed Clair Field. In order for the North Sea to sustain its profitability and maximize the value from its infrastructure investment and resources BP have developed five key strategic technology themes. Advanced reservoir imaging, Pushing Reservoir limits, Subsea Developments, Low cost reservoir access and FIELD OF THE FUTURE. For operational improvements BP recognized the importance of taking a new approach to the way it operates its fields through the FIELD OF THE FUTURE Theme. It is through the combination of applying the right technology, improving processes and integrating organizational capability and skills that improvements in operation efficiencies and costs will be realized. FIELD OF THE FUTURE FIELD OF THE FUTURE is a global BP technology programme. By enabling faster and better decisions, it intends to create a step change in the operating, capital and cost efficiencies with which BP manages its resources. This will be achieved through the application of digital technologies and BP will be able to operate its assets safely at the technical limit of efficiency, recovery and margins.