Linking The Subsurface To The Surface Integrated Asset Modelling For A Super-Giant Oil Field To Optimize And Manage Production

Abstract

Abstract With limited and scarce subsurface and surface data, it becomes quite challenging to monitor a rather large field, having more than 50 wells actively producing, and actively optimize the production, achieving the desired production rates and maximizing the benefit for the operator and partners. The field in question was inherited from the previous operator, with 27 legacy wells, and a surface facility capable of processing ca. 100kbb/d of crude. Additional processing facility was installed to double the legacy capacity and 30 wells drilled by the time of preparing this paper for supplying the crude. The field had a shut-in period of 14 months in 2011-12 for various upgrades and surface works. It was then necessary to introduce an integrated modelling tool, to allow for a more efficient control and monitoring of the producing asset, combining all the components together and testing the interactions between the different system parts. The Integrated Production System Model (IPSM) was built based on the principle of following the oil molecule from the pore throat to the export. As such, it comprises of three main components, linking the subsurface to the surface, those are: –Reservoir Models (built with Petex® MBAL©)–Well Models (built with Petex® PROSPER©)–Trunklines/Flowlines and Separators (built with Petex® GAP©) Petroleum Experts® (Petex) develop the Integrated Production modelling software suite that comprises the tools mentioned above and are the company's proprietary. The current version of the IPSM is used in variety of situations; these include mainly but not limited to: ▪Medium Term Production Forecasting (MTPF)▪Production System Optimization (PSO)▪Opportunities assessment▪Identification of bottlenecks▪Further well scoping The IPSM has facilitated the application of many processes, allowing for a faster and more informed decision making, these include: ▪Optimization: as required and identified in PSO Meetings, optimization activities are carried out as part of increasing the total system production output, which adds more value to this process▪MTPF: generated on a monthly basis, the MTPF clearly highlights the production pitfalls, and the expected targets with a given set of assumption, and honouring the constraints that exist in the system, allowing for proper future planning, and the need for well scoping studies and highlight of the requirements to meet the desirable targets▪Maturing opportunities and assessing their system gains and impact on system This paper presents the process of building and maintaining an IPSM model throughout the different phases of a super giant field's life, from early production days with limited wells and data to the point of having real time data transferred to the office, fully utilizing the available data help make decisions that maximizes and eliminates waste.