A proven and effective integrated asset modelling (IAM) approach has been adopted to bring multiple interdependent wells, pipelines networks, and process facilities models together into one single truly integrated asset model for the Greater Burgan Oilfield in Kuwait. The integrated wells-network facility models via the IAM platform also includes a water processing facility model which consists of 2 effluent water disposal plants; a crude oil export pipeline network and a water reinjection network model. This paper describes how a representative integrated asset model was developed for the Greater Burgan Oilfield through a model centric approach executed within an Integrated Operational Excellence (IOX) Program towards a Digital Transformation initiative by Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) South and East Kuwait (S&EK) Group together with Schlumberger. It also describes how this tool enables the asset teams to evaluate different operating scenarios to further enhance well performance and the overall asset productivity via re-routing well flow path to an appropriate header, identifying well workover opportunities, re-evaluating artificial lift design, adding future wells (for field development) and comprehensive understanding of well integrity and flow assurance studies. The assessment was done not only at a gathering center (GC) level but also asset-wide level where the complete system constraints, interactions and back pressure effects between more than 2000 different wells were fully accounted. The simulated results such as pressure gradient, temperature gradient and erosional velocity ratio gradient across the production networks are presented on the GIS map for easy opportunity identification. The availability of this fully integrated asset model with up-to date calibrated wells and network models and process models enables KOC engineers to better understand current well performance and production potential, identify any possible bottlenecks imposed by the large complex surface network and process facilities of Greater Burgan Oilfield. The scope of IAM enablement for the Greater Burgan was to develop an integrated wells-network-facility-crude export-water processing facility-water reinjection network model consisting of all the 14 gathering centers existing in S&EK asset, providing all the essential valuable inputs to business processes for better asset management, faster and more accurate decision-making and breaking the barrier of hydrocarbon flow path from sand face till the export point. In the future, this truly integrated asset model can be coupled to the Greater Burgan reservoir model for comprehensive field development studies.

Kuwait Oil Company started implementing digital oil field technology in 2009, with a vision to achieve integrated operations for measurement, modeling and control of Burgan oil field production. The project involved development of automated workflows connecting real-time data and integrated production models for analyzing asset performance and identifying production optimization opportunities. The workflow calculates variance in daily field production and correlates it to the corresponding well production change alerts attributed to key changes in well and facility parameters. Well health status is determined using key performance parameters and subsequently wells are categorized for planning remedial actions. The workflow further utilizes the integrated surface network model in an automated process to generate production optimization opportunities under various well and plant operating limits and the results are visualized through interactive dashboards in a state-of-the-art collaboration center for quick analysis. This paper discusses the application of smart workflows for analyzing asset performance and recommending production optimization actions in Burgan oil field. It describes how smart workflows are used to integrate real-time well and facility data with production models to assist the operator in faster diagnostics and improved decision making. The paper demonstrates through field examples how the application of an automated workflow using real-time data and integrated models has improved the conventional approach for asset performance analysis and optimization resulting in significant cost savings for the operator.

A detailed Geological and Petrophysical characterization was achieved in a stepwise approach as part of full field 3D Reservoir Modeling and Simulation study for Minagish reservoir in the Greater Burgan field in Kuwait.Foundation of Reservoir Rock Types (RRT) was developed in first step based on Mercury Injection Capillary Pressure (MICP) dataset. A combination of Discriminant Analysis and Indexed Self Organizing Map (SOM) was used for rock type classification using hyperbolic tangent method. To improve classification of bimodal Pc curves, additional pressure values at different non-wetting phase saturations were used in conjunction with above mentioned parameters. In second step, the available Routine Core Analysis (RCA) porosity, permeability data was grouped together based on common patterns to generate rock types in RCA domain. Blind tests in two of the cored wells revealed a conformance of 81% between MICP and RCA Petrophysical Groups (PG). In the final step of the process, petrophysical groups were propagated in log domain using available log measurements common in all the wells of the field. It was challenging to establish a high level of accuracy for PG's in log domain mainly due to fine scale heterogeneity and inability of log data to capture rock fabric variation.This porosity estimate, coupled with rock type classification, helped to derive a continuous permeability log with a correlation coefficient of 0.89 validated in key cored wells. The porosity and permeability data in all the wells was incorporated in the 3D geocellular model after up-scaling honoring the unique, per rock type, Phi-K relationship.Modeled capillary pressure curves generated for each rock type in the core domain using MICP data set in 3 wells were used in saturation height modeling. The modeled equation was captured in the 3D geocellular model after populating rock types in the 3D grid to map water saturation for volumetric estimation.

Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) is considering adapting new technologies to ensure that strategic resources are optimally explored, developed and produced during the life cycle of their oil and gas fields. Among the various options available to achieve these objectives, Under-balanced Drilling (UBD) technology is considered to be one of the most effective methods when it is effectively applied in conjunction with horizontal and/or Multi-lateral well drilling and completion techniques Accordingly, KOC decided to pioneer the introduction of this new technology by employing a systematic scientific approach to screen the Mauddud reservoir in the Greater Burgan field for under-balanced drilling candidacy, in order to ensure a successful implementation of the pilot project. The screening process incorporated reservoir, production, drilling, Geology & Geophysics and operational data with risk analysis incorporated into a rigorous expert system aimed at maximizing the value of any UBD operation. The screening process was performed in two phases; a high level low resolution screening and in depth high resolution analysis. Phase I comprised of:Evaluating and ranking the Mauddud reservoir with respect to its risked probability of being successfully exploited with horizontal underbalanced drilling and completion techniques as opposed to conventional methods.Comparing candidate reservoirs against global database of analogues proven to be suitable with UBD. Phase II comprised of:Quantifying drilling-induced damage and determining the impact on the productivity on the Mauddud reservoir.Comparing under-balanced and overbalanced costs, production rates, projected revenues and Net Present Value (NPV). This paper describes the expert system methodology used in the screening process and provides a discussion of the results obtained. The Phase II study findings provided KOC with detailed damage analysis, production forecast and economic benefits that under-balanced drilling could offer as compared to conventional drilling & completion technologies. The UBD Screening Process This paper investigates the reservoir suitability of underbalanced drilling using an Expert System screening process that was developed in conjunction with leading industry consultants to increase success in candidate selection and to evaluate the benefits of underbalanced drilling over traditional drilling and completion technology in terms of reservoir performance. The screening process began by taking basic information for the Mauddud reservoir and processing the information through the expert system phase I software. This software rates the candidacy of the reservoir to help determine the likelihood of achieving success with underbalanced compared to overbalanced drilling and completion techniques. All data input was reviewed for completeness and consistency.

Several efforts have been made in the past for generating an Integrated Asset Model (IAM) for the Greater Burgan field in Kuwait with mixed results on sustained utilization and benefits. A new effective full field Integrated Asset Model has now been developed within an Integrated Operational Excellence (IOX) program towards Digital Transformation of the Greater Burgan field. A proven model centric approach has been adopted to bring multiple interdependent wells, pipelines networks, and process facilities models together into one single truly integrated asset model. The IAM platform also includes a water processing facility model which consists of 2 effluent water disposal plants, a crude oil export pipeline network and a water injection network model. Development of this integrated wells-network-facility-crude export-water processing facility-water injection network model incorporating the 14 gathering centers in the South and East Kuwait (SEK) asset focused on providing all the essential valuable inputs to business processes for better asset management, faster and more accurate decision-making and optimizing the hydrocarbon flow path all the way from the reservoir till the export point. The assessment was done at full field level where the complete system constraints, interactions and back pressure effects between more than 2000 different wells were fully accounted up to the crude processing facilities. The availability of this fully integrated asset model with up-todate calibrated wells and network models and process models enables Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) engineers to better understand current well performance and production potential, identify any possible bottlenecks imposed by the large complex surface network and process facilities of Greater Burgan Oilfield. The simulated results such as pressure gradient, temperature gradient and erosional velocity ratio gradient across the production networks are presented on the GIS map for easy opportunity identification. The paper describes how the Integrated Asset Modeler tool enables the asset teams to evaluate different operating scenarios to further enhance well performance and the overall asset productivity via re-routing well flow path to an appropriate header, identifying well workover opportunities, re-evaluating artificial lift design, adding new wells for field development and comprehensive understanding of well integrity and flow assurance studies. The integrated asset model can be coupled to the Greater Burgan reservoir model for comprehensive field development studies in future.