An Integrated Wells to Process Facility Model for Greater Burgan Oilfield

Abstract

This paper discusses the development of a truly integrated asset model for the Greater Burgan oilfield in Kuwait linking multiple wells, pipelines networks, and process facilities for achieving integrated operational excellence in the South and East Kuwait asset of Kuwait Oil Company. A water handling facility model comprising of two effluent water disposal plants, a crude oil export pipeline network and a water injection network model are also incorporated into this integrated asset model. The main objective behind the development of this integrated asset model is to enable better asset management, faster and more precise decision making and enhancing the hydrocarbon flow path all the way from the reservoir till the export point. The new integrated asset model was developed from a model centric approach involving construction and calibration of over 1500 well models. All wells were then linked to their network models comprising of pipelines totaling more than 10,000 km. The well and network models were integrated with the respective process facility models of the 14 gathering centers located in the field and finally tied to the crude export, water disposal and water injection systems. The results of the integrated wells to process facility models such as pressure gradient, temperature gradient and erosional velocity ratio gradient across the production network can be plotted or visualized on the Geographic Information System (GIS) map. Integration of the vast number of wells and network models with the 14 crude processing facilities in a single IAM platform provides comprehensive understanding of flowing paths spread across the giant Burgan field and proves its utility as an effective flow assurance tool. The IAM platform also provides engineers and management an effective tool for analyzing well potential, identifying under-performing wells, spotting clusters of high water cut wells, singling out back pressure effected wells and locating system constraints. Thereby the proven IAM provides valuable information for effective production optimization and long-term surface facility development plans. The IAM platform is designed for use by Reservoir, Production, and Process Engineers as well as Operations, Business Development, and Asset Management teams. Engineers can evaluate various scenarios to improve production and operation performance such as choke increase or decrease, re-routing wells between manifolds, adding new wells into the system, and decision on slots for connecting new wells to the plant headers. The IAM also enables asset teams to forecast injection rates, review the impact on the entire injection network in terms of pressure distribution, and conduct "what if" scenarios leading towards complete asset optimization.