Real-Time Surveillance: How System Integration Allows One Company to Minimize Deferment, Optimize Production, Maximize Test Unit Capacity, and Track the Operating Envelopes of its Wells

Abstract

A key issue in upstream E&P operations is how to manage wells and reservoirs more effectively. Oil and gas production from onshore and offshore wells can be relatively difficult to manage, not only because of multiphase nature of the well production, but also due to lack of a continuous, reliable measurement of well/reservoir performance. Reporting continuous production from the wells and performing hydrocarbon allocation with credible accuracy is an area with many challenges in upstream E&P operations.Shell's Production Universe (PU) is a novel software application developed by Shell to address some fundamental gaps in the management and surveillance of oil and gas production systems. Using data driven models, it is designed to estimate and optimize the production (and injection) of wells continuously in real-time, based on the available wellhead instrumentation. PU provides improved well surveillance, more accurate hydrocarbon accounting, and automatic production reporting and production optimization. The data from PU can also be used for quick analysis to safeguard the technical integrity of wells and reservoirs. It is also cost-effective in that it requires minimal commodity instrumentation and IT systems, much of which may already be present in field operations.Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) in South East Asia had adopted the PU technology just after it was launched in 2004. Today, BSP continues to deploy PU in all of its assets. Implementation of PU in BSP has helped in exception based surveillance, analysis and troubleshooting; and hence has helped optimized resources being directed towards production optimization activities. It has also improved data quality and reporting. This paper discusses how Production Universe has been instrumental in helping BSP in the above operational and production areas. In particular, the application of PU in various facets of WRFM (Wells, Reservoir and Facility Management) to achieve operational excellence is discussed.