The use of integrated production modelling to assess network efficiency and production system optimisation

Abstract

This paper investigates the use of integrated production models to apply a consistent and repeatable approach to assess petroleum production network efficiency and aid production system optimisation. Assessing network efficiency in the manner detailed in this paper allows petroleum professionals to define a maximum network production through the analysis of the pressure drop within a network. This is achieved by comparing the system base production to a simulation of theoretical wellhead water separation (for all inflows), larger diameters of all surface pipelines (double the diameter is used as a maximum case) and a combination of the two using integrated production modelling (IPM). The combination of water separation and larger diameter of all the pipelines represented the maximum network production possible for tangible projects. This allowed the definition of network efficiency value of a petroleum production system on a scale of 0% to 100%. At a screening level, the lower the Network Efficiency Metric (NEM) the greater the likelihood of an optimisation opportunity, prompting additional assessment of special cases. This method was applied to a network of 40 wells using IPM, and NEM values of 95.9% (water separation), 94.6% (double pipeline diameter) and 83.5% (combined) were obtained. These values of network efficiency also corresponded to incremental reserve difference of 4.3, 5.8 and 20.1 Bscf, respectively. The NEM was a crucial component of the screening process and demonstrated an alternative and efficient method for the identification of optimisation projects, which increased production and reserves.