The Digital Oil Field

Transcription

1 Petroleum Experts The Digital Oil Field R E A L T I M E F I E L D M A N A G E M E N T

2 The Digital Oil Field When we talk of the digital oil field (DOF) what do we mean? Digital Oil Field production software applications capture the behaviour of the oil field on the PC. The applications are used as an on-line management system of the oil and gas company s assets throughout the assets entire lifecycles. The Petroleum Experts digital oil field technology provides an enterprise-level, vendor-neutral approach to visualising reservoir, wellbore, and gathering facility information. Our approach enables rational decision making through the use of models, workflows, and intelligently filtered data within a multi-disciplinary organisation of diverse capabilities and engineering skill sets. Visualisation of field data, analysis, trends at all levels in real time Core elements of the Petroleum Experts Digital Oil Field: Visualisation - Provides a coherent view of an oil field. Data sets are integrated, including the engineering models and production and economics information with visualisation capability in an organised way. The power of a single asset and data model permit, with a push of a button, the visual screens to be upgraded and extended automatically as the oil field develops. Engineering and Business Management Logic - The tasks and procedures, i.e. workflows, that the teams carry out to monitor, operate, optimise, and develop the field are automated through a layer of logic, business, and engineering workflows. This layer establishes common best practices across the global organisation using standard workflows that are out-of-the-box best-practice procedures for field surveillance, optimisation, diagnostics, allocation, and forecasting. Custom workflows can be easily added to the logic layer by the user. The automation of standard tasks frees the engineering and management teams to concentrate on much higher added-value activities. Organisation and Auditing - Alignment of the teams, processes, and the technology is core to any successful digital oil field implementation. A single repository of the models, data, and information for a field allows the organisation to develop a consistent and coherent view of their asset. This common official field representation, the virtual field, records an auditable history of the field over its life. The use of a centralised model and data catalogue can help reduce the siloed view of single technical disciplines. Moreover, storing the field events and recording the decisions associated with those events become the foundation for engineering knowledge capture required for an expert system. Data Management - Today, the instrumented fields have a huge volume of measurements coming from wells and equipment sensors often millions of data points per minute from a single field. Making the relevant measurement and data (validated measurements) available at the frequency required necessitates sophisticated data storage, management, cleansing, and filtering of the data. In order to be suitable for the required tasks, a scalable, upgradable, and extensible data technology has to be at the heart of effective long-term data management. Therefore, productising of the data management through a single-asset data model is fundamental to any successful Digital Oil Field implementation. Otherwise, the implementations become highly customized, lengthy, very expensive, and, oftentimes unsustainable. The Virtual Field - This is a physical representation of the field through a set of models, i.e. mathematical representations of each component of the field. In the virtual field, reservoir, production, injection network, wells, process, economics, and planning tools are each integrated with one another. These multi-vendor sets of steady and transient models are dynamically linked as an Integrated Production Model to represent and capture the current field response, as well as to optimise field production and run forecasts.

3 The Structure of the Digital Oil Field Historically, Petroleum Experts pioneered integrated production modelling and management. Today, Petroleum Experts continues to lead the way in integrating these models into a digital oil field system. Diagnosis, validation, and - most importantly - optimisation of the field production are done automatically using real-time data. This concept has been developed as a product as opposed to a project. This approach facilitates very short deployment times (weeks instead of months or years), upgrades, as well as an inherent capability to scale the system up. Automatic data model management, auditing of models, and intelligent data gathering allow the engineers to focus on higher added-value activities. The system also supports the distribution of best practices across the enterprise through the use of workflows. 3

4 Visualisation - Digital Oil Field Scalable Visualisation technology by Petroleum Experts supports multiple windows everything from virtual reality to spreadsheets, teleconferences, and the handheld phone all driven by the familiar interface. The use of Petex s digital oil field technology yields an overall operational visibility on a massive scale. Desktop display systems, which are easily scalable, promote information sharing between remote sites and can be easily integrated into the users existing network infrastructure. This sharing capability enables geographically dispersed workgroups and international teams to be more productive by allowing them to work collaboratively. The visualisation layer is a standalone Petroleum Experts product that brings together intelligently filtered data, information, and results from multiple vendors and data sources. Petex have set three criteria as the foundation in developing its Digital Oil Field technology. The underlying field, types of models), and information (data) evolve over time. Therefore, an effective DOF product must deliver the following fundamental criteria: Wells KPI Maintainability of the real time data collection system - e.g. how we add equipment such as wells, compressors, etc. to the DOF system as the field is developed. This type of ongoing maintenance should be straightforward without requiring the time and cost of a 3rd party vendor to update and maintain field system and tag data of the asset model. Adding equipment from the asset model (propagation) to the visualisation layer needs to be as easy as a push of a button. Scalability - one field may have 10 wells and one reservoir while another may have 100 to 1000 wells and multiple reservoirs. Unless the DOF system is developed to be scalable, it will not be deployed easily to multiple fields per year. System implementations will be limited by resources - skilled people. The Petex DOF suite is designed to be scalable, and as products, they can be deployed and configured in days even for large fields and systems. Upgradability of the system. The Petex DOF suite is designed to be upgraded at the click of a button for new software versions or the addition of tools and capabilities. A system that cannot be easily upgraded will always be at risk of becoming obsolete. Visualisation create value by linking operations, studies groups, managementas as part of global multi-disciplinary organisation using consistent information Key Performance indicators (KPIs) Visualisation of field data, analysis, and trends at all levels in real time 4

5 The Role of the Visualisation System Visualisation - The visualisation layer is the face of the Digital Oil Field. It provides a visual representation of the underlying engineering logic, data management, and models to facilitate the effective monitoring, management, and operation the field by the organisation. The visualisation layer also provides a coherent view of an oil field by integrating data sets (e.g. engineering, production, economic, etc.) with a visualisation capability in an organised way. With visualisation technology, data and results are exposed to engineers, operators, managers, and any other users of the system in visual formats which can be easily configured. 5

6 Engineering and Business Management Logic The Petroleum Experts digital oil field technology provides an enterprise-level, vendor-neutral approach to visualising information. The Petex approach enables rational decision making through the use of integrated models, workflows, and data within a multi-disciplinary organisation of diverse capabilities and engineering skill sets. In reaching its targets, the modern oil and gas industry faces great challenges in managing assets in conventional fields and unlocking the potential in what was previously considered non-economic fields. The industry faces challenges in: supporting field developments with functional specialists remote from the asset and operations demographics of its ageing workforce more data/information to process large uncertainties with the billion-dollar new developments a shortage of skilled professionals information and knowledge that is not often shared creating competing and, at times, contradictory agendas. The Digital Oil Field technology of Petroleum Experts is designed to provide the field and model management activities under one platform as standard out-of-the-box workflows. Model management updates are automated using real-time data and operational information. Engineers are now able to focus on added-value (i.e. production optimization) activities and analysis while allowing the DOF platform to process the data and workflows. The workflows report the results, exceptions, and any technical recommendations for the engineer to further analyse. The standard activities (workflows) for all oil and gas fields are: Field Surveillance: Understanding how the field is performing (production system surveillance, reservoir surveillance, etc.) Optimisation: Improving field performance (short-term and/or long-term optimization) Forecasting and performing what if scenarios: Predicting how the field will behave under different conditions (field development analysis, business planning, life of field forecast, and sensitivity / uncertainties analysis). The Petroleum Experts DOF technology provides a platform for executing model-based workflows. The workflows include: model management, rate estimation, model-based surveillance and diagnostics, allocation, optimisation, forecasting, and custom (client- or asset-specific workflows as defined by the user). Petroleum Experts Integrated Field Management approach is productised. The entire system becomes completely supportable by the client s company after implementation. That means that clients avoid the requirements, delays, and costs associated with external 3rd parties typically encountered in custom written and integrated alternatives. The Petroleum Experts DOF technology is completely scalable. It automatically creates data model objects, which, in turn, means that when a new well or equipment is created, they are automatically reproduced and can be used anywhere in the system. Moreover, upgrades are achieved by a push of a button which migrates the databases and installs the executables without losing any of the previous configurations. The Petex Digital Oilfield Architecture The standard logic for model updates, optimisation, well rate allocation, and forecasting Monitoring the operating point of equipment in real time (ESP) 6

7 Real Time Field Management Through Standard Workflows Engineering and Business Management Logic The tasks and procedures, i.e. workflows, that the teams carry out to monitor, operate, optimise, and develop the field are automated through a layer of logic - business and engineering workflows. This establishes common best practices across the global organisation using standard workflows that are out-of-the-box best-practice procedures for field surveillance, optimisation, diagnostics, allocation, and forecasting. Custom workflows can be easily added to the logic layer by the user. The automation of routine tasks frees the engineering and management teams to concentrate on the added-value activities. 7

8 The Virtual Field To manage and operate a field, Petroleum Experts developed a suite of modelling tools, which are the best-in-class and recognised by the oil and gas industry as its global standard. These tools carry out the calculations required to diagnose, analyse, model, allocate, and optimise the production. They do that by using robust engineering, fluids, and physical models. The Petroleum Experts IPM suite can be integrated with third party applications. Many of Petex customers have IPM implementations that are integrated with the main industry reservoir and process simulators and other transient and steady state technologies. Summary of the IPM suite of tools: RESOLVE is the advanced engineering studies tool for integrating models with events, scheduling, and scenarios that can be launched on standalone PCs or on computer clusters. The underlying IPM and third party models for reservoirs, producers and injectors, surface gathering networks, and process and economics are integrated through RESOLVE. The PVT can be black oil to fully compositional where proprietary lumping-delumping techniques are used. RESOLVE also provides the fastest and most advanced global optimisation techniques found in the industry. GAP is the multiphase oil and gas, non-linear optimiser tool that models the surface gathering network of field production and injection systems. Linked with the well models of PROSPER and reservoir models of MBAL a full field production optimisation and forecast are provided. GAP can model oil, gas, and condensate production systems in addition to gas or water injection systems. PROSPER is the industry standard for modelling well performance, well design, and optimisation for most types well configurations found in the worldwide oil and gas industry today. MBAL is the analytical reservoir model, which helps the engineer better define reservoir drive mechanisms and hydrocarbon volumes. While MBAL encompasses the classical reservoir engineering tools, it also has many built in innovations that have redefined the use of material balance in modern reservoir engineering. REVEAL is the specialised study reservoir simulation model for understanding the more complex physical phenomena of well and reservoir response. REVEAL combines reservoir classical numerical simulation with the thermal, geo-mechanics, and chemical effects within one reservoir simulations. PVTP is the tool production and reservoir engineers use to predict, with great accuracy and speed, the effect of process conditions on the composition of hydrocarbon mixtures. The compositional behaviour of complex mixtures including gas mixtures, gas condensates, retrograde condensates, volatile oils, black oils, and flow assurance can be interpreted and predicted with confidence. OpenServer is the open standard protocol tool that will run any IPM application from outside of the IPM suite or as part of a third party tool. 8 Modelling: from reservoir all the way to the process The IPM suite

9 The IPM and Third Party Engineering Modelling Tools Petroleum Experts Integrated Production Modelling suite (IPM) is deployed on its own or as part of set of multi-vendor modelling applications that capture the full characteristics and response of the field, the Virtual Field. Having a model of the field is a prerequisite for implementing the Digital Oil Field. The IPM suite is the industry standard integrated production modeling suite for oil and gas companies. The Virtual Field - is a physical representation of the field through a set of models, i.e. mathematical representations of each component of the field - from reservoir, production and injection network, and wells, to the process, economics, and planning tools. 9

10 The Organisation The overall objective of a company or an asset team is generally clear, i.e. the commercial and technical drivers are understood. However, an individual or a particular set of technical disciplines may often have a limited view and understanding of the field reality to make the correct decisions. Also, the correct information is often not readily available. The diagram below illustrates, in a simplistic way, the challenges of successfully implementing the digital oil field. Centralised Model Management - ModelCatalogue Petroleum Experts ModelCatalogue provides the central repository that facilitates an up to the minute clearer understanding and awareness of the field:: Provides controlled access to the individual models, reports, data, and even schematics (different privileges according to the engineers roles); Ensures only one engineer can perform changes to the official model at a given time; Ensures seamless sharing of models. Automatically keeps track of the evolution of all models versus time and provides access to historical versions if required Provides seamless access to any on-line system which will be consuming these models to carry out calculations; Keeps track of who and why changes were performed (for auditing and knowledge base development) Allows the association of models with their corresponding input data to keep both models and context data related. For example, the PVT reports, Well and Equipment Drawings, deviations surveys, and other documents can be kept catalogued within the same Model Management System. Knowledge Capture Engineering know-how and experience are of paramount importance for the oil and gas companies. The growing scarcity of experienced workers is creating an experience gap that Integrated Field Management technology will help to bridge. Capturing the expert knowledge in an organised and structured manner and supporting collaboration reliably and securely in real time becomes key to increasing productivity and fueling a company s ability to grow. The expert knowledge capture within the Petroleum Experts DOF philosophy is supported by introduction of individuals experience into workflows and analysis. The technology described here has proven itself to be a powerful enabler - a catalyst for the creation of the organisational thinking and transparency required for the successful implementation of the digital oil field vision. The combined engagement of the organisations management, at all levels, as well as the asset team members will ensure actions are transparent, knowledge is shared, and decisions are made with all the available information. This will facilitate the achievement of the DOF added-value objectives. Common Model and Data Source The structure of the Digital Oil Field architecture set out in these pages (the managed environment of common data management, model management, standard workflows, and a visualisation system) provide the technical framework for a DOF implementation. This framework is the enabler that will allow the organisation to better analyse, manage, and operate their field. This single view, the Virtual Field, is composed of the engineering models, reports, spread-sheets, and associated data accessed and maintained through a central repository. Most importantly, they can all be easily updated and maintained as the field is developed and produces. 10 A Data Structure for the ModelCatalogue An Organisation: Alignment is a Challenge

11 The engagement of the organisation is critical Organisation and Auditing Alignment of the teams, processes, and the technology is core to any successful digital oil field implementation. A single repository of the models, data, and information for a field allows the organisation to develop a consistent and coherent view of their asset. This common official field representation, the virtual field, records an auditable history of the field over its life. The use of a centralised model and data catalogue can help break-down the siloed views of single technical disciplines. Moreover, storing the field events and recording the decisions is the foundation for engineering knowledge capture required for an expert system. 11

12 Data Management 12 The Petroleum Experts Digital Oil Field (DOF) technology enables the transformation of the myriad of different types of data using standard industry applications alongside the Petex tools as will be needed by the DOF system described in this document. Data Management, as part of the digital oil field, has several key components: The historians, databases, and data storages all designed to store the real time, as well as operational and associated static data, files, and information for the asset; The production data management system (PDMS); The data-processing layer provides filtered and partially processed data to the users. The data management structure The Historian and Production Data Management System There are a number of historian and PDMS systems in the industry, which capture raw data, process and store information, provide corporate allocation, etc. as well as supplying varying levels data processing, cleansing, and filtering. In the context of the DOF, a sophisticated level of data cleansing and data filtering is deployed by Petex to analyse raw data, capture the meaningful field events, and provide meaningful correctly representative filtered information. Data Filtering and Cleansing The filtering methodology developed by Petex uses a unique proprietary, as well as the more common published filtering methodologies. Petex s proprietary method provides more sophisticated filtering, using the raw data, physical model responses and expert system to detect changes and hence rationalise data, based on event-driven activities and trends, as illustrated below, right. To detect field events, e.g. equipment performance changes, or to trigger valid alarms, may require raw data to be analysed at a later time, evaluating historical trends and the physical models to determine if something has happened or changed. This is smart filtering. This robust data filtering solution interprets the multitude of data streams to ensure the relevant data is supplied to enable decision-making: High Frequency Data (e.g. measurements coming from the field, including current field conditions, field equipment performance, etc.) enables: alarm monitoring, event detection, and well test analysis. Low Frequency Data is used for the Physical Models and to support processing of field data to convert it into meaningful engineering information to be able to predict how the field will respond when conditions change. Single Asset Data Models for the Digital Oil Field A challenge for any DOF system is handling the data requirement of multiple applications and users. Typically, this requires data to be input in several location. Petex has created one data or asset model, which is propagated throughout the system, i.e. if a well or a piece of equipment is added, the information is automatically made available for each part of the DOF system to use. Moreover, the same concept is used to link the external PDMS and Historians systems using data wizards to configure the tags and required links. The wizards follow a step-by-step pattern to meet the objective of establishing and testing connection to the external data sources through to tag mapping and configuration of data retrieval. Any new tag mappings, modifications to existing tag mappings, field measurements or equipment can be easily added managed through the wizards. Advanced filtering and data cleansing uses sophisticated Petex proprietary techniques

13 Data Storage, Data Cleansing and Data Filtering Data Management Instrumented fields have a huge volume of measurements coming from wells and equipment sensors often millions of data points from one field, per minute. Making the relevant measurement and data (validated measurements) available at the frequency required, necessitates sophisticated data storage, management, cleansing and filtering of the data, suitable for the required tasks. A scalable, upgradable, and extensible data technology has to be at the heart of effective long-term data management, hence productising of the data management through a single-asset data model is a fundamental. 13

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