Page 13 - Intelligent Digital Oil And Gas Fields

xii Preface

challenges faced when implementing DOF solutions in inherently complex
O&G operations.
Our work on and knowledge of the DOF began in the mid-2000s. In
2010–13, as part of an extensive team from Halliburton, we worked on a
multi-vendor project for Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) called the Kuwait
Intelligent Digital Oil Field (KwIDF). The KwIDF project developed
state-of-the-industry, real-time data acquisition, and automated production
workflows to KOC. KOC and key members of the project team docu-
mented the project and its accomplishments by publishing more than 15
technical papers through the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE); in
2013, the KwIDF project won the ADIPEC (Abu Dhabi International
Petroleum Exhibition and Conference) best-technology award. We
acknowledge Kuwait Oil Company’s management leadership on KwIDF.
Since our KwIDF experience, we have continued to contribute to,
enhance, and develop DOF solutions in our respective positions for com-
panies and projects around the world, including several Middle East fields
and in North America in the Permian, Unita, San Joaquin, mid-Continent,
and Eagle Ford areas. These projects contributed real value to their respec-
tive operators.
Intelligent Digital Oil and Gas Fields: Concepts, Collaboration, and Right-time
Decisions draws on our collective and diverse experience to deliver to readers
a roadmap through key areas and related issues and challenges of DOF
implementations. Chapter 1 sets the stage by providing historical context
for details discussed in later chapters, and ending with a summary of some
milestone DOF projects and their respective achievements in asset value
and financial indicators, serving as incentive to overcome the technical com-
plexities of DOF systems and reach the value.
The book introduces the new age of digital O&G technology and pro-
cess components, discussing new sensors (SCADA), well mechanics (such as
downhole valves), data analytics and models for dealing with a barrage of
data, and changes in the way professionals collaborate and make decisions.
The book covers topics such as downhole sensors, artificial lift, production
surveillance, production optimization, automation, smart wells, integrated
reservoir management, and collaboration and change management
processes.
The book takes readers on a journey starting at the well level, that is,
through instrumentation and measurement for real-time data acquisition,
and then provides practical information on analytics on the real-time data.
Artificial intelligence techniques provide insights from the data. We discuss