Page 45 - Intelligent Digital Oil And Gas Fields

Introduction to Digital Oil and Gas Field Systems 25

pattern of waterflooding process. In 12months, it was monetized for a
total of 720 MSTB at $90 per barrel. More important, its intelligent sys-
tem could predict with acceptable accuracy ESP wells with developing
production problems. Jamal et al. (2013), Al-Enezi et al. (2013),and
Al-Mutawa et al. (2013) reported that combining proactive and reactive
actions—such as increase/decrease of ESP frequency and choke setting,
cleaning wells, and shutting in temporary wells—KOC achieved an aver-
age of 37% gain in oil production with just 10 actions per well. The total
oil was almost 4 MSTB/d with a cumulative production of 756 MSTB in
12months. Moreover, KOC reported in Al-Jasmi et al. (2013) that the
time to analyze one well with production issues was reduced from
7.3h to only 1.6h, thereby improving individual and team efficiency.
No cost or financial information was reported; however, with these signi-
ficant oil gains, we believe the operator should have an important reduc-
tion in OPEX.

1.6.3.4 Statoil’s Integrated Operations
With its IO program, Statoil has realized that the real-time transfer of data
over great distances can be used to eliminate the physical distance between
installations at sea and support organizations onshore, between professional
groups, and internally between the company and its suppliers. A report by
Jones (2010) identifies these benefits of IO: improved HSE performance,
more efficient drilling operations, better placement of wells, improved
production optimization and oil recovery, better reservoir and production
control and monitoring of equipment, more efficient maintenance, and
increased regularity (production uptime). The benefits have been accounted
with 3%–5% increased production, 20%–40% reduction in production
losses, and 15%–30% reduction in operating and maintenance costs. In a
2007 report, the Norwegian Oil Industry Association (2007) anticipated that
the program might generate an incremental US$41 billion of net present
value (NPV).

1.6.3.5 I-Fields
In its I-Field program, Chevron uses developments in sensors, monitoring,
and optimization tools that anticipate and plan based on what is happening in
real time and continually adjusts to operating conditions. Chevron estimates
that its I-Field program has contributed to increases in output and reductions
in operating costs by 2%–8% (Meyer, 2010).