Development of a Network and Gas Lift Allocation Model for Production Optimization in the Ras Budran Field

Abstract

Abstract The Ras Budran Field lies on the east side of the Gulf of Suez 5 KM offshore. The field commenced production in Jan 1983 and gas lift was implemented in 1985. The production system consists of 3 well-head platforms delivering production to a central process platform via 12" pipelines. The produced fluids are subjected to a firststage gas Ioil separation before being pumped onshore. All 15 wells are gas lifted with limited potential for natural flow. The high pressure gas lift supply is limited by compressor capacity and field production optimization is achieved by proper gas lift allocation between wells. The paper describes the construction and use of a network and gas lift allocation model simulating the combined performance of the reservoir, production wells, flowlines and gas lift system. A network model analysis is performed by calculating the overall system pressure losses by iterating for pressures and flow rates at all production nodes having specified two points at the reservoir and separator. The integrated production network is treated as a single interactive model through the application of multiphase flow correlation(s) which best describe the performance of each component within the system in a step by step approach which is simple to follow and applicable to other fields. The constructed model predicts individual wells performance from the perforations to the firststage gas foil separation at the process platform, taking into account the interaction of the other wells in predicting pressure and flow rate responses. The gas lift allocation model has been used for routine production optimization and allocation of lift gas in a multi well networked model, as well as for prediction of future systern requirements and identification of debottle-necking opportunities.