Effective Use of Real-Time Remote Monitoring System in Offshore Oil Wells Optimization, Case Study from Gulf of Suez - July Field

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this paper is to show the value of using real time remote monitoring system (Automation) in offshore wells and to show a case study from Company for how we successfully used the system to detect well anomalies in real time and perform the suitable corrective action to optimize the well production and maximize well recovery with minimum man-hours. Our company is a leading Egyptian petroleum company with + 200 oil producers on 70 offshore platform; 27 % of platforms include automation system, in platforms without automation system we detect wells problems by performing periodic site visits and check the operating parameters per well., normally it take weeks between two successive platform visits. For platforms with automation system, we install pressure sensors on WH, Manifold, and casing head and temperature sensor on WH., The data being transferred from sensors to office instantaneously, which we successfully made use of, to respond quickly to the problems and achieved maximum well recovery. The offshore oil producer well J-100 was drilled and put on production on Nov. 2015, the well was producing naturally from the attic of the reservoir, it was a mandatory to control the production rate to keep the well producing beyond the calculated critical production rate to avoid water coning. After a while of putting the well on production, well sensors showed several successive abnormal changes in readings which had been captured in real time with the help of automation system, and with data analyzing we found the causes of each phenomena every time (like loading up, a problem in the production choke, etc.) and we succeeded to prepare the action plan, and perform the scope of work as soon as possible. Without the automation system, it would take weeks to detect the problem based on the site visits plan. However, installing the automation system will enhance the response efficiency by saving the time required for problem detection, and improving the quality, density and accuracy of well data. In addition, it will decrease the losses in production rate, and maximize the recovery by optimizing the production rate based on the field depletion plan. In summary, this paper discussing a case study for the value of using real time remote monitoring systems in offshore fields and we used this case to highlight the need to expand the system to include more wells in our field to maximize the field recovery and add considerable benefit to the business.