Evolving Workflows in the Digital Oil Field

Abstract

This article, written by Features Editor Diane Langley, contains highlights of paper OTC 17730, "Evolving Workflows To Maximize Value From the Digital Oil Field," by O. Le Peuch, R. Navo, A. Howell, B. Mueller, and H. Harji, Schlumberger, prepared for the 2005 Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, 2-5 May. The full-length paper reviews compelling events that are driving the evolution of new workflows and presents key criteria for realization of the digital oil field. In addition to focusing on the responsibilities of the service provider for delivery of reliable data, information, connectivity, and related services to support effective decision making, the paper discusses various approaches to building a delivery infrastructure. Introduction While new instrumentation at all phases of the production process, combined with new communications technology, is enabling a diverse group of people to access massive volumes of oilfield data, the industry’s biggest challenge is to maximize the value of the information. This is the ideal time to embark on a path toward the next-generation oil field, and not because of the emergence of new technologies. In addition to the advent of new technology, the following point to now as the time for proactive asset management—“the big crew change”; a growing need to address health, safety, and environment (HSE) issues; a desire to reduce overall operational costs; and the need to measure both well and field production performance. As the authors state, “New technology can enable new capabilities, but it cannot, by itself, make people work more efficiently or more effectively.” Well-centric digital workflows are already benefiting production and saving costs, and a holistic view of oilfield business decisions can deliver further improvement in production performance and cost savings. Effects of Motivating Events A recent industry study set out to quantify the areas with the greatest opportunity to apply efficiency gains within the real-time production environment. The demographics generated as a byproduct of this survey clearly indicate that a significant portion of the industry’s experienced workforce will be difficult or impossible to replace. Deployment of the new breed of real-time services still requires, as part of an integrated system, experienced people to make decisions. Analysis of more than 600 digital-oilfield installations worldwide offered insights into a variety of HSE challenges, from security in Colombia to the harsh environs of the deep offshore installations and of polar regions.