Computer Aid to Production
Authors: Tankersley W.R. , Coleman S.B. 
Published: December 2007

The manual allocation of oil and gas production to individual wells, comparison of production and allowables, maintenance of well test records and other related reporting have been converted to a computer system. In addition to eliminating routine and time-consuming manual production allocations and reporting, pilot testing of this system has resulted in more accurate and more timely production data which should be more useful to all concerned. Basic well production and battery data are submitted by the field gaugers, along with necessary control data furnished by the production accountants to the data processing section. These data, which are key-punched, together with data maintained on master well and battery magnetic tape records, comprise the input to the IBM 1401 data processing equipment. Processing is done at specified intervals during the month. Printed output, which includes individual well and battery net production, comparison of production and allowables, and other tabulated production data are furnished to the proper personnel. Results to date have been good and the transition has been smooth. However, the progress made so far is only the initial phase of the over-all system. Computer calculation of well-test liquid and gas volumes from basic observations made by the gauger, i.e. gauge readings, time, etc.; refinement of well test summaries; and further reduction of manual preparation and verification are immediate objectives. Future objectives include the addition of other operating areas to the system, computer calculation of run tickets, maximum machine preparation of those reports now prepared manually. and improved data transmission methods. From the start, it has been planned to proceed "step-wise" in attaining a complete computer production aid system. This approach appears to offer many advantages in introducing changes in methods and procedures, and indoctrinating field personnel to the computer system.

Introduction

Initial objectives of this project were to convert the manual allocation of production to wells, preparation of the production vs allowable report and other associated reporting to a computer system using the IBM 1401 data processing equipment. Successful con- version to a workable machine system would provide more timely net production data and reduce routine and time-consuming manual preparation. These objectives represent only the initial phase of the complete system. Many changes in methods and procedures, forms, data flow, etc. will be necessary. Therefore, it was planned to proceed to put the complete system into use step by step. This approach was felt to offer the best chance for over-all success of the total system (Fig. l).

It was necessary that pilot testing of the initial program be conducted in a representative field or area. Satisfactory solution of the initial objectives through a pilot program would provide a sound basis for future additional work and for general application.

Computer Equipment

This system was designed for use with the IBM 1401 data processing equipment. The speed of this equipment plus the ability to handle both punched cards and magnetic tape makes it ideal for this type of application, i.e., processing large volumes of data. Equipment presently in use includes the IBM 1401 Central Processing Unit, IBM 1402 Card Read-Punch, IBM 1403 Printer and four IBM 7330 magnetic tape units. All new data is introduced by punched cards, while all master records are maintained on magnetic tape. No other input media have been used.

The IBM 1401 equipment uses the stored program concept to handle data. To date, 13 machine programs are required to process data and give the desired results.

Discussion

Pilot Field

The computer system is currently being tested at the Lafourche Division's Bay Marchand field. This field was chosen for pilot testing because it was felt it was neither the most nor the least complicated to account for. The field has both inshore and offshore wells and presents a variety of problems in accounting for the production-a large number of streams (650); gas wells, flowing and gas-lifting oil wells, water injection wells; water-flood projects (6); jointly-operated wells; commingled leases; and metered production. There are only eight tank batteries involved; however, daily-operated oil production is upwards of 76,000 B/D.

JPT

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