Intelligent Operating Envelope Integrated with Automated Well Models Improves Asset Wide PCP Surveillance and Optimization
Authors: Al Sawafi Mohammed , Andrade Antonio , Kumar Nitish , Gala Rahul , Marin Eduardo , Soni Sandeep , Velazco Conny 
Published: December 2021

Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has been a pioneer in improving Well management processes utilizing its valuable human resources, continuous improvement and digitalization. Managing several PCP wells through Exception Based Surveillance (EBS) methodology had already improved PCP surveillance and optimization across assets. The key to trigger EBS was to keep Operating Envelope (OE), Design Limits updated in Well Management Visualization System (WMVS) after every change in operating speed (RPM), workover and new completion. The sustainable solution was required for automatic update of OEs, having well inflow potential and oil gain opportunities available for quicker optimization decisions for further improvements.

PDO has completed a project automating PCP well modeling process where models are built and sustained automatically in Well Management System (WMS) for all active PCP wells, with huge impact on day-to-day operational activities. The paper discusses utilization of physics based well models from WMS to automatically update OE, identify oil gain potential daily and enable real time PCP performance visualization in WMVS.

The integration of WMS and WMVS was completed to share data between two systems and automatically update well's OE daily. A tuned well model from WMS was utilized to provide well performance data and sensitivity analysis results for various RPMs. Among the various data obtained from WMS, live OE of torque and fluid above pump (FAP) for various speeds, operating limits, design limits, locked in potential (LIP) for optimization and pump upsize were utilized to process PCP well EBS and create live OE visualization. The visualization is created on a torque-speed chart where a live OE and FAP can be observed in provided picture with current RPM and torque with optimum operating condition.

The project is completed after conducting successful change management across PDO assets and after thorough analysis of implementation following benefits were observed:

5% net gain of total PCP production is being executed with zero CAPEX using LIP reports. 50% of engineer's time was saved by updating OEs in WMVS automatically, reduction of false EBS and EBS rationalization. 200% improvement in PCP well performance diagnostics capabilities of Engineers. 15% CAPEX free optimization and pump upsize cases were identified based on well inflow potential. 100% visibility to PCP well's performance was achieved using well model.

The visualization has supported engineers monitoring well performance in real time and easily identifying ongoing changes in well and pump performance. PCP well models have supported engineers in new PCP well design and pump upsize.

The current efforts in utilizing real time well models, inferred production, automating processes to update OE is one more step toward Digitalization of PCP Surveillance and optimization and to achieve self well optimization for further improving operational efficiency.