An Approach to Oil Field Automation
Authors: Sommer H.A. 
Published: December 2007

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 47th Annual Fall Meeting of the Society of Petroleum Engineers held in San Antonio, Tex., Oct. 8–11, 1972. Permission to copy is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words. Illustrations may not be copied. The abstract should contain conspicuous acknowledgment of where and by who the paper is presented. Publication elsewhere after publication in the JOURNAL paper is presented. Publication elsewhere after publication in the JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY or the SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS JOURNAL is usually granted upon request to the Editor of the appropriate journal provided agreement to give proper credit is made. provided agreement to give proper credit is made. Discussion of this paper is invited. Three copies of any discussion should be sent to the Society of Petroleum Engineers office. Such discussion may be presented at the above meeting and, with the paper, may be considered for publication in one of the two SPE magazines.

The use of a computerized automation system in the production of oil and gas fields can be an effective means of maintaining high producing rates at a low operating cost. This is borne out by experience in several existing projects. As technology advances it is very important to be aware of new approaches that can be applied in the field and consider these approaches when evaluating a potential automation system. This paper discusses some of the new approaches as it paper discusses some of the new approaches as it relates to the measurement of gas flow rates and net-oil values.

Introduction

Since 1966, Amoco Production Co. has installed computer automation systems in many of its major fields. The systems were designed to effectively and economically operate the fields using the latest available technology. Although the systems vary in design and operating philosophies, each one is designed to maintain a philosophies, each one is designed to maintain a maximum production rate at a minimum operating cost. Each project is designed with a certain amount of standardization; however, where advances in technology offer economical improvements over existing projects the latest technology is employed. Two specific areas of advances in technology involve gas flow and net-oil measurements and calculations. Several schemes have been used to obtain these values in projects in Wyoming and Texas. Rather than projects in Wyoming and Texas. Rather than standardize on one scheme, the procedure that most economically adapts to the specific automation project is employed.

As of the first of 1972, Amoco has developed a considerable amount of operating data on four computer automation projects that will be of great benefit in the design of future installations. Only a brief summary is presented on the Elk Basin and East Texas presented on the Elk Basin and East Texas automation systems as these projects have been reported in other publications. The Smyer project in West Texas, which was installed in project in West Texas, which was installed in 1969, is related because of the significant production increase obtained as a result of production increase obtained as a result of automation. In the Hastings Field installation new concepts in gas flow and net-oil measurement calculations were pursued to reduce the total project cost.

ELK BASIN

In April, 1966, Amoco Production Co. (then known as Pan American Petroleum Corp.) installed its first computerized oilfield automation project in the Elk Basin field, Wyo.). At project in the Elk Basin field, Wyo.). At the time this system was put into operation it represented the latest thinking available in the industry.