Integrated Mainframe/PC Approach for Well-Data-Acquisition Selection
Authors: Sizer J.P. , Al-Khamees M.A. 
Published: December 2007

This paper discusses Saudi Aramco's integration of the corporate mainframe database management system (DBMS), a commercial statistical analysis package (SAP), and a PC database program to facilitate the selection of dataacquisition candidates and to track the completion of their requirements. Data-acquisition candidate selection includes wells that require flowmeters, pulse-neutron logs (PNL's), PI tests, and bottomhole static PI tests, and bottomhole static pressure (BHSP) surveys for prudent pressure (BHSP) surveys for prudent reservoir management. Data are easily extracted from the DBMS with user-language programming techniques. Then a SAP uses predefined reservoir-management criteria to process the more than 100 logical process the more than 100 logical records extracted per well. Output from the mainframe program is then imported to a PC data base using batch files. Multiple tabular forms allow the engineer to preview the rulesbased selections, to edit the data-acquisition requirements, and to add comments. In urge fields with hundreds of wells, selection of the optimum data-acquisition candidates is extremely important. The PC database application helps novice computer users select and track dataacquisition candidates more systematically and allows users to have direct control of screen presentations. Other routine work, such as presentations. Other routine work, such as well producing priority, business development plans, and workover selection and tracking, has also been included in the PC data base.

Introduction

The Northern Area Reservoir Management (NARM) Div. of Saudi Aramco is responsible for reservoir-management activities in the company's offshore oil fields. Reservoir engineers specify the data-acquisition requirements necessary in their area of responsibility. Collecting reservoir-management data is expensive; typical costs are $25,000 for flowmeters, $10,000 for production/injection testing, $40,000 for PNL's, and $2,500 for BHSP surveys. For the purposes of this paper, PNL's, flowmeters, production/injection tests, and BHSP surveys are production/injection tests, and BHSP surveys are used to acquire the following types of data. 1. PNL's are used to monitor bottom- and edge-water encroachment throughout a field. Data are used to specify rate restrictions and well producing priority and to evaluate recovery efficiency. 2. Flowmeters are run to ascertain the contribution of each reservoir layer to the total flow rate and to identify the water entry point, plugged perforations, etc. point, plugged perforations, etc. 3. Production/injection tests are run at various intervals over the life of a well to determine the reservoir parameters that best define the reservoir and to identify workover opportunities. 4. BHSP surveys are run quarterly, semiannually, annually, or biennially at field locations that provide good area coverage for monitoring reservoir pressure, evaluating pressure support, and verifying pressure support, and verifying communication between layers. Previously, the selection of data-acquisition candidates required a time consuming well-by-well evaluation of hundreds of wells. The task was often delegated to entrylevel engineers, and well-defined guidelines on how to do the job best were not provided. The task required many trips to the files, many telephone calls to production engineers, and a great deal of wasted time. In 1988, this task was faciliated for one major field by using the DBMS and a commercial SAP. Standardized, simple criteria were applied to each well to determine whether it required a PNL, a flowmeter, etc. For example, if a producing well had not had a PNL for 3 years it would be identified as PNL for 3 years it would be identified as a PNL candidate. Improvements since 1988 include a menu-driven system that allows the DBMS information-extract program and the SAP to be submitted simultaneously. The SAP can also generate graphic files, if requested on the submission panel. Currently, each major field has a more sophisticated rules-based system stored in a macro library that the SAP accesses. Guidelines for lessexperienced engineers are now readily available and the selection is more systematic. Thus, this routine task is now completed much faster and documented better, and the time saved is used to analyze the data collected.