Automation In the South Swan Hills Unit
Authors: Anderson Gary L. , Reed Gregory A. 
Published: March 2010

The automation system installed in the South Swan Hills Unit consists of a mini-computer-based data gathering and supervisory control system. The present system monitors oil, gas and water production, oil sales and operation of the miscible flood injection plant and produced water disposal stations. The system also automatically tests the oil wells, prepares ac.

This paper was presented at the 30th Annual Technical Meeting of The Petroleum Society of CIM in Banff. Alberta. May 8–11, 1979, and all figures are current as of that date, counting reports and supervises the operation of the 112 electric submersible pumps. The paper includes a description of the system and the benefits as well as a discussion of maintenance and operating personnel requirements.

INTRODUCTION

The South Swan Hills Unit is located approximately 225 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. Oil production is being taken from the Beaverhill Lake Formation at an average depth of 2438 metres. There are currently 180 producing wells, 27 water injection wells and 25 miscible injection wells. During 1978, the average daily production was 9540 cubic metres of oil, 1.84 × 106 cubic metres of gas, 1450 cubic metres of NGL and 12,719 cubic metres of water.

In 1972, a mini-computer-based supervisory control system was installed. Ten RTUs (Remote Terminal Units for data telemetry) were installed to monitor eight production batteries and five well test satellites. All RTUs were linked together with (Figure in full paper) telephone cable, party-line style. From a central point in the field, data were transmitted to the office via a UHF radio link. The computer was installed in the Amoco office in the town of Swan Hills, 12 kilometres to the northeast of the central field radio station.

In 1973, a miscible flood was initiated in the central portion of the field. Enriched gas (solvent) and water are injected alternately into 25 injection wells. The automation system monitors the mixing of gas and NGL at the injection plant and meters the rates into each of the wells. In 1978, work began on header modifications to facilitate automatic well testing. The buried cable system was extended to all 112 electric submersible pumps.

(Figure in full paper)

Batteries and Satellites

Nine batteries and fourteen satellites comprise the current production handling facilities in the South Swan Hills Unit (Fig. 1). During the initial installation of the automation system in 1972, provision was made to monitor eight batteries and five satellites. The ability to monitor a new ninth battery and nine additional satellites was provided during the last expansion in 1978–1979. Figure 2 depicts the layout of a typical battery and shows the major data points which are monitored by the computer. The production status for the wells is monitored at the control valves mounted on the inlet header system. Turbine meters are used to monitor oil and water rates from both the group and test vessels.

Gas production from the group and test vessels is measured with an orifice meter equipped with pressure, temperature and differential pressure transmitters (Fig. 2 and 3).