Integrated Pore-to-Process Modelling Approach for Confident Decision-Making in Field Development of a Complex Onshore Gas-Condensate Asset in the Middle East
Authors: Khor S. H. , Limpasurat B. , Zhang M. Q. , Graa I. 
Published: October 2023

A complex onshore gas-condensate asset in the Middle East has a roadmap to deliver an ambitious targeted production rate within a set timeframe and meeting the sales specifications. The asset produces near critical fluids with rich H2S content from multiple natural fractured carbonate formations at high pressures. To achieve the ambitious target, identifying opportunities for continuous improvements in field development and production operation strategies are crucial. These require collaboration of multi-disciplinary domains, comprehensive understanding of fluid characteristics, well performance, pipelines network constraints and facility operating envelopes.

In this project, 5 pore-to-process solutions using integrated asset modelling approach have been developed to assure and to accelerate decision making in developing the studied gas-condensate asset. The developed solutions offer platforms to comprehensively validate different field development scenarios with inclusion of both capacity and operating constraints, facility upgrading schemes to enable confident decision-making and leading success in the corporate's production roadmap and digitalization transformation journey.

Integrated asset modelling approach has been adopted for the pore-to-process solutions, where multiple black-oil subsurface reservoir models are fully integrated to multiple compositional surface networks and to the corresponding downstream process facility models. Integrated asset modelling enables different disciplines to collaborate with a common goal through robust simulations that synergies material balance of reservoir wells, surface networks and process facilities.

Fluid de-lumping is implemented to ensure fluid fidelity from reservoir to process, establishing the fundamental of an effective solution that allows different interdependent models to be integrated into one single asset model whilst preserving the fidelity of individual models to reduce uncertainties, and to enhance confidence of the simulation results and the ultimate made decision.

The integrated asset models have assisted in better gas-condensate asset management with insights of flow assurance and integrity issues which may arise. Efforts in keeping these models evergreen empower and reassure decision made in field development strategy and facility upgrading plans. The dynamic up-to-date solutions that fully account system constraints and interactions between different models in one single simulation platform enable comprehensive assessment of the field development strategy to support the corporate's ambitious production roadmap confidently. Displays of the modeling results via the asset overview dashboard help to confirm the planned optimal distribution of fluids per facility.

Informed decision-making with full acknowledgement of technical challenges for a complex onshore gas-condensate asset is feasible via integrated pore-to-process solutions, enabling effective assessment of field development strategies with consideration of anticipated rig activities, required equipment changes with assurance of safe asset operation. The availability and accessibility of these evergreen integrated asset models establish the main pillars of digital oil field to unlock the real values of the studied complex gas-condensate asset.