Pilot Implementation of Improved ESP Surveillance and Optimization Through Live Operating Envelope
Authors: Al Mawali M. , Al Bimani A. A. , Al-Ghadani A. , Balushi I. , Al Riyami Y. S. , Ghefeili H. , Gomez C. M. , Al Maqbali A. , Kumar N. , Parashtekar K. , Abdul Kadar J. , Al Mahrooqi S. 
Published: November 2024

Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has achieved notable advancements in ESP surveillance and optimization utilizing automated well models with real-time data, exception-based surveillance (EBS) through LEAN projects. Growing ESP well count and time limitation has constrained production engineers to evaluate optimization opportunity for every well manually. ESP Focus team proposed further enhancements through digitalization, especially in automating identification of optimization candidates, generating live operating envelope (OE) and developing new visualization to diagnose ESP performance.

Well Management System (WMS) software is the source of managing well models automatically, well test validation, performance analysis, EBS evaluation and sensitivity analysis. Well Management Visualization System (WMVS) is primary real-time operation portal which manages Key performance indicators (KPI), EBS workflow, diagnostic analysis and custom reports. The proposed methodology is to perform automated sensitivity analysis using tuned well model in WMS to prepare data sets for live OE and evaluate locked in potential (LIP) to identify optimization candidates.

New ESP diagnostic visualization is developed in WMVS by utilizing live Operating Envelope data and improving EBS to identify optimization candidates. The integration between WMS and WMVS has been established to share data between the two systems. Automatic sensitivity analysis was performed for frequency and wellhead pressure envelopes using tuned ESP well model in WMS to generate live OE along with pump recommended operating range (ROR). Operating point analysis results using daily average data was plotted along with sensitivity data and well test on P-Q chart in WMVS to monitor performance and impact of optimization.

LIP analysis is performed on daily basis to identify optimization opportunity by considering all ESP components load limits, ROR, well inflow and water cut limitation. A pilot project is completed on a small field to test the new methodology and to plan for change management. The implementation directly impacts the rest of ESP wells and EBS KPI of all assets’ well and reservoir management (WRM) team. After thorough analysis post full implementation of project following benefits are estimated:

2-3% of net oil gain in ESP production. 2-man days/well of engineer's time saving from manual analysis. 25% increase in production engineer efficiency.

The new ESP visualization has improved well performance monitoring, LIP evaluation and enabling accelerated net oil gain. A proper change management is key to the success of this project. The new enhancement in ESP surveillance and optimization using digitalization and existing technology has potential to empower production and operation engineers for addressing their production problems. Live OE and enhanced EBS will not only ease the daily task, increase surveillance scope but also help in improving their production KPIs.