The Use of Mathematical Programming to Determine Optimal Production and Drilling Schedule in an Offshore Oil Field, A Case Study From the Barents Sea

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guowen Lei ◽  
Milan Stanko ◽  
Thiago Lima Silva ◽  
Tom Widerøe ◽  
Arnljot Skogvang

Abstract A field with two neighboring reservoirs was discovered in the Barents Sea in 2013 and 2014. After a successful extended well test of an appraisal well in 2018 and initial field planning tasks, a preliminary drilling and production schedule was proposed based on cross-domain collaboration and group work involving several disciplines. In this paper, mathematical programming is employed to model and optimize the economic value of the project in order to determine the best drilling and production schedule for the field. The optimization includes some of the technical constraints considered by the field development team while also considering uncertainties such as reservoir size, productivity of well, and cost. These have been systematically evaluated by using simulation-based optimization (sampling). The results were that the use of mathematical programming allows the field planner to evaluate several scenarios within a reasonable time frame, thereby enabling rapid changes in the decisions to respond to new information and risk considerations in a dynamic environment. This paper illustrates the benefits of utilizing mathematical programming in early field planning to optimize the drilling and production schedule.

Author(s):  
Adekunle Peter Orimolade ◽  
Ove Tobias Gudmestad

Interests in exploration and production of oil and gas in cold climate areas has increased in recent times. This can be attributed to the continual depletion of reserves in mature fields, and recent discoveries of large quantities of oil and gas in the cold climate region, including the more recent discovery of the Alta Reservoir, in the Barents Sea. However, marine operations in this region are faced with challenges resulting from its arctic conditions. Knowledge of the physical environment is important in designing offshore structures, and in planning, and executing marine operations. Selection of a suitable field development concept may be influenced by the probability of occurrence of rare events, such as drifting icebergs. Furthermore, occurrence of mesoscale phenomenon such as polar low pressures may adversely affect planned marine operations. In addition, uncertainties in weather forecasting will reflect on the available weather window to perform installation and interventions works. This paper presents some of the challenges in designing and planning for marine operations in the cold climate region. A possible field development concept for the open water areas of the Norwegian sector of the Barents Sea is discussed. The current research work considers the need for further assessment of the probability of occurrence of drifting icebergs as of importance when selecting field development concept. The Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) is proposed, and this should be designed with an internal turret system that can be disconnected and reconnected. Some of the challenges associated with riser systems design when considering a turret system with the capability to disconnect and reconnect are discussed. This paper also propose the use of ensemble forecasts as an alternative to the use of alpha factors to estimate operational weather window when planning for marine operations in the Barents Sea. The unpredictability nature of the environmental conditions, especially in the early winter is considered a challenge to marine operations.


2021 ◽  
pp. petgeo2020-042
Author(s):  
D. Egya ◽  
P. W. M. Corbett ◽  
S. Geiger ◽  
J. P. Norgard ◽  
S. Hegndal-Andersen

This paper successfully applied the geoengineering workflow for integrated well-test analysis to characterise fluid flow in a newly discovered fractured reservoir in the Barents Sea. A reservoir model containing fractures and matrix was built and calibrated using this workflow to match complex pressure transients measured in the field. We outline different geological scenarios that could potentially reproduce the pressure response observed in the field, highlighting the challenge of non-uniqueness when analysing well-test data. However, integrating other field data into the analysis allowed us to narrow the range of uncertainty, enabling the most plausible geological scenario to be taken forward for more detailed reservoir characterisation and history matching. The results provide new insights into the reservoir geology and the key flow processes that generate the pressure response observed in the field. This paper demonstrates that the geoengineering workflow used here can be applied to better characterise naturally fractured reservoirs. We also provide reference solutions for interpreting well-tests in fractured reservoirs where troughs in the pressure derivative are recognisable in the data.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adhi Naharindra ◽  
Zalina Ali ◽  
Nik Fazril Ain Sapi’an ◽  
Latief Riyanto ◽  
Fuziana Tusimin ◽  
...  

Abstract Increased HSE concerns and global economic efficiency from well testing activities especially on its environmental impact have left several oil and gas industries’ facing critical challenges to develop and monetize oil reserves. Some of these challenges include handling well effluents from well test unloading operations after well completion with high contaminants such as H2S and CO2 which will exacerbate environmental impact to safety, pollution, and oil spill risks. In addition, mitigation to environmental impact will be constrained to limited deck space and topside loads for offshore wellhead facilities and eventually restricts the footprint of well test unloading equipment. The scope of the paper is to examine the evolution of well deliverability testing from conventional well test facilities’ flaring practices to contemporary smokeless and zero flaring operations applied in a giant sand stones oil field in Malaysian water, which is surrounded by a world class environmentally protected marine and coastal ecosystem. The zero-flaring approach allows a demonstration of the safety & emission reduction, cost saving, technical viability, and economic benefits over traditional flaring techniques for 20 to 30 well testing during the life of field. Previous wells clean up method require flaring of oil and gas before the production facilities and flow lines were operational.commissioned. The application of environment friendly well testing system using the completed flow lines and production facilities enable zero-flaring option to be technically and economically viable. Zero-flaring well testing system provides several attractive benefits, with potential reduction in flaring equivalent of ±1000 barrels of oil, pollution avoidance, 40 - 50% schedule reduction and over 40% reduction in total project costs for the field development..


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