Dynamic production system management

• US 8,280,635 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Ella, Richard G., Russell, Andrew P., Reid, Laurence, Johnson, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Toan M
• Application Number:
  US11/625,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20070198223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,083 Days
• Field of Search: 702/6, 702/1, 702/2, 702/9, 702 11- 14, 702/82, 702/84, 702/127, 702/182, 702/188, 703/10, 703/5, 700/1, 700/9, 700/10, 700/19, 700/20, 700 28- 30, 700/32, 700/33, 367/14, 367/15, 367/25, 367/73, 166/250.15, 166/366
• US Class Current: 702/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

Data about operation of a well for extracting a product from the subterranean reservoir and at least one of a characteristic of a subterranean reservoir or operation of a processing and transport system upstream of a point of sale is received. A corrective action can be automatically initiated on at least one of the well or the processing and transport system in response to a difference between the received data and a specified operational objective. An adjustment to a model of the reservoir, the well, and the processing and transporting system can be automatically initiated in response to the received data.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving data about operation of a well for extracting a product from a subterranean reservoir;

automatically determining, using the data and a model of the well that operates to model characteristics of the well, a model of the subterranean reservoir that operates to model characteristics of the subterranean reservoir, and a model of the processing and transport system that operates to model characteristics of the processing and transport system, at least one corrective action to both;

(a) the well, and (b) the processing and transport system downstream of wellhead equipment in relation to a specified operational objective; and

automatically outputting an instruction to execute the at least one corrective action and automatically executing the at least one corrective action to both;

(a) the well, and (b) the processing and transport system downstream of wellhead equipment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the corrective action comprises an automatic adjustment to an operation of the well, and a gathering system of the processing and transport system or a production facility of the processing and transport system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatically determining comprises automatically determining in real time.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically initiating an adjustment to the model in response to the received data.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving data about at least one of a characteristic of the subterranean reservoir or operation of a processing and transport system upstream of a point of sale prior to a refinery.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically outputting an instruction to execute a corrective action comprises automatically initiating a corrective action substantially continuously.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically outputting an instruction to execute a corrective action comprises automatically initiating a corrective action in real time.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving data about operation of a well for extracting a product from a subterranean reservoir and at least one of a characteristic of the subterranean reservoir or operation of a processing and transport system upstream of a point of sale; and

automatically outputting an instruction to execute a corrective action and automatically executing the corrective action to both;

(a) the well, and (b) the processing and transport system downstream of wellhead equipment in response to a difference between the received data and a specified operational objective, the corrective action determined using a model of the processing and transport system that operates to model characteristics of the processing and transport system.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the operational objective comprises at least one of product sales rate or a product production rate.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the processing and transport system comprises a production facility for processing the product upstream of a refinery and a gathering system for transporting the product from the well to the point of sale.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein automatically outputting an instruction to execute a corrective action and automatically executing the corrective action on the production facility comprises at least one of initiating an adjustment to an amount of a flow supplied to a separator, an adjustment to the pressure of a flow supplied to the separator, an adjustment to a flow rate of a flow supplied to a separator, an adjustment to an amount of a flow supplied to a dehydrator, an adjustment to the pressure of a flow supplied to the dehydrator, an adjustment to a flow rate of a flow supplied to a dehydrator, an adjustment to a valve, an adjustment to a choke, an adjustment to a flow control device, an adjustment to a compressor, an adjustment to a pump, an adjustment to a heater, an adjustment to a cooler, or an adjustment to a fluid level.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein automatically outputting an instruction to execute a corrective action and automatically executing the corrective action on the gathering system comprises at least one of initiating an adjustment to an amount of a flow through a pipe, an adjustment to a pressure of a flow supplied through a pipe, an adjustment to a flow rate of a flow supplied through a pipe, an adjustment to a valve, an adjustment to a choke, an adjustment to a flow control device, an adjustment to a compressor, an adjustment to a pump, an adjustment to a heater, and an adjustment to a cooler.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein automatically outputting an instruction to execute a corrective action and automatically executing the corrective action on the well comprises initiating an adjustment to at least one of a production rate from the well or an injection rate to the well.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the corrective action is further determined using a model of the subterranean reservoir that operates to model characteristics of the subterranean reservoir and a model of the well that operates to model characteristics of the well.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein at least one of the model of the processing and transport system that operates to model characteristics of the processing and transport system, the model of the well that operates to model characteristics of the well, or the model of the subterranean reservoir that operates to model characteristics of the reservoir comprises at least one of a first principal model, a proxy model, or a derived model.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising automatically initiating an adjustment to at least one of the model of the processing and transport system that operates to model characteristics of the processing and transport system, the model of the subterranean reservoir that operates to model characteristics of the subterranean reservoir, or the model of the well that operates to model characteristics of the well in response to the received data.

17. The method of claim 8 wherein the data about a characteristic of the subterranean reservoir comprises at least one of seismic data, geologic data or log data.

18. The method of claim 8 wherein the data about operation of the well comprises at least one of flow rate, pressure, temperature, fluid composition, fluid density, viscosity or actuator state.

19. The method of claim 8 wherein the data about operation of the processing and transport system comprises at least one of flow rate, pressure, temperature, fluid composition, fluid density, viscosity or actuator state.

20. The method of claim 8 wherein receiving data comprises receiving the data in real time.

21. The method of claim 8 wherein automatically outputting an instruction to execute a corrective action comprises automatically initiating a corrective action in real time.

22. The method of claim 8 wherein automatically outputting an instruction to execute a corrective action comprises automatically initiating a corrective action substantially continuously.

23. An article comprising a non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions operable to cause one or more machines to perform operations, comprising:

receiving data about operation of a well for extracting a product from a subterranean reservoir and at least one of a characteristic of the subterranean reservoir or operation of a processing and transport system upstream of a point of sale; and

automatically outputting an instruction to execute at least one corrective action and automatically executing the at least one corrective action to both;

(a) the well, and (b) the processing and transport system downstream of wellhead equipment in response to a difference between the received data and a specified operational objective, the corrective action determined using a model of the processing and transport system that operates to model characteristics of the processing and transportation system.

24. The article of claim 23 wherein the operational objective comprises at least one of product sales rate or a product production rate.

25. The article of claim 23 wherein the processing and transport system comprises a production facility for processing the product upstream of a refinery and a gathering system for transporting the product from the well to the point of sale.

26. The article of claim 25 wherein automatically outputting an instruction to execute a corrective action and automatically executing the corrective action on the production facility comprises at least one of initiating an adjustment to an amount of a flow supplied to a separator, an adjustment to the pressure of a flow supplied to the separator, an adjustment to a flow rate of a flow supplied to a separator, an adjustment to an amount of a flow supplied to a dehydrator, an adjustment to the pressure of a flow supplied to the dehydrator, an adjustment to a flow rate of a flow supplied to a dehydrator, an adjustment to a valve, an adjustment to a choke, an adjustment to a flow control device, an adjustment to a compressor, an adjustment to a pump, an adjustment to a heater, an adjustment to a cooler, or an adjustment to a fluid level.

27. The article of claim 25 wherein automatically outputting an instruction to execute a corrective action and automatically executing the corrective action on the gathering system comprises at least one of initiating an adjustment to an amount of a flow through a pipe, an adjustment to a pressure of a flow supplied through a pipe, an adjustment to a flow rate of a flow supplied through a pipe, an adjustment to a valve, an adjustment to a choke, an adjustment to a flow control device, an adjustment to a compressor, an adjustment to a pump, an adjustment to a heater, and an adjustment to a cooler.

28. The article of claim 23 wherein automatically outputting an instruction to execute a corrective action and automatically executing the corrective action on the well comprises initiating an adjustment to at least one of a production rate from the well or an injection rate to the well.

29. The article of claim 23, wherein the corrective action is further determined using a model of the subterranean reservoir that operates to model characteristics of the subterranean reservoir and a model of the well that operates to model characteristics of the well.

30. The article of claim 29 wherein at least one of the model of the processing and transport system that operates to model characteristics of the processing and transport system, the model of the well that operates to model characteristics of the well, or the model of the subterranean reservoir that operates to model characteristics of the reservoir comprises at least one of a first principal model, a proxy model, or a derived model.

31. The article of claim 29 wherein the operation further comprises automatically initiating an adjustment to at least one of the model of the processing and transport system that operates to model characteristics of the processing and transport system, the model of the subterranean reservoir that operates to model characteristics of the subterranean reservoir, or the model of the well that operates to model characteristics of the well in response to the received data.

32. The article of claim 23 wherein the data about a characteristic of the subterranean reservoir comprises at least one of seismic data, geologic data or log data.

33. The article of claim 23 wherein the data about operation of the well comprises at least one of flow rate, pressure, temperature, fluid composition, fluid density, viscosity or actuator state.

34. The article of claim 23 wherein the data about operation of the processing and transport system comprises at least one of flow rate, pressure, temperature, fluid composition, fluid density, viscosity or actuator state.

35. The article of claim 23 wherein receiving data comprises receiving the data in real time.

36. The article of claim 23 wherein automatically outputting an instruction to execute a corrective action comprises automatically initiating a corrective action in real time.

37. The article of claim 23 wherein automatically outputting an instruction to execute a corrective action comprises automatically initiating a corrective action substantially continuously.

38. A system, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor and storing instructions operable to cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving data about operation of a well for extracting a product from a subterranean reservoir and at least one of a characteristic of the subterranean reservoir or operation of a processing and transport system upstream of a point of sale; and

automatically outputting an instruction to execute at least one corrective action and automatically executing the at least one corrective action to both;

(a) the well, and (b) the processing and transport system downstream of the wellhead equipment in response to a difference between the received data and a specified operational objective, the corrective action determined using a model of the processing and transport system that operates to model characteristics of the processing and transport system.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the operational objective comprises at least one of product sales rate or a product production rate.

40. The system of claim 38 wherein the processing and transport system comprises a production facility for processing the product upstream of a refinery and a gathering system for transporting the product from the well to the point of sale.

41. The system of claim 38 wherein automatically outputting an instruction to execute a corrective action and automatically executing the corrective action on the production facility comprises at least one of initiating an adjustment to an amount of a flow supplied to a separator, an adjustment to the pressure of a flow supplied to the separator, an adjustment to a flow rate of a flow supplied to a separator, an adjustment to an amount of a flow supplied to a dehydrator, an adjustment to the pressure of a flow supplied to the dehydrator, an adjustment to a flow rate of a flow supplied to a dehydrator, an adjustment to a valve, an adjustment to a choke, an adjustment to a flow control device, an adjustment to a compressor, an adjustment to a pump, an adjustment to a heater, an adjustment to a cooler, or an adjustment to a fluid level.

42. The system of claim 38 wherein automatically outputting an instruction to execute a corrective action and automatically executing the corrective action on the gathering system comprises at least one of initiating an adjustment to an amount of a flow through a pipe, an adjustment to a pressure of a flow supplied through a pipe, an adjustment to a flow rate of a flow supplied through a pipe, an adjustment to a valve, an adjustment to a choke, an adjustment to a flow control device, an adjustment to a compressor, an adjustment to a pump, an adjustment to a heater, and an adjustment to a cooler.

43. The system of claim 38 wherein automatically outputting an instruction to execute a corrective action and automatically executing the corrective action on the well comprises initiating an adjustment to at least one of a production rate from the well or an injection rate to the well.

44. The system of claim 38 wherein the corrective action is further determined using a model of the subterranean reservoir that operates to model characteristics of the subterranean reservoir and a model of the well that operates to model characteristics of the well.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein at least one of the model of the processing and transport system that operates to model characteristics of the processing and transport system, the model of the well that operates to model characteristics of the well, or the model of the subterranean reservoir that operates to model characteristics of the reservoir comprises at least one of a first principal model, a proxy model or a derived model.

46. The system of claim 44 wherein the operations further comprise automatically initiating an adjustment to at least one of the model of the processing and transport system that operates to model characteristics of the processing and transport system, the model of the subterranean reservoir that operates to model characteristics of the subterranean reservoir, or the model of the well that operates to model characteristics of the well in response to the received data.

47. The system of claim 38 wherein the data about a characteristic of the subterranean reservoir comprises at least one of seismic data, geologic data or log data.

48. The system of claim 38 wherein the data about operation of the well comprises at least one of flow rate, pressure, temperature, fluid composition, fluid density, viscosity or actuator state.

49. The system of claim 38 wherein the data about operation of the processing and transport system comprises at least one of flow rate, pressure, temperature, fluid composition, fluid density, viscosity or actuator state.

50. The system of claim 38 wherein receiving data comprises receiving the data in real time.

51. The system of claim 38 wherein automatically outputting an instruction to execute a corrective action comprises automatically initiating a corrective action in real time.

52. The system of claim 38 wherein automatically outputting an instruction to execute a corrective action comprises automatically initiating a corrective action substantially continuously.