The objective of the field re-development project of the 16th Tortonian horizon in the Austrian Matzen field was to double gross production. To achieve this goal, some of the formerly used sucker rod pumps and electrical submersible pumps (ESPs) were replaced by high-rate ESPs. Over the course of two years, the field surface and subsurface upgrades were conducted, from the tendering process to the final installation. With the installation of downhole sensors, the foundation for a digital oilfield was implemented. Screening of the reservoir by a multi-disciplinary team generated suitable candidates for gross increases. Therefore, in the pre-project phase, the following steps were undertaken to prove the feasibility of such a large-scale re-development: Two viable candidates were selected as pilot ESP wells to prove the concept. Lessons learned from these candidates provided data for the scope of work of the ESP tender. In order to optimize the ESP operation, the wells were clustered into five groups. For each group one designated ESP type was chosen to cover the new required flow rate range. In two workover campaigns, 39 ESP installations were conducted, with the support of an onsite application engineer from the service company. The approach to double gross production by using high-rate ESPs proved to be feasible. The two pilot wells delivered critical information for the success of the project. Lessons learned regarding design and wellbore integrity were gained. A root cause failure analysis led to enhancements in material selection. By installing this high-volume artificial lift technology, the surface and subsurface infrastructure was refurbished to a new level of automation. This allows engineers to monitor, analyze, optimize, and troubleshoot the system in real-time, independent of location. A close cooperation between the service company and operator from the engineering to execution phase resulted in no early failure and exceptionally good run-life statistics. The sensor data are used to further improve the design and forecast equipment failure. This has a positive effect on economics by reducing the cost of the ESP strings and quantity of backup equipment. The concept of grouping wells was a very practical solution to conduct such a project in a very short time. A key for the smooth implementation of the project was the close collaboration with the service company's onsite application engineer.
Paraffin represents one of the main case of failures and production losses which facing the entire oil industry. Prevention of paraffin deposition on the subsurface/surface equipment can be achieved by keeping the paraffin dissolved in crude oil or minimizing the adhesion or aggregation process of wax crystals. The paraffin problems which occur, conduct to gradual reduction of the tubular and pipelines internal diameter, restriction or valves blockages, and reduce the equipment capacity until the production is stop. Problems due to paraffin deposition varies and is different according with each commercial field, sometime the difference is from a well to well which producing from the same reservoir with different consistency. How we shall proceed? Before or after paraffin is field on the equipment? How could be avoid the future paraffin deposition? How long the selected method is proper for well ? The decision represents a combination based on oil's chemical & physical characteristics, well's behavior, method selected for prevention or elimination and combined with economic analysis and field experience. The paraffin inhibition applying is a common practice in OMV Petrom, which cover majority of the production wells. For the special wells, which the paraffin inhibition didn't provided satisfying results (multiple intervention due to paraffin deposition) was selected the Down Hole Heating technology (DHH) which was successfully tested in our company since 2014 thanks according with the yearly New Technology Program. The operating principle consists in heating the fluid volume from tubing using the heating cable which can be installed inside tubing, for NF and ESP wells or outside tubing for SRP or PCP wells. The cable is designed and located at the interval of wax crystallization appearance and heats the fluid to the temperature higher than the wax crystallization point (WAT). Since then, the DHH technology had an upward course, proven by high run life (highest value 2500 days / average 813 days) of the technology at the total 47 wells equipped, until this moment. Based on the successful results, recorded of 64% of old production wells equipped, it was decided to apply the technology at first completion of the new wells (36%), thus ensuring the protection of the new equipment. The paper offers an overview of DHH technology implementation, achievements, benefits and online monitoring of technology implementation starting with 2014 until today. The total impact shown a decreasing of no.of failures with 73,8%, the cost of intervention with 76,5%. The production losses decreased only with 5%, which certifies the fact that the technology helping production maintaining during the exploitation in comparison with production losses due paraffin issues recorded at wells without equipped with DHH technology. During 6 years of down hole heating technology application were developed candidate selection decision tree, monitoring the electrical efficiency, using the adaptability capacity of the technology from one well to another and integrate the temperature parameters in online monitoring system as part of digitalization concept of OMV Petrom, aspects which will be present in this article.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.