Automatic Data Gathering and Supervisory Control System for Production and Operations in the North Pembina Cardium Unit No. 1

Abstract

A supervisory control and data gathering system has been installed in the North Pembina Cardium Unit No. 1, which is operated by Socony Mobil Oil of Canada, Ltd. This system provides, at one central location, read-out ofproduction data, logging of alarm conditions and supervisory control over thirty-five satellite production stations and two central treating stations, handling a total of 462 producing wells. The production data reported include well-test oil, water and gas volumes. The supervisory control system provides remote control of all production wells. This system was designed making use of essentially conventional electrical components. It has been in successful operation for more than eighteen months, effecting reduced maintenance and operating costs while providing increased speed and accuracy in the gathering and processing of production data. Introduction In the North Pembina Cardium Unit No.1, a total of 462 wells produce into thirty-five satellite well testing units. The production from the satellite units is moved through a pipeline gathering system and is processed at two treating plants. A map showing the production system field layout is given in Figure 1. The design of this production system has been described in previous publications (1, 2). The satellite units provide individual well production test measurements of oil, water and gas volumes, and regulate and monitor oil production and testing. The treating plants accept crude-water emulsions from the satelliteunits, dehydrate and ship the oil, and treat and dispose of the water. Gas is separated and sold from the satellite units and the treating plants. This production system requires that considerable measurement and operating status information be acquired from the satellites and the plants which aredistributed over an area of roughly 70 square miles. In addition, certaincontrol functions must be effected at these locations. For the purpose of both gathering the information and effecting the needed control, a centralized data gathering and supervisory control system is provided. This system has been inoperation for 18 months and is highly successful.