Challenges & Opportunities in Implementing an Integrated Asset Operations Model IAOM in Mature Field

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to present the challenges & opportunities in implementing an Integrated Asset Operations Model (IAOM) for a super giant field. Conclusions of this paper are drawn based on an actual project that prepared an interactive production and injection network system to accurately simulate the overall system from completion intervals to export point in a super giant field of UAE discovered in ′60s. The subject super giant field has now crossed a life span of 50 years. As this field was built around the technologies of ′60s and ′70s, any efforts to develop infrastructure failed to keep pace with evolving technology. In addition incremental benefits of asset model were perceived to be marginal over huge business impact of supply interruptions, expensive brownfield modifications, and effort required in retrofitting. However continued focus on improving operating efficiencies has slowly begun to change the way organizations respond to their production optimization & surveillance needs. This field is producing from carbonate reservoirs and the remaining producing life of the field is expected to be another 50 years. It has over 600 wells which include oil producers, water & gas injectors, water supply & disposal wells along with large oil processing plants, and water injection clusters. The subject field's journey toward having IAOM tool started in a modest way in 2012 when the management wanted an integrated solution to optimize production, identify and remove bottlenecks, artificial lift selection, linking reservoir simulation models, managing production & injection allocation forecasts, and last but not the least, managing operational downtime. Higher production rate, and larger remaining producing life coupled with big infrastructure made it a perfect candidate for implementing an IAOM solution. This paper highlights how the asset selected a fit for purpose IAOM solution, developed the solution over time, overcame challenges in planning & execution, and realized benefits of initiative. Amongst the main challenges were ageing infrastructure, integrating & consolidating information, and overcoming organizational resistance to change. In a nutshell, the implementation of IAOM solution presented unique sets of challenges & opportunities in every field. It was observed that when it comes to mature & super giant fields with complex organizational structures, these challenges only multiply. In addition to justifying the capex involved in hardware & software, the decision makers also have to plan for operational, organizational, process & information challenges that could be more difficult to solve. Amongst the main benefits from IAOM implementation is integration, standardization, and improved operational efficiencies. This paper will be a useful reference in situations where decision makers face dilemmas of choosing between businesses as usual approach over IAOM in mature fields.