Real-Time Blending Optimization in Upstream - Operating on the Edge

Abstract

0. Abstract Historically, oil and gas producing fields had sufficient capacity to fulfill contractual requirements. Today, most operating companies are finding it ever more challenging to meet contractual requirements on LNG cargos and/or oil tanker loadings. For gas producing assets, the gas produced will feed LNG trains or a power plant directly. And as the feed gas needs to meet specifications on H2S, CO2, Gross Heating Value, etc… there is little room to play. Generally, this blending problem is well understood at the medium to long-term planning level. But, in day-to-day operations, there will be events that force operations to divert from the long-term plan. And this is where Real-Time Asset-Wide Optimization (RT-AWO) comes into play. This paper details how RT-AWO was deployed and is used in a major Shell operating unit in Asia-Pacific. This asset has a complex gas-producing infrastructure where a combination of different production sharing contracts, third party producers with an ever-changing demand from the LNG plant and strict quality requirements. Having RT-AWO it is now possible to run the field in the most optimal way, all day and every day, while taking into account all possible constraints (wells, topside and pipeline). The RT-AWO has proven to be very successful. Despite the complexity of the network, the tool is very user-friendly and easy to maintain. Not only does it allow the central control room operators to push the field to the limit, it provides them with accurate CO2 forecasts for up to 18 hours. And it takes less than a minute to compute. The RT-AWO is a novel approach to a complex problem, sustainable, easy to maintain and use. It provides an integrated view with real-time information, forecasting and optimization functionality. And if is flexible enough to be deployed in other locations with even more complex networks.