Production

Production Monitoring/Surveillance-2017

Industry trends in production monitoring and surveillance continue to demonstrate significant input from the academic and research fields, practical applications, and new-technology introduction. Market conditions similar to those of the previous year are driving some of the same discussions.

Industry trends in production monitoring and surveillance continue to demonstrate significant input from the academic and research fields, practical applications, and new-technology introduction. Market conditions similar to those of the previous year are driving some of the same discussions again this year. With the decline in new drilling, our peers are focusing on optimization of existing fields and examining past performance in preparation for new future developments. In many cases, these efforts are being performed with fewer personnel and limited capital resources.

Optimization of existing fields is inspiring new concepts for statistical and predictive production modeling, along with new views on decline analysis. Virtual flow-measuring systems, while not new technology, are experiencing a broadened application as a more-cost-effective alternative. The focus on existing assets also has increased discussion on well integrity and how this should be monitored and maintained.

As we look toward future improvements, we are also taking advantage of the decline in new drilling activity to review performance from the past several years. Specifically in regard to fracturing, we are investigating the relationships between methods for drilling, fracturing, and completion design, along with their effect on production performance.

The industry is becoming more efficient and knowledgeable in its data gathering, evaluation methods, and operations. We will be better equipped as industry activity begins to increase, because of our ability to operate more efficiently at current market conditions or because of market improvements or both meeting on middle ground, in the near future. The articles selected for review demonstrate some of the achievements of our peers from the last year.

This Month's Technical Papers

Real-Time Production Surveillance and Optimization in a Mature Subsea Asset

Production Response in the Denver-Julesburg Basin

Cost-Effective Production Metering and Allocation in a Mature Offshore Oil Field

Recommended additional reading

SPE 183463 Well-Productivity Analysis Integrating Ultrahigh-Resolution LWD Images and PLT: A Data-Integration Case Study by H.M. Al Shehhi, ADCO, et al.

SPE 179058 Well-Surveillance Operations and Data Analysis in Thermal Viscous-Crude Project in Kuwait—A Case Study by Shaikha Al-Ballam, Kuwait Oil Company, et al.

SPE 183535 Implementing Fiber-Optics Distributed Sensing as a Key Surveillance Tool by S. Al Shoaibi, Petroleum Development, et al.

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Marc Kuck, SPE, is a drilling and completions engineering manager with Eni US Operating Company in Anchorage. He has worked with major operators and service companies in the oil and gas industry for more than 20 years, specializing in well operations and completions technology. Kuck holds several patents and has authored multiple publications. He has worked in Alaska for the past 14 years and holds a BS degree in mechanical engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. Kuck is a member of the JPT Editorial Committee.