Intelligent Agents for Gas Lift Monitoring and Diagnosis

Greg StephensoneProduction Solutions

Neil de GuzmanIntelligent Agent Corporation

ContentsContents

OverviewOverviewWhy do it?Why do it?ValueValueOur solutionOur solutionHow weHow we’’re doing itre doing itDemoDemoNext stepsNext stepsQ&AQ&A

OverviewOverview

Use realtime data to:Use realtime data to:Analyze and diagnose cont. gas lift wellsAnalyze and diagnose cont. gas lift wellsIdentify abnormal conditionsIdentify abnormal conditionsRecommend actionsRecommend actionsEstimate performance gainsEstimate performance gainsEnable managementEnable management--by exception (MBX)by exception (MBX)

Leverage worldLeverage world--class technology used class technology used in:in:

FinanceFinanceDefenseDefenseIntelligenceIntelligence

Why Do It?Why Do It?

Gas lift a proven, widelyGas lift a proven, widely--used AL method used AL method Responsible for a significant amount of productionResponsible for a significant amount of production

2003: ExxonMobil (31% of liquid), Shell (25% of liquid)2003: ExxonMobil (31% of liquid), Shell (25% of liquid)11

Significant potential uplift/savings in most assetsSignificant potential uplift/savings in most assetsOPEX/BOE is lowOPEX/BOE is low

1Gabor Takacs, Gas Lift Manual, p. 6

Where is the value?Where is the value?

According to Mr. Pareto: 80% of outcomes from 20% of eventsAccording to Mr. Pareto: 80% of outcomes from 20% of events

Effort

Valu

e

20% 40%0 60% 80%

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0

100%

Full-FieldFull-Field (RT-Enabled)

Well-by-Well

Gas Lift Optimization

Barriers to OptimizationBarriers to Optimization

Monitoring gas lift systems is problematic because...Monitoring gas lift systems is problematic because...Data overloadData overloadLimited domain expertiseLimited domain expertiseCompeting prioritiesCompeting prioritiesGL GL ““worksworks”” even when iteven when it’’s broken!s broken!

The GoalThe Goal

P

T

P

T

Q

QC

P

TP

T

Real-time MeasurementsSet-points

Qw

Qg

Qo

Wct

Gas-lift ratecontrol

RTU

Analysis

Surging multi-point injection. Gas is being injected through valve #7, which is not the deepest valve in the well. Valve performance analysis suggests that valve #6 may be cycling open and closed.

Recommendations

Consider replacing valves to establish single point injection and to replace valve #6 which is cycling open and closed. Estimated production increase is 227 bbls/d.

Data RequirementsData Requirements

Casing head pressureCasing head pressureTubing head pressureTubing head pressureGas injection ratesGas injection ratesBHP, BHTBHP, BHTFlowing pressure, temp Flowing pressure, temp gradientsgradientsAnnular fluid levelAnnular fluid levelProduction ratesProduction rates

OilOilWater Water GasGas

GLV dataGLV dataWell performance dataWell performance data

Our SolutionOur Solution

MonitoringMonitoringLeverage Leverage IACIAC’’ss work on pattern recognition from other work on pattern recognition from other projects, particularly for conditions such as headingprojects, particularly for conditions such as heading

DiagnosisDiagnosisBuilt knowledge base to capture all potential conditionsBuilt knowledge base to capture all potential conditionsCombination of measured data and calculated attributesCombination of measured data and calculated attributesOverOver--defined systemdefined systemNotNot--hierarchicalhierarchical

Overall ApproachOverall ApproachDeterministic Deterministic ProbabilisticProbabilisticTrainableTrainable

Scope of Knowledge BaseScope of Knowledge Base

Addresses continuous gas lift for IPO and PPO Addresses continuous gas lift for IPO and PPO systemssystems

~ 60 different conditions encompassing ~ 60 different conditions encompassing Inlet issuesInlet issuesOutlet issuesOutlet issuesDownhole issuesDownhole issues

~ 15 attributes are monitoring including~ 15 attributes are monitoring includingFlow stateFlow stateValve state (open / closed / backValve state (open / closed / back--checked)checked)QgiQgiCasing / tubing heading Casing / tubing heading Performance curvesPerformance curves……othersothers

Intelligent AgentsIntelligent Agents

Intelligent Agent: DefinitionIntelligent Agent: DefinitionComputational entity: software Computational entity: software or robot, perceiving and acting or robot, perceiving and acting on its environment, on its environment, autonomous in its behavior, at autonomous in its behavior, at least partially depends on its least partially depends on its own experience.own experience.

CharacteristicsCharacteristicsFastFastRobustRobustTrainableTrainable

Associative Memory TechnologyAssociative Memory Technology

How WeHow We’’re Doing Itre Doing ItStart

Headingdetection

Time-seriescasing &tubing

pressures

Other time-series

data

WellConfiguration(valve, etc)

Model Inputs

(valve calcs, VLP, Perf curve, others)

AnalysisKnowledge

base

Anomalydetection

AnomalyAggregation

End

Gas Liftsystem state

More time-seriesdata?

Yes

No

Demo SystemDemo System

Next StepsNext Steps

Currently Forming JIPCurrently Forming JIP33--4 members + WFT4 members + WFTEst. time to complete = 1 yr.Est. time to complete = 1 yr.Work to commence once membership requirements metWork to commence once membership requirements metIntegration w/ systems analysis Integration w/ systems analysis s/ws/wIntegration w/ realtime Integration w/ realtime s/ws/wField testing using live dataField testing using live data

Q&AQ&A