Despite being proven to be a cost-effective surveillance initiative, remote monitoring is still not adopted in more than 60% of oil and gas fields around the world. Understanding the value of data through machine-learning (ML) techniques is the basis for establishing a robust surveillance strategy. In the complete paper, the authors develop a data-driven approach, enabled by artificial-intelligence methodologies including ML, to find an optimal operating envelope for gas-lift wells.
Real-Time Well-Performance Optimization
Wellsite Measurement and Control. Flow Tests. Past tests include sporadic measurement of multiphase rates and the associated flowing pressure and temperature, collected at various points of the production system, from bottomhole to separator conditions.
Flow tests are also known as well tests; however, the authors use the term “flow test” in this paper to avoid confusion with well testing as used in pressure transient tests, including temporary shut-in pressure buildups (for producers) and pressure falloff tests (for injectors).
Normally, a well would have limited data points from the past well tests (i.e., less than 50 valid flow tests in a period of 5–10 years). This data is the basis of creating ML models.
Continuous Monitoring. Every well should have adequate instrumentation, and its supporting infrastructure should include reliable power supply, minimum latency telemetry, and desktop access to production parameters.
