Application of New Multiphase Flow Measurement Systems with Satellite Based Monitoring in Offshore Khafji Field Available to Purchase

An accurate oil, water, and gas flow rate measurement from individual wells is essential to manage the reservoirs and allocate production to maintain the target production rate.

The offshore Al-Khafji Field has been producing oil since 1961 and currently approximately 180 wells located on scattered and un-manned platforms are on production from seven different reservoirs. A well test barge using the conventional gravity-based test separator was being used to carry out most of the flow measurements. This conventional well testing method increased the cost of acquiring well-test data substantially and restricted the frequencies of well tests due to weather and other constraints. Speedy well test on request to check the well performance was not always possible, resulting in the delay of engineer's decisions related to proper reservoir management. The average well was previously tested 2–3 times a year for a few hours using the well test barge.

To overcome such limitations and deficiencies, new multiphase flow meters (MPFM) with real-time data readout capability were installed on five offshore well platforms. The remote readout capability using secure satellite based connectivity is free from many limitations faced by conventional SCADA systems.

This paper evaluates and describes the significant benefits and improvements derived from the installation of the MPFMs in terms of the following aspects:

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  Real-time data (using secure password) availability via any internet console

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  Better production management by making real-time decisions

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  Excellent data quality and accuracy

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  Increased frequency of testing

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  Better well-by-well production allocation

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  Choke Optimization

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  Produced Water Management

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  Real Time Gas Lift Optimization

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  Significant cost reduction in well testing

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  Better reservoir management