Production optimization is one of the most challenging tasks in the oil & gas industry, due to the high number of processes involved and the continuous update required. To best operate a production asset, a global perspective is needed. The integrated optimization of gathering facilities and process plant represents the way to achieve this complex goal.
Integrated simulation models are nowadays able to deal with the presence of several variables, uncertainties, and operational constraints typical of the surface assets. In this article, an integrated tool developed to maximize field production is presented. Powerful genetic algorithms are used to identify the best field configuration, handling many operational variables simultaneously, in order to reach the global optimum in according to the system constraints. In addition, an operative workflow for fluid-dynamic check occurs, in order to avoid the selection of unstable field configurations. As consequence, the best field configuration will be not only the global optimum for the system, but also the most fluid-dynamically stable. Furthermore, multiphase transient code analysis allows understanding actual flow regime and, if necessary, identifying mitigative actions for management's improvement of the investigated asset. The strength of this tool is represented by the possibility to maximize the production of the system and operate the surface assets in a reliable way, evaluating the real application of the solution identified. The integrated workflow has been applied to a real case study, showing the power of the optimization algorithms and the importance of the fluid-dynamic check workflow. This work presents technical improvements for definition of field potential, production optimization, de-bottlenecking activities, asset management.
