Abstract
Realistic modelling is essential for both the planning and the optimal operation of Oil and Gas Fields. Such a model for modern well or field development architecture requires coupling of the reservoir simulator with the well/surface facility network model when making choices as to the reservoir and production management strategies to be employed. Such close coupling is not, currently, readily available; particularly when the reservoir simulator, the well/surface facility simulator and, potentially, the optimiser programs are provided by different suppliers.
We have had the opportunity to test a newly developed "link tool" to integrate the reservoir simulation model with a subsurface/surface network model, allowing (automatic) optimisation of the full network performance. The tool supplies the simulation results to the surface network simulator/optimiser, which in turn, reconfigures the intelligent well completion zones by use of Individual Control Valves (ICVs) and wellhead or manifold in order to maximise the total production against the well and facility constraints. The network targets are then returned to the reservoir simulator in a simple manner at each time step.
The authors have used the S-Field over a number of years which proved to be a very suitable case study for illustration of the value of "Intelligent" Field development techniques. This paper discusses the automatic, optimal control of the S-Field's five intelligent production wells by application of a "link tool" (Supplier 1) to couple the reservoir simulator (Supplier 2) with a surface network modeller and optimiser (Supplier 3). N.B. The latter two suppliers are among the market leaders within their segments.
