Abstract
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate how the real-time infrastructure implemented by ORNCEM as a part of its automation and technical data acquisition architectures is supporting a continuous improvement for production optimization processes.
ORNCEM is responsible for Sacha oilfield exploration and production activities in Ecuador, which is the location of this project and where the entire infrastructure has been deployed and implemented, including software, hardware, telecommunications, personnel, and facilities.
The ORNCEM technical platform is based on a robust telecommunications infrastructure that provides enough accessibility for real-time data acquisition from installed devices throughout the field. Optical fiber is the technology applied to develop the industrial network to improve response time. Hardware is implemented based on the actual and future operational requirements to provide stability and scalability. Specialized applications are implemented to provide tools that help users execute complex tasks, integrate activities into workflows, and store data in a centralized repository where access can be configured based on specific requirements defined by user roles.
The oil industry has experienced drastic changes that have modified business rules, and the optimization resource is one of the parameters to evaluate efficiency in this industry. Aligned to this fact, ORNCEM is working to achieve improvement in three main areas: response time in critical situations, electric submersible pump (ESP) cycle and runtime life, and ESP performance analysis. Real-time monitoring activities enable production personnel to detect any abnormal behavior in wells that can affect production rates and to deploy a correct response for the event in record times. By evaluating ESP features and its optimal performance range and by analyzing well behavior data and well test information, it is possible to increase pump efficiency, lifetime, and runtime cycle. Also, managing electric power consumption compared with volume of fluid produced in wells and working with ESP artificial lift are important factors to determine and evaluate efficiency of production activities and to optimize cost per produced oil barrel.
