Abstract
Unexpected power supply interruptions in the Shushufindi-Aguarico field represent a major issue for production and logistics. Although these interruptions are not frequent, they can severely affect operations, and because of the remote well locations, mobilization and security coordination, and HSE exposure starting-up the wells can be a challenge. To overcome these constraints, a solution was required that would enable remote well startups, reducing downtime and deferred production by 72%.
A process has been setup where a surveillance service identifies an interruption, proceeds with remote start-up, and finally confirms restarting. Using this service one can monitor operations and quickly take action in the event of a power supply interruption. After one such interruption, the control room received confirmation from the local engineering team to proceed with the remote well startup. The team used the surveillance service to confirm remote access to each well and identify when each well had started up. After restarting all the wells, the surveillance service was used to monitor performance during the stabilization period.
Use of the real-time surveillance service, together with support from the Artificial Lift Surveillance Centre, enables the engineering team to monitor operations prior to the interruption, remotely restart the wells, and confirm the wells had successfully restarted after the interruption. As a result, the 42 wells were started up in a record time of just 2.8 hours, instead of the estimated 16.8 hours if they were started up without the remote intervention of the engineering team.
This paper explains how the real-time surveillance helps improve the run life and uptime of Electrical Submersible Pumps (ESP) and so reduces production deferment in the Shushufindi-Aguarico wells of the Ecuadorian Oriental basin. The implementation of a robust surveillance workflow, together with real-time surveillance and an alarm notification system, has been shown to be effective in increasing ESP run life. It does by classification of alarms and the fast diagnostics of main root causes that helps to promptly identify remedial actions and/or recommendations. This workflow prevents the ESP from being operated outside its recommended operating conditions and experiencing excessive stress, reducing start/stops and downtime, and improving the downhole chemical injection program for scale inhibition.
