Advanced Well Test Advisory System and Virtual Flow Metering to Improve Production Allocation and Well Surveillance. A Success Case in a Major Middle East Oil Company

Abstract This paper demonstrates a successful example of a technology pilot that solved technical challenges related to well testing and production allocation. Two tools, called i-WellTest and WellAware, were developed in nearly 3 month that supports well testing process from start to finish, including prioritization by exception based on real time well head parameters, smart guidance, scheduling, live monitoring, automated validation, as well as provide six alternates well rate estimation methods including one AI. Accurate well allocation ensures efficient production performance. Engineers struggle to accurately estimate daily well rates, well statuses, and effectively identify underperforming wells due to limited access to well sensor data and absence of integrated production systems. This results in undetected production issues, and high uncertainty on well allocation factors, especially for gas lifted wells. Working collaboratively with Palantir, 10 oil producers were selected, equipped with sensors able to get well head parameters, choke size, gas lift rates, valve status and MPFM readings. Pilot was conducted in two phases: first month discovering the value, and second month validating it. i-WellTest is a real time application designed to assist engineers prior, during and after a test is conducted. It includes prioritization, scheduling, online validation, and report automation to optimize the entire well test process. Wells are to be tested by exception when their performance changes significantly, and while being on test, i-WellTest provides advice to engineers on the issues of optimal stabilization time, test duration, quality of the results, and the final validation. All of these issues are tackled by using a combination of online, data driven models and pattern recognition being fed by real time data from well and testing facilities. i-WellTest makes the Well Testing process more transparent for the teams involved by allowing engineers to operate from a common view of the world which provides a granular understanding of well tests. This has led to the opportunity of reducing testing durations which, if taken, could translate into a significant reduction of Field deferred production. Well test advisory system and virtual flow metering provides an unprecedented solution for long lasting technical challenges and limitations, in roughly three months it was accomplished what normally would have taken a year or more. Our engineers can now see things, do things, and work collaboratively in ways they could not have before. It demonstrated success case on how real technical issues can be addressed quickly by embracing cutting edge technologies.