Field X's Journey to the Best-In-Class Performance, Using the Gap-To-Potential Approach

Abstract Field X is the largest oil field in Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), with the most wells and the highest production. It is also a very mature field, with many old wells and aging facilities. This means that it is important to manage the field carefully to maintain production and prevent decline. In 2020, Field X's performance was below industry standards. The subsurface unscheduled deferment was on the rise (reaching 3.7% of total field potential in 2020), the artificial lift failure index was high (28%), the number of closed-in wells (CIW) with potential was high (9.1%), and the oil gain from optimization activities was low (3.1%). To improve performance, the team embarked on a journey towards WRFM Excellence. They used a Gap to Potential (GtP) benchmarking approach to identify and address performance gaps. The team successfully executed their strategy, and Field X's WRM performance is now best-in-class. This was achieved through effective collaboration between different departments, agile work processes, the use of technology, automation, and visual management. Between 2020 and 2023, there has been a dramatic improvement in Field X's performance. For example, the subsurface unscheduled deferment rate has decreased from 3.7% to 2.1%, and some fields have achieved ZERO unscheduled subsurface deferment. The artificial lift failure index has also dropped from 28% to 18%, and the CIW stock has dropped from 9.1% to 4.6%. The oil gain from Optimization has even doubled, from 3.1% to 7.2%. In addition to these performance improvements, the successful deployment of the GPT approach also had a positive impact on Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE), as all projects were executed safely with zero lost time injuries. Furthermore, the conversion of 40 wells from beam pump to Long Stork Unites LSU resulted in a 40% reduction in energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Overall, the results of the GPT approach in Field X are very impressive. The team was able to achieve significant improvements in performance, HSE, and sustainability. This is a great example of how the GPT approach can be used to improve the performance of oil and gas fields. This paper reports on the successful implementation of the Field X Gap-to-Potential (GPT) approach, resulting in best-in-class performance.