Optimization of the North Kuwait Jurassic Gas Integrated Production System - Modelling, Optimization, Impact

Abstract Production System Optimization (PSO), an established Industry best practice for well, reservoir and facility management (WRFM) has been implemented for the North Kuwait Jurassic Gas (NKJG) asset with the objective to review, model and optimize the integrated production system (IPS). The focus of this paper is to describe the IPS, the modelling strategy, model results and the impact of PSO in NKJG. The NKJG IPS consists of eleven fractured carbonate HPHT sour gas fields, with the majority of production coming from Middle Marat reservoir layers, approximately 270 producer wells, an extensive flowline network and six production facilities. The IPS was reviewed and modelled following a field-by-field approach starting with the relatively smaller Dhabi (DA) and Abdali (AD) fields, followed by upscaling and refining the reviews and models to the larger North-West Raudhatain (NWRA), Raudhatain (RA), Sabriyah (SA) and Umm Niqqa (UN) fields. Integrated production system modeling (IPSM) was conducted to quantify constraints in the IPS, construct limit diagrams and to estimate PSO gains from removing well, flowline network and facility constraints. Well modelling was conducted to assess well flow stability at larger choke sizes. Reservoir modelling was conducted to assess the long-term sustainability of optimization gains. Based on PSO gain estimates, opportunities were ranked, prioritized and executed. Incremental gains were measured and compared with estimates. IPSM modelling demonstrated that the key opportunities to optimize the NKJG IPS are choke optimizations, flowline de-commingling and reducing facility inlet pressure, the largest PSO potential is in the largest field and that the flowline network is the dominating constraint only one medium-size field. Well modelling confirmed flow stability at larger choke sizes for the majority of identified bean-up opportunities. Only a limited number of choke optimization opportunities exist in fields with water production where gas well deliquification is required to restore and optimize well performance. Field-level reservoir modelling showed that PSO gains are sustainable in the long term. Realizing priority opportunities has contributed to achieving an asset gas production record. It was concluded that the integrated use of IPSM, well and reservoir models for PSO has generated an improved understanding of the NKJG IPS and, combined with effective opportunity management has a substantial impact on asset performance.