Remote Automated Well Test Operation on Un-Manned Well-Head Tower to Achieve Operational Safety and Efficiency

Abstract

The unmanned operation in an offshore operating asset with large number of wells inherits a variety of operational and safety challenges, which demands innovation and emerging technology adoption. This paper demonstrates one of such operational activities related to well testing, where the value realized from mitigation of challenges brings significant process improvement in terms of safety and efficiency. Moreover, this paper also highlights the importance of planning and implementing such an initiative to overcome the process optimization challenges and associated change management risks.

The current process of well test operation requires the process engineer to divert the well strings by operating the valves manually to perform the test. The associated challenges related to the execution of such an operation were captured while devising the automated well test approach for remote WHT. This solution was formulated on a fallback strategy to retain the existing process in case of remote access failure. Using the SCADA system at the control location, the operator can execute the remote operation using a simplified process just by selecting a well and initiating the associated test operation.

This automated process enabled users to plan, execute, and control the well test operation seamlessly, realizing operational KPIs safely and efficiently. The manual interventions and related mistakes were minimized by using this automated approach. The interlock feature of the approach brought automation and operational efficiency to the process due to the system performing conditional checks on different associated equipment in this process. This significantly improved the manhour efforts and interlinked human errors, which could otherwise cause a significant loss of operational time and cost. The seamless integration with corporate data sources assured information flow from field to head offices fast and accurately, which adds to the process efficiency by avoiding human errors related to manual data handling. The integration aspect of this solution was unique as it was based on constant feedback and rigorous testing with end-users, along with robust architecture to incorporate various IT components and OT cybersecurity concerns.

The novelty of this solution was based on an approach that caters to the complexity, safety and process efficiency concerns of the current process when observed from the operational challenges associated with a giant producing field in a remote location. This brings the field in control and enables the asset operation team to plan the operations in a proactive manner, delivering quality outputs while achieving the critical operational KPIs.