Overview
The real-time monitoring, model updating and optimal control of oil and gas fields is known in the industry by various names, including Smart Fields, i-fields, e-fields, closed-loop reservoir management, etc. Such a system could be implemented in existing fields or in new fields that are developed by using optimization techniques to determine the location, number and type of wells.
It may also be possible in the future to have field development and operation in one continuous optimization loop. The implementation of such advanced technologies in large and complex oil and gas fields requires several key developments. Service companies and producing companies have already developed and continue to develop techniques for drilling and completing advanced wells, including long horizontal and deviated wells, multilateral wells and wells with control devices.
Monitoring techniques have also been advancing at a fast rate, with relatively inexpensive sensors coming on the market for measuring pressure, temperature, stress and flow rates (single and multiphase) anywhere in the system (including downhole, as depicted below). Optimum development and operation of fields designed and equipped with such new hardware will also require significant advances in software technologies.
Image courtesy of Halliburton
Some of the software technologies can be adopted from other industries, but the nature of the problem requires new research and development. Some of the areas where developments are needed are:
- Optimization techniques for determining initial field development and continuous development over the life of the field. This includes determining where and when to drill, the design of the wells to be drilled and the type of monitoring needed Also, what kind of monitoring will be needed and when? Risk assessment and decision making techniques will have to be developed for aiding management.
- In real-time monitoring huge quantities of data are produced. Efficient and reliable techniques for data filtering and assimilation are required.
- How to continuously update various models (e.g., geological, relative permeability, thermodynamic description of fluids, and multiphase flow in wells and facilities). Real-time model calibration could greatly improve future predictions.
- Very fast reservoir simulators and suitable proxies for spanning the space of possibilities for finding the optimum.
- Effective integration of repeated geophysical remote-sensing data (e.g. seismic, gravity, electro-magnetic, …) into the reservoir updating and optimization process.
- Integration of all of the above in the closed-loop system depicted below.
We propose to create a multidisciplinary, multi-department Industrial Affiliates Program to initiate research in the areas identified above.
The scope of the project is restricted to the development of methodologies. This program includes research groups from the School of Earth Science (SES) as well as other groups outside SES. The program is housed in the Stanford Center for Computational Earth and Environmental Science (CEES) and supervised by the Energy Resources Engineering department (ERE).
Several major oil and gas producers and large service companies are currently affiliated with the consortium (see a complete list). The proposed membership fee for the oil companies will be $50,000 per year for companies that belong to at least one of the four programs: SUPRI-B, SUPRI-D, SUPRI-HW, and SCRF. Otherwise the membership fee will be $100,000 per year.
The program will be reviewed after 5 years to see if it should be continued and in what form. We are however asking the companies to fund the project on annual basis (with the right to terminate their membership at anytime). Students from various departments and centers will participate in this research.
