Semi-automated well interventions and units allocation scheduler

Abstract

Oil and gas production operational activities are increasing due to number of smaller fields with same production target. In Gulf of Thailand, oil and gas formations are small pockets, thus the activity levels are relatively high leading to more time and complicated operation sequence scheduling. The proposed Linear programming (LP) optimization model with binary variable is constructed of CPLEX optimizer program. This study aims to develop LP model to optimize unit scheduling semi-automatically and apply it to well intervention and unit operation sequence optimization of an oil and gas production field in Thailand. Electric line unit, slick line unit and well interventions done by these units are involved. Well interventions duration and units mobilization time are also included. Solving binary variable allows unit and job sequences shuffle to yield minimum solution which the model’s constraints are satisfied. Multiple model inputs are changed to validate the model. Total unit utilization time and total finished time minimization are scheduler’s most suitable objective function. Both number of event point and due date constraints affect model’s search space which may change the solution of scheduler. The scheduler also reduces time usage and complexity resulting in more efficient and better management of units operation of oil and gas production field.The validated optimization model is applied to field well intervention operation case. The scheduler has identified optimization opportunity of selected field case. Furthermore, several sensitivity analysis cases of operational options and operation uncertainties are performed.