Integrated Production Systems Optimization: A mature Niger Delta Field Case Study

Integrated production system models are being applied to a lot of global liquid production in the petroleum industry today. The integrated systems are fit for purpose and essentially support decision making in any application they are used. Integrated models are typically combined systems of the reservoir models, well models and surface-network model in a single higher-level model. Production Systems should be designed for optimum performance of every component, which for oil and gas systems range from the reservoir, to the wellbore, up the surface facilities. Nodal Analysis, in conjunction with integrated production models, offer a cost effective means for having this desired performance, hence having more economic systems. This paper demonstrates the use of Nodal Analysis and an integrated production model, to optimize production in a mature Niger Delta field. Continuous declining rates have greatly limited the economics for routine production optimization activities. Therefore, an integrated model was built for the wells, reservoir and flow lines. It takes into account all the connectivity and varying dimensions of all the wells and flow lines in the field. The model, together with a systematic Nodal Analysis of the entire system, was used to identify common optimization challenges such as choke size selection, debottlenecking of flow lines, amidst others, and make good recommendations. Upon application, this approach enabled optimum increase of production rates for the field.