A Systems Approach to Production Management: Beryl Field Case Study

Abstract When Beryl Field gas sales commenced in 1992, a production management system was implemented to ensure that gas sales targets were met without compromising oil production rates. This paper describes the operator's experience in establishing this system. In the Beryl Field, systems analysis techniques are applied in both the data gathering and well modelling procedures. This approach has resulted in significant improvements in both the quality of field data and the accuracy of model predictions. The production system model is used for optimising lift gas allocation, production forecasting for normal and maintenance scenarios and workover planning. The evolution of the production management system is described and its application to routine operations and special projects is illustrated by examples. The techniques described are general and can be applied to all production optimisation applications. Introduction Production optimisation is as much a culture as a technology. For any production optimisation initiative to succeed, the entire organisation must accept responsibility for data gathering and interpretation. This paper describes changes in the operating environment that catalysed the development of this system, along with the operators approach to data acquisition, the management of the collected and interpreted data, well model construction and maintenance practices, and the cultural elements which influenced the Beryl Field optimisation project. The resulting production management system has significantly increased production efficiencies and today, is a reliable component of the Beryl Field design, decision and implementation processes. Background The Beryl field, located in Block 9/13 of the UK sector of the North Sea, has produced approximately 650 MMSTB of oil and 700 Bcf of gas since production commenced in June 1976. The Beryl A Condeep structure, which contains the crude storage and loading facilities, has two separation trains each capable of handling 70 MSTB/D of oil, 60 MSTB/D of produced water and 300 MMscf/D of gas. The Beryl B platform, which began production in 1984, has a single separator train with a throughput capacity of 70 MSTB/D of oil, 60 MSTB/D of produced water and 200 MMscf/D of gas. On both platforms, gas compression capacity is the limiting production constraint. P. 199