Advance Lifting Technology for Continuous Reservoir Monitoring and Production Optimization in Real Time – Aghar 04 Pilot Project Case Studies

Abstract Permanent Downhole Gauges (PDG) can play great roles in production optimization as well as reservoir continuous monitoring and management. Data obtained from these gauges or sensors can give useful information to applications, including but not limited to monitoring artificial lift performance, pressure monitoring, transient well testing, and evaluation of well performance. Reservoir continuous monitoring, production losses mitigation, pump optimization and benefits from detection or prevention to early failure have been considered overcoming short-term concerns about cost containment during economic downturn. This paper presents case studies based on a pilot project deployed by Agiba Petroleum Company and Schlumberger in Aghar-4 field, Western Desert, Egypt. This field consists of three producers that are equipped with permanent downhole gauge and integrated real time system connecting bottom hole sensor technology to some essential surface measurement capability. Aghar-4 is a promising heavy oil field with a total of 13 wells drilled and being produced by sucker rod pumping to the date of the study. Aghar 4-1 was commissioned in January 2009 and is the first well in the Middle East operating with the intelligent downhole monitoring system application. This success story in Aghar 4-1 implied the installation of two more systems in Aghar 4-4 and Aghar 4-12. Later in October 2009, Aghar 4-12 made its history as the first world sucker rod well integrating downhole sensor, surface controller, and real time PC web-based satellite transmitted interface monitoring system. Artificial lift downhole equipment failures often occur within a relatively short period causing reduced or deferred production. Continuous real time monitoring of the environment in and around pumps will significantly improve production through a proactive surveillance and optimization of artificial lift operations.