Off-Shore Oil Platform Virtual Sensors Deployed

Using the Intellect 3.0 Server and tools, 24 virtual sensors; oil, water and gas for each of 8 wells, have been deployed on an oil production platform about 250 miles off-shore in the Gulf of Mexico. These virtual sensors provide engineers and asset managers a real-time view into how much oil, water and gas are being produced, rather than waiting for summarized steady-state well tests that are occasionally performed. The virtual sensors are audited using those well tests and also their sum is compared to platform-level production meters. These virtual meters enable the asset managers to reduce well testing so the platform can focus on its job: production.

As a secondary benefit, engineers and asset managers can see when abnormal conditions and production disturbances occur and can take the necessary actions before situations develop into problems. Also, the virtual sensor models are being analyzed to provide insights into production enhancement opportunities through lift-gas injection optimization.