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Scale formation monitoring
A data-derived approach to locating scale formation and calculating rate
Problem: Scale formation, most commonly calcium carbonate, impacts well productivity and flow efficiency. With limited instrumentation to record scale formation, operators are either forced to wait for an issue or pre-emptively invest in chemical scale inhibition which can materially impact opex.
One operator approached Eigen to take a data-derived approach to scale formation monitoring and management.
Solution: Eigen’s approach, using its new Ingenuity 7 platform, was to integrate multiple sources of reservoir and well pressure data into a single dashboard to determine scale build up using simple analytics.
By configuring visual key performance indicators using a range of more than 25 built-in calculations, engineers are able to visualise information that would have taken months to prepare.
Visualising trends over time of real versus simulated bottom hole pressure (BHP) and differential pressure across multiple well chokes, grouped by reservoir, the operator was able to infer more precisely where growth in scale formation was taking place.
Long term trends of the measured BHP are compared to the values imported from a simulation. Gradual increases in BHP are associated with scale formation in the tubing, which result in low well productivity. Eventually, a scale squeeze treatment is scheduled to restore the well’s production to full capacity.
At the other end of the production stream, the pressure drop accros the production choke is monitored for all wells and trended along with other wells in the same formation. Clear indicators of well status and delta-pressure rate of change, and mini trends called sparklines provide an easy visual way of spotting problems.
Impact: With all related information in one place for the first time, the operator was able to take a more targeted approach to intervention – using both chemical inhibitors and planned maintenance.
By taking a data-derived approach to identifying the rate and location of scale formation, the operations team was able to invest more efficiently and deploy engineering staff to other more valuable tasks than hunting data and building spreadsheets.
More efficient deployment of both engineering staff and chemical inhibitions drives down costs for the operator whilst preserving the integrity of the infrastructure and operation.
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