1. Gas-Lift Automation Breakout Session
Summary of Discussion
Facilitated by
Cleon Dunham
Oilfield Automation Consulting

2. Gas-Lift Automation Breakout Session Panel of Experts
AppSmiths Dwayne Vetter
eProduction Solutions Greg Stephenson
Petrobras Edson Henrique Bolonhini
Feb. 24, 2005
2005 Spring Gas-Lift Workshop

3. Gas-Lift Automation Breakout Session Automation Outlook
All agree that automation outlook is positive
But, what is definition of automation?
Monitoring
Monitoring and control
These plus optimization
These plus more – e.g. information exchange
How can automation be justified?
Detailed studies
Believe benefits from previous installations
Difficult to convince some managers
Maybe difficult to justify for old fields
Guidelines needed!
Feb. 24, 2005
2005 Spring Gas-Lift Workshop

4. Gas-Lift Automation Breakout Session Automation Outlook
Where automation is easily justified
Many wells to be operated
Need to improve operation – keep it running
Special challenges – e.g. deep water
Feb. 24, 2005
2005 Spring Gas-Lift Workshop

5. Gas-Lift Automation Breakout Session Barriers / Challenges
People
Training, Empowerment
Technology uptake
Applies to all staff – managers, engineers, operators
Technology
Technology is available
Often out pacing people’s understanding / use
But more technology is needed for automatic control
Acceptance
Issue in “new” Petrobras companies, e.g. Venezuela
Feb. 24, 2005
2005 Spring Gas-Lift Workshop

6. 2005 Spring Gas-Lift Workshop
Gas-Lift Automation Breakout Session Detailed Notes Taken by Flavia Correiro
Full vs. partial automation.
Monitoring, controlling, and integration.
What level/degree of automation is necessary to work better?
Operators aren’t trained to work automated systems.
The answer is, “the best system is that which has worked for a majority of people.”
Experience of staff is important.
The goal is to be profitable as much as possible.
If possible, decrease the CAPEX using automation, mainly when there is a large number of wells.
Costs before and after automation must be studied.
How can the gains be measured when some parts are automated and some are not?
Best practices: people from different companies coming & learning together.
Feb. 24, 2005
2005 Spring Gas-Lift Workshop

7. 2005 Spring Gas-Lift Workshop
Gas-Lift Automation Breakout Session Detailed Notes Taken by Flavia Correiro
A project has been performed to how people in the field analyze their wells.
Automation (2 classes). (1) Optimization, increased production, or (2) operational use to unload wells, minimize downtime.
It is possible to only optimize gas-lift monitoring.
We need to use monitoring, and after that analysis.
We have to use the right equipment.
If you use one person per well to provide manual monitoring, the boss will why automation is not being used.
The main object is to “keep it running!” After that, “keep it running the best way.”
Personnel training is important.
Standards and guidelines for analysis of automated wells are needed.
Need to use as much information as possible to increase production.
Feb. 24, 2005
2005 Spring Gas-Lift Workshop

8. 2005 Spring Gas-Lift Workshop
Gas-Lift Automation Breakout Session Detailed Notes Taken by Flavia Correiro
Resistance in the organization – management, operations – must be broken.
Cost of production and losses --- automation is a tool, maintain control of the process is the objective.
The first step is to convince managements of the benefits.
Commitment and prediction of failures is the best thing, not only a management crisis.
It may be difficult to justify automation in old fields.
It is necessary to obtain information that gives the real situation base design of the automation system on this information.
Do it step by step.
Feb. 24, 2005
2005 Spring Gas-Lift Workshop