A Data-Driven Alarming and Control Advisory System to Improve Well Performance

Modern wells provide vast amounts of pressure and rate data from permanent downhole gauges and flow meters. However, transforming these datasets into actionable insights that improve well performance remains challenging. Recently developed automated well monitoring workflow employs time-lapse pressure transient analysis to derive proxy PTA-metrics that quantify well performance profiles, separating well and reservoir contributions.

Building on these performance profiles, this paper proposes a data-driven alarming and control advisory system designed to transform well monitoring data into actionable insights, facilitating timely well intervention and control decisions to enhance well performance. This system comprises three components: 1) performance anomalies detection with suggested possible causes and recommended reactive remedial actions; 2) diagnostic support, which links performance indicators to operational parameters; 3) control advisory that provides optimal operating envelopes for operational parameters, proactively helping to prevent potential performance issues.

A prototype of the alarming and control advisory system has been developed and was used to demonstrate the concept on a horizontal water injector on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The case study highlights how integrating the automated well performance monitoring with alarming and advisory capabilities can empower engineers to make timely, actionable decisions that safeguard and improve well performance.