How can you balance well integrity and production optimization?

In upstream of petroleum engineering, well integrity means ensuring that the wellbore remains structurally functional, preventing any unplanned discharge of fluids or gas to maintain environmental safety and operational security.

Well integrity is maintaining full control of fluids within a well at all times, in order to prevent unintended fluid movement or loss of containment to the environment. Well integrity policy defines commitments and obligations to safeguard health, safety, environment, assets, and reputation.

There are different definitions of what is Well Integrity. The most widely accepted definition is Application of technical, operational and organizational solutions to reduce risk of uncontrolled release of formation fluids throughout the life cycle of a well.

Balancing well integrity and production optimization involves implementing robust monitoring systems, conducting regular well inspections, using predictive analytics, and adopting preventive maintenance practices. This ensures the sustainable performance of the well while maximizing production efficiency.

Integridade de po?o se refere aos conjuntos de procedimentos, testes e ferramentas utilizados com a fun??o de diminuir ou prevenir danos a estrutura ou a funcionalidade de um po?o, de forma que as atividades realizadas durante a constru??o e produ??o estejam dentro das normas de seguran?a operacional e ambiental vigentes.

Well integrity management refers to the processes and practices involved in ensuring that oil, gas, and geothermal wells are designed, constructed, operated, and maintained in a manner that prevents the uncontrolled release of formation fluids throughout the life cycle of the well. This includes the prevention of leaks, blowouts, and other incidents that could result in environmental harm, injury, or financial loss. Overall, effective well integrity management is crucial for the safe and responsible operation of oil, gas, and geothermal wells, as well as for protecting the environment and surrounding communities.

Well Integrity become more essential nowadays. It is not only because of the rules or reference. But awareness of the operator to the investment vs cost and "image" impact later. For new project, it shall be straight forward and easier to set the well integrity management in order to have optimum production. But for brown field, set up well integrity management is quite challenging. But to ensure minimum dual barrier during the remain well life plus PnA respectively to remain economic limit of the well.

Well integrity begins in design stage of well by creating pore pressure volume built from automatic high density, high resolution continuous seismic interval velocities corrected using a scalar calculated from comparing seismic or horizontal velocities to vertical velocities (sonics) with scalar representing anisotropy. Can then design to drill underbalanced preventing loss of circulation, formation fluid flows will enter wellbore & flow to surface, ROP increases reducing time, & reduces formation damage & water loss. To build pore pressure volume need: mud logs & drilling reports from nearby wells, seismic & identification of production zones in area. Most importantly input from all from geologists to drilling engineers sharing knowledge.

I recommend regular inspections and downhole cameras for proactive well integrity monitoring. One work occurrence taught us the value of anticipating problems and improved our approach. Regular testing helped identify issues early and fix them. Well integrity management—design, construction, operation, maintenance, and abandonment—ensures well structural integrity. Continuous improvement requires being current on new technology. A comprehensive, lifecycle-focused plan solves existing concerns and avoids future ones, ensuring the well's long-term integrity and efficiency.

En cuanto al enfoque multidisciplinario, se debe hacer énfasis entre los propios departamentos técnicos, no solamente los evidentes como perforación, completamiento y producción, si no los propios reservoristas y geólogos. Un claro ejemplo, es cuando vamos a perforar a través de debemos una formación normalmente no presurizada, pero permeable. Si esta comunica con otro pozo en el que se está inyectando en dicha formación, potencialmente puede derivar en un influjo no deseado en el nuevo pozo.

The production optimisation to large extent involves Clear process ( set up workflows), Technology and people This set up should form the complete process cycle for the oil and gas company

Routine checks and monitoring of sustained casing pressures. Scheduled maintenance of DHSV etc. If well integrity is undermined or neglected it will utimately leads to loss of assets.

In the oil and gas industry, production optimization means making oil and gas extraction more efficient. This involves using different methods and technologies to get the most out of wells, save costs, and improve overall performance while staying safe and eco-friendly.

Production optimization, in the context of the oil and gas industry, refers to the process of maximizing the efficiency and output of hydrocarbon production from wells and fields. The goal of production optimization is to increase productivity, reduce costs, and enhance overall operational performance. This process involves the use of various technologies, techniques, and strategies to improve the performance of oil and gas assets. Production optimization aims to maximize the value of oil and gas assets by improving production efficiency, reducing operational costs, and extending the economic life of producing fields. This is achieved through a combination of technical expertise, advanced technologies, and continuous improvement processes.

As operation management focuses on production maximization because of the profit yield to the operational goals, well integrity must not be overlooked or neglected. Over years experience has shown that management are very keen on production profits and maximization, while giving little or no time to well integrity concern. Forgetting that well integrity depreciation can cause environmental damage , human fatality and long term closure or production wells. It then very important to drive a planned maintenance inspection or routing inspection to ensure any well integrity issue is reported and addressed ASAP

Well production optimization involves addressing various challenges, such as reservoir management, production efficiency, and cost reduction. Common optimization problems include maximizing oil or gas recovery, minimizing production costs, managing reservoir pressure, and optimizing well placement to enhance overall field performance. Techniques like reservoir simulation, artificial lift optimization, and data analytics are employed to tackle these challenges and improve the economic and operational aspects of oil and gas production.

As bp referred to this as life of fields & involves real-time monitoring to pick up on subtle changes within reservoir during production so changes can be made quickly to prevent damage. This involves use of Distributed Fibre Optic Sensing (DFOS), IoT, big data & machine learning. DFOS allows for better reservoir characterization & optimizes production control. With DFOS there is better production history matching. 4D seismic are used to monitor changes within the reservoir to understand flow during production and placement of subsequent wells. This is achieved by mapping changes in reservoir overtime. Impact of this measured through increase in production overtime, revitalization of nearly depleted reservoirs & improved economics.

Complex reservoirs: Understanding and managing. Wellbore and Flow Assurance: Smooth reservoir-to-surface fluid flow. Maintaining manufacturing equipment dependability. Economics: Balancing output and operating expenses. My experience has been that regulatory compliance and environmental requirements are difficult. Implementing sustainable practices while maximizing production is tricky. Complex data management, especially processing massive real-time data for decision-making, may be difficult. To overcome production optimization difficulties, workforce competence and a trained staff fluent in new technologies are essential.

When it comes to production optimization, there are a few challenges that operators commonly face. Some of these challenges include: 1. Declining Production 2. Reservoir Complexity 3. Equipment Reliability 4. Cost Management 5. Environmental Considerations 6. Data Management and Analysis These are just a few examples of the challenges faced in production optimization. Each field and operation may have its unique set of challenges.

Dentro de los desafíos que enfrentamos al considerar una mejora de la producción de un pozo tenemos: Complejidad geológica y heterogeneidad del yacimiento; Mantenimiento de la presión del yacimiento para maximizar la recuperación; Interferencia en la producción de los pozos; Problemas de Conificación; Selección adecuada del Sistema de Levantamiento; Condiciones Mecánicas del Pozo; Costos Operativos, y por último y no menos importante, la Adaptabilidad de la Producción a las condiciones del mercado internacional, lo que constituye un factor clave que influye en la industria petrolera para mantener su viabilidad económica.

Taking a holistic and integrated approach is crucial, and it involves various considerations such as risk analysis, material and equipment selection, monitoring, inspections, and maintenance. By following these practices, operators can ensure that production optimization activities do not compromise the integrity of the well.

Advanced Reservoir Modeling: Understanding reservoir dynamics using complicated models. Installing and employing real-time monitoring systems to track and assess well performance. ? Artificial lift techniques: Increasing well production. ? Data analytics for predictive maintenance and decision-making. Digital twin technology offers a virtual manufacturing system for real-time inspection and optimization. Automation and smart control improve efficiency. Collaboration between academia and business is essential for innovation. Continuous workforce training helps workers adopt new technologies for production efficiency.

As valuable as production optimisation gains are, it should never be done at the expense of well integrity especially if it leads to major consequences. Producing volume safely is the key to ensure the company maintains not only its source of revenue, but also its reputation and subsequently License To Operate. At the working level, it’s imperative that every single effort to increase production is done whilst ensuring well integrity is not compromised. Some of the questions to ask yourself during every production optimisation initiative e.g. increasing drawdown are as follows: - Will this compromise any existing well barriers? - Have I checked for any existing well-integrity MOCs or standing instructions for this well?

? Risk Assessment: Assess the possible hazards to the integrity of the well and the optimization of production, taking into account elements such as the conditions of the reservoir, the design of the well, and operating parameters. ? Unified Planning: Formulate a comprehensive plan that takes into account both the objectives of maintaining well integrity and optimizing output, ensuring that the pursuit of one objective does not undermine the other. ? Regular Inspections: Perform routine inspections and testing to rapidly detect any integrity concerns and rectify them without compromising production efficiency. ? Remedial Measures: Implement corrective actions with little effect on production, giving priority to safety and integrity.

I would say that each one of them is a nightmare to the other. You need to get the well more integrable producing the maximum oil possible or maximum potentiality with less operational and flow problems while you need to consider different factors as a part of the production optimization plan. Optimization and integrity are both important and crucial for a reservoir long life run.

Achieving an adequate equilibrium between well integrity and production optimization is paramount in the oil and gas industry. Best well integrity practices, including regular inspections, cement evaluation, and corrosion monitoring, are essential to prevent leaks and maintain long-term wellbore stability. Get it done at the right time. A strategic approach to production optimization involves maximizing hydrocarbon recovery, enhancing reservoir performance, and minimizing operational costs. Harmonizing these objectives requires a strategy that integrates advanced technologies for real-time monitoring and data analytics. Best well designs, predictive maintenance, and automation, we can enhance production while safeguarding well integrity

By expedite solving the problem according to the costs of solution and the gain after solution. For example if it needs new workover and it will cost 10 millions while the well is very low rate and hi water cut, so no need to pay such amount in solving its problem while if the well hi potential and deserve like producing 3 MBD so we can go ahead for solution whater costs are.

Well integrity considerations will always upstage production optimization. Logically, without a secure and safe well, there cannot be any sustained production. The most effective way to ensure these two are aligned to maximize value over the life of the well is by accommodating (as much as practically feasible) all production life-cycle scenarios in the Project/well design phase.

Well integrity should be tested frequently and be part of any intervention and should not be taken for granted. Wells may lose their integrity even if they are sitting idle for years and as we have seen recently in W. Texas after they have been permanently abandoned. Future CCS wells pose the biggest challenge in well integrity and offer almost no lessons learned yet as this practice has been just introduced.

Top management shall have buy in of well integrity management system and regular monitoring followed by actions is required. Good O&G companies have strict rules related to well integrity and deviations are managed by MOC or exemptions.

Well integrity is about having barriers to prevent uncontrolled flow of reservoir fluids. Well integrity requirements should be planned during design and implemented during construction, operations, maintenance and abandonment phases. Likewise, production optimization requires optimal well construction and debottlenecking flow path from pore to tank to ensure lowest OPEX per barrel. Well integrity and production optimization needs of every well can be met, as these are not mutually exclusive. The key is in choosing and implementing the most optimal system design for anticipated flow stream and well lifecycle.

Well integrity maintenance can be achieved by implementing a well integrity management system (WIMS), which is a systematic approach to plan, execute, monitor, and evaluate the activities and operations related to well integrity. A WIMS can help to identify and mitigate the risks and challenges associated with well integrity, and to ensure compliance with the regulations and standards. A WIMS can also help to improve the operational efficiency and reduce the operational costs of the well. Check out Asiaserv Service for WIMS ????