Emerson Process Management has launched the latest version of its production management system, Roxar Fieldwatch 3.0. It comes with a number of new intelligent reservoir management features in the areas of sand erosion control and will provide important operational data to production and reservoir engineers as they look to increase production performance.
Operators receive thousands of false alarms from erosion probes each year, with changes in temperatures, production regimes and other noise such as electromagnetic interference being the main causes.
Roxar Fieldwatch 3.0 comes with innovative smart alarm software consisting of a new filtering and temperature compensation algorithm as well as signal stability and trend analysis software that assesses how trustworthy each sand erosion measurement is.
The result will be a dramatic reduction in the number of false alarms from erosion probes.
Testing of the smart alarm software on historical data from a North Sea field has seen the suppression of 99 per cent of false alarms, while retaining 100 per cent of the genuine alarms. [Page Break]
Virtual erosion sensors
Fieldwatch 3.0 will also enable operators to install virtual erosion sensors within their production system - particularly to monitor bends, T-bends and reducers in areas where it is difficult to deploy physical sensors.
With the virtual sensors, users can configure the geometry and input pressure and temperature values that best represent the virtual sensor's position and analyse in Fieldwatch 3.0, as they would with physical sensors.
While not as accurate as real sensors, the virtual erosion models can calculate important production information by inputting flow information, pressure and temperature data.
"Fieldwatch 3.0 is all about building greater intelligence into production management and giving production and reservoir engineers the tools and data to make better informed decisions," said Rune Sorhus, md of Roxar Fieldwatch at Emerson Process Management.
"The new features we are announcing today will not only help operators confront the age-old threats of sand and corrosion but also generate crucial improved information for reservoir and production engineers in relation to metering, production allocation, and choke settings.
The end result will be more intelligent management of the reservoir and its processes, the transformation of data into intelligent and easy to use information, and increased production." [Page Break]
Filtering functions
Roxar Fieldwatch 3.0 also comes with a number of improved usability features including new filtering and search functions where users can filter out pressures and well structures, for example, and faster access to recently viewed items. Different production systems can also be grouped together more intuitively in terms of how they relate to groups of wells and instruments.
Roxar Fieldwatch collects, monitors, visualises and analyses data from a range of sensors and instruments for operators to have a more complete picture of the reservoir and production system, and provides data input to reservoir and production engineers when making reservoir management decisions relating to metering, production allocation or choke settings.
It includes a series of custom-built modules in the areas of flow assurance, sand and erosion, corrosion, and virtual flow metering.
Fieldwatch's distributed and modular architecture enables easy remote access for all users needing access to detailed readings, configuration and diagnostics data from Roxar instruments. [Page Break]
Power link
ABB has changed the way that automation is powered at BP's Valhall multi-platform complex in the North Sea after successfully commissioning a power link between it and the southern Norwegian mainland grid.
The HVDC Light (high-voltage direct current) link is a highly reliable, cable based state-of-the-art power transmission system that will enable power from shore to supply the offshore complex.
The power link will allow BP to substitute the use of offshore gas turbines to generate electric power thereby eliminating up to 300000t/y of carbon dioxide - equivalent to the annual emissions of around 125000 modern European cars.
Duncan MacLeod, power from shore project manager at BP in Norway, said: "Replacing gas turbine generators with power from the shore supplied through this HVDC link means that we lower our operating and maintenance costs significantly. It also enhances safety and facilitates risk management through the elimination of gas ignition sources."
Other advantages include improvements in the working environment by eliminating exhaust fumes and lowering platform noise and vibration levels," he added. [Page Break]
Converter station
The installation includes one converter station onshore connected by an HVDC submarine cable to a second converter on the platform, about 294km offshore. It allows 78MW of power to be supplied from the mainland to run the field facilities, including a new production and living quarter platform (Fig.1).
The new platform is being commissioned by BP to replace some of the existing platforms at the Valhall oil and gas field during the next year.
"HVDC Light is a reliable, efficient and proven technology that enables remote platforms to receive power from shore, avoiding fossil fuel-based offshore generation," said Martin Gross, head of the grid systems business, a part of ABB's power systems division." It is also ideal for connecting remote offshore wind farms to mainland networks, overcoming distance limitations and grid constraints, while ensuring minimal electrical losses and efficient performance." [Page Break]
Maintenance and modification
ABB has also signed a three-year frame agreement worth US$33 million with BP Norway for maintenance, modification and service of the safety and automation systems of all of its oil field operations on the Norwegian continental shelf. The agreement includes the option to extend for ten additional two-year terms.
Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB's process automation division, said: "Our long history in improving oil and gas operations and our successful working relationship with BP Norway were key factors to win this important agreement.
"ABB offers the technology, services, and industry expertise to help oil and gas customers extend the productive lifespan of their established oil field investments, as well as optimising the productivity of new resources."
ABB will provide system expertise for the safety and automation systems installed at BP's main field operations in Norway, Valhall and Ula, as well as remotely operated Hod and Tambar. Telecommunications systems at Skarv will also be covered by the agreement.
Optimised performance of safety and automation systems will extend the productive life of oil and gas fields, by increasing their production volumes, lowering operating costs, as well as ensuring process, personnel and environmental safety.
ABB will also provide simulation technology to increase overall safety and that will be used for staff training and testing of new functionality.
Tulsa-based eLynx Technologies, a leading provider of web-based monitoring and field automation services to the oil and gas industry, has introduced i4D to the market.
The i4D is a four-input discrete alarming device that uses Iridium's global satellite network for its communication, so it can be used in even the most remote locations.
The i4D antenna only has to have a view of the open sky in order to communicate status changes associated with compressors, tank levels, pumps, and any other well site equipment.
Real-time alarm notifications are then transmitted to operators via text, email or voice callout. [Page Break]
Critical alarms
Reliability is critical with alarming devices. The i4D has two built-in features that enable operators to rely on it for their critical alarming needs. The device will transmit a signal once a week to let users know it is functioning and the device will send its battery level every time it transmits data.
"The i4D is in high demand where critical alarms have to get through to the operators," said Ray McDaniel, manager of sales engineering for eLynx. "Limited cellular and radio infrastructure will no longer be a problem in receiving, acknowledging, and reacting to alarms.
