Moscow headquartered Gazprom has established the Khantos upstream control center (UCC) that uses ‘digital twin’ technology to optimize production. The UCC runs several ‘hybrid’ digital models, for submerged well pumps to the point of commercial oil delivery. Khantos models ‘constantly learn and self-calibrate’ as conditions change, for instance, when a new well cluster comes on stream or when a pumping station shuts down.
Well interventions, as determined by the digital twin, feed into another key system, ‘ERA.Repair,’ an automated process for maintenance, repair and operations (MRO). The system prioritizes and aligns operator intervention to current target KPIs. UCC functionality is soon to be extended with digital twins for formation-pressure maintenance systems, energy supply systems, and associated gas treatment and use. Gazprom Neft CEO Alexander Dyukov said, ‘IT is making significant changes. Our digital transformation is improving production and financial performance.’ The UCC is the latest component in Gazprom’s Electronic asset development (EAD) program, a digital oilfield that spans exploration, drilling, production and construction. The EAD kicked-off in 2012.
Another unit, the Gazprom Science and Technology Centre (GSTC) has launched a digital twin initiative, the Drilling support center (DSC). The DCS has signed with Stavanger, Norway based eDrilling for the provision of its drilling and well performance solutions. GSTC CEO Mars Khasanov said, ‘Our objective is to increase production and to improve efficiency using new technologies and design engineering, leveraging digital twins of our wells, predictive analytics and automated diagnostics.’ The DSC performs round the clock monitoring, control and remote engineering support on Gazprom’s more complex wells. In 2017, some 60% of Gazprom’s wells were drilled under the supervision of DSC experts.
eDrilling COO Sven Inge Ødegaard added, ‘Gazprom is shaping the digital agenda and transformation of the oil industry. There are huge savings as well as safety and efficiency gains to be made by moving to the intelligent use, and pairing, of real time digital and physical drilling data.’ eDrilling’s software portfolio includes dynamic drilling models and diagnosis technology merged with 3D visualization. Different drilling models interact, and are used across the value chain from planning, training, operations monitoring and after action review.
eDrilling, a Teresoft/HitecVision company, uses core technology from Norway’s Sintef R&D organization. More from Gazprom and eDrilling.
© Oil IT Journal - all rights reserved.