Well Performance Model for Automated Root Cause Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current well performance monitoring methods require frequent updates and maintenance, leading to potential improper root cause detection and high maintenance costs, while existing methods are limited in analyzing multiple well system parameters and often necessitate complex instrumentation and data comparisons between well sections.
Innovation Solution
An automated method for monitoring well system performance that uses a well performance model with inflow and outflow components to calculate downhole pressure and detect deviations, analyzing model parameters to identify potential root causes of performance degradation without requiring historical data or complex instrumentation, allowing for real-time monitoring and corrective actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frequent updates and maintenance are performed on well performance models, then the model remains accurate and representative of actual well performance, but the maintenance costs increase and root cause detection capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a base well performance model before degradation occurs and uses it as a reference for detecting performance deviations. This preliminary modeling action allows the system to identify root causes without requiring frequent updates, as the stable base model serves as a consistent reference point for comparing actual performance over time.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuously updating the model to match actual performance (which loses root cause detection capability), the patent inverts the approach by using the original base model to detect deviations in actual performance. This inversion allows the system to maintain root cause detection capability while still monitoring well performance accuracy.
2Reliability
If well performance models are continuously updated to conform to actual well performance, then the model remains current, but the capability to detect root causes of performance degradation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a base well performance model that represents the well's performance before degradation occurs. This preliminary model is then used as a reference to detect deviations in actual performance, allowing root cause identification without needing to continuously update the base model itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the base well performance model as a reference copy to compare against actual well performance. By comparing actual performance data against this stable base model, the system can identify deviations and their root causes without modifying the base model, thus preserving its ability to detect degradation patterns.
3Measurement precision
If complex instrumentation and multiple well section comparisons are used, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single downhole pressure gauge that serves multiple functions: measuring actual downhole pressure, detecting performance deviations from the base model, and identifying root causes of degradation. This multi-functional use of minimal instrumentation achieves measurement precision without requiring complex equipment or multiple well section comparisons.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing downhole pressure gauge data in conjunction with the base well performance model to self-diagnose performance issues. The model automatically compares actual performance against expected performance and identifies root causes, eliminating the need for additional complex instrumentation or manual analysis of multiple well sections.
Data Source
AI summary
The methods disclosed herein are directed to an automated method for monitoring performance of a well in a hydrocarbon reservoir for continuous monitoring of well test production data for a plurality of well system performance parameters, trending actual performance parameter deviations from a well system model, and determining most probable root cause(s) of the performance parameter deviations based on the trend of the deviations of a plurality of parameters for an outflow component of a well performance model and a plurality of parameters inflow component of a well performance model. The method automatically notifies an operator of detected root causes of the performance degradation, and further may perform corrective action in the well system based on at least one root cause of the deviation determined by the well performance model.