Hydrocarbon Well Workover Selection Using Multi-Level Performance Indices
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Solution Overview
Problem
In oilfields, the abundance of information for decision-making regarding workover operations on hydrocarbon wells can lead to confusion, especially when comparing multiple wells, as mixed signals from parameters like water cut and production rates complicate the ranking process.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented methodology that ranks and selects hydrocarbon wells for workover operations by considering individual well performance, as well as pattern-level and field-level performance, using calculated present- and future-performance indices to provide a comprehensive evaluation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple parameters (water cut, production rate, gas rate, lift parameters) are used to evaluate well performance, then the evaluation becomes more comprehensive, but the decision-making process becomes more complex and confusing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex multi-parameter evaluation into distinct components: individual well performance metrics, pattern-level performance metrics, and field-level performance metrics. Each segment is calculated separately and then integrated to form the overall workover ranking, making the complex evaluation process more manageable and less confusing while maintaining comprehensiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational framework that processes multiple parameters through standardized formulas. This intermediary system transforms raw parameters (water cut, production rate, gas rate, lift parameters) into normalized performance scores, which then feed into the ranking algorithm, reducing decision-making complexity while preserving evaluation comprehensiveness
2Ease of operation
If individual well performance is evaluated in isolation, then the evaluation is simple, but it fails to capture the collective performance impact within patterns and fields
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges three levels of performance evaluation: individual well performance, pattern-level performance (grouping wells by geographic or operational patterns), and field-level performance. By combining these levels through weighted integration in the ranking formula, the system maintains the simplicity of individual well assessment while incorporating the reliability benefits of collective performance context
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested evaluation structure where individual well performance is nested within pattern-level performance, which is in turn nested within field-level performance. This nested doll approach allows each level to contribute to the overall ranking while maintaining the hierarchical relationship, ensuring both simplicity and accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
Selecting hydrocarbon wells for workover. At least some of the illustrative embodiment including: calculating a plurality of present-performance index values for a respectively plurality of wells, each present-performance index value based on a well's performance with respect to the plurality of wells, and each present-performance index value dimensionless; calculating a plurality of future-performance index values for the respective plurality of wells, each future-performance index value based on a well's expected future performance with respect to the plurality of wells, and each future-performance index value dimensionless; combining a present-performance index value and a future-performance index value for a first well to create a first combination index; combining a present-performance index value and a future-performance index value for a second well to create a second combination index; selecting the hydrocarbon well based on the first and second combination indices.