Upstream Process

Engineering Course
1. Modelling and Optimisation

Upstream Process Engineering Course October 2000 Prepared by Genesis Oil and Gas Consultants Ltd Modelling and Optimisation
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 BP’s Modelling Toolkit
• VIP (Halliburton) – geological Reservoir model
• MBAL (Petroleum Experts) – simple reservoir model
• Prosper/GAP (Petroleum Experts) – well and gathering
system, steady-state
• Pipesim (Schlumberger) – flowlines, steady-state multi-
phase flow, flow assurance
• OLGA (Scandpower) – wells, flowlines, dynamic
multiphase flow
• HYSYS (Aspentech) – process facilities, compositional
modelling, steady-state and dynamics

Upstream Process Engineering Course October 2000 Prepared by Genesis Oil and Gas Consultants Ltd Modelling and Optimisation
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 Simulation/Optimisation Community of
Interest (COI)

• Upstream Processing Network

– [Link]
– Simulation/Optimisation COI leader Chuck Stewart (EPTG
Houston), [Link]@[Link]
• Simulation website
– [Link]
– HYSYS software downloads
– Documentation
• HYSYS technical support:
– [Link]
• HYSYS installation support
– Monica Averitt (SAIC Houston), [Link]@[Link]

Upstream Process Engineering Course October 2000 Prepared by Genesis Oil and Gas Consultants Ltd Modelling and Optimisation
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 Process Modelling

• HYSYS steady-state
– Heat and material balances
– Equipment sizing
– Power consumptions
– Physical properties
• HYSYS dynamics
– Plant controllability
– Plant operability

Upstream Process Engineering Course October 2000 Prepared by Genesis Oil and Gas Consultants Ltd Modelling and Optimisation
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 Simulation Best Practice
• Document all model assumptions
– Make it easy for another person to understand the model’s purpose
• Establish the appropriate PVT model for the fluid system to
be modelled.
– Don’t assume it is always P-R
– If inheriting reservoir fluid characterisation, check validity for
process conditions to be modelled
– For guidance, consult the simulation/optimisation COI
• All significant equipment items should be explicitly included
in the simulation
– Separators, heat exchangers, distillation columns, compressors,
expanders, pumps, flow control valves, pressure control valves, and
level control valves.

Upstream Process Engineering Course October 2000 Prepared by Genesis Oil and Gas Consultants Ltd Modelling and Optimisation
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 Simulation Best Practice (continued)

• Streams should be mixed at a single pressure

– i.e. Pressure drop mechanism explicitly represented
• For operational models, process specifications
should reflect actual control setpoints.
• Process specifications should be made only once in
any simulation.
– e.g. The HP separator pressure may also define the
required outlet pressure from associated LP compression.

Upstream Process Engineering Course October 2000 Prepared by Genesis Oil and Gas Consultants Ltd Modelling and Optimisation
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 Simulation Best Practice (continued)

• Use the HYSYS spreadsheet facility

– to summarise all process specifications
– to summarise all key output reports

Upstream Process Engineering Course October 2000 Prepared by Genesis Oil and Gas Consultants Ltd Modelling and Optimisation
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 Optimisation

• Use of a numerical solver together with a system

model to advise strategy for improved operational
performance.
– Advice must be able to be implemented in an
appropriate time frame.
• Can be an on-line or off-line capability
• On-line, closed loop implementation almost
always in conjunction with advanced control

Upstream Process Engineering Course October 2000 Prepared by Genesis Oil and Gas Consultants Ltd Modelling and Optimisation
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 Optimisation

• In E&P an asset or system model normally crosses

engineering discipline boundaries
– Reservoir
– Wells/gathering system
– Facilities
– Commercial
• Easy integration of discipline models required
– E.g. Resolve from petroleum experts

Upstream Process Engineering Course October 2000 Prepared by Genesis Oil and Gas Consultants Ltd Modelling and Optimisation
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 Optimisation - Integrated asset Modelling
Magnus Gas-Lift Optimisation HYSYS facilities model

Magnus Integrated Model schematic

Hysys process model Product
Gas compression export
Qoil.O
Pressures ** = $$ Resolve
Oil treatment Integration
Excel Environment
Water inj pumps Economics
separation Model

Water Gas to
disposal injection
wells
GAP wells model
Gathering network Wellhead Legend
chokes
Connection nodes
Tubing Data transfer
Gas for between applications
performance Gaslift lifting handled by
injection
Allocation wells Integration tool EXCEL
to wells ** economics
Items marked ** are model
Inflow to be determined by
optimiser
performance

Prosper/GAP well and gathering system model

Upstream Process Engineering Course October 2000 Prepared by Genesis Oil and Gas Consultants Ltd Modelling and Optimisation
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 Modelling and optimisation - summary
 The effective application of rigorous modelling and optimisation technologies
directly supports the delivery of all 5 concepts within Production Efficiency
Improvement (PEI) common process:

• Decide Installed Production Capacity (IPC). A fully validated on-line asset model
provides a real-time calculation of IPC.
• Manage Historic Losses. Modelling is focussed on developing understanding and
identification of the root causes of historic losses.
• Eliminating Future Losses. On-line models provide an inferential metering capability
that can be used to alert operators of impending plant upset conditions.
• Growing IPC. Model based production optimisation is focussed directly on establishing
the plant potential and full quantification of opportunities to grow IPC.
• Reviewing Performance and Sharing Knowledge. Holistic asset models allow all
discipline engineers to understand the full impact of decisions and plant interventions. A
maintained asset model, initiated at plant design and sustained into operate phase, acts as
a plant knowledge base allowing staff learning of plant performance to be accelerated.

Upstream Process Engineering Course October 2000 Prepared by Genesis Oil and Gas Consultants Ltd Modelling and Optimisation
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