We often get asked about what is required for setting up our virtual flow metering application FLUX VFM. Here are the three things to be aware of.
#1 Data Requirements
We will typically ask you for the following information early in the process, to ensure we get your VFMs quickly set up and running, and more importantly for them to run accurately.
- Well, fluid and equipment characteristics
- Reference flow rates
- Sensor data
Well, fluid and equipment characteristics are inputs to building our simulation models for your wells. These include:
- Well completion documents
- Well trajectory / deviation survey
- Piping & instrumentation diagram displaying available sensors
- Pump (ESP) and valve information
- Fluid descriptions
- Ambient water and air temperature
For the purpose of tuning the simulation models, we require reference flow rates, upon deployment of the VFMs and a few times throughout the lifetime of the application. This can be three-phase volume rates from test separators, either as time series data or as quality controlled well test data or multiphase flow meter rates. If you are sparse on reference flow rates, we will discuss how to work around it. In other words, this is not a showstopper.
To drive the VFMs and to train our machine learning models, we need time-stamped sensor data. This may include:
- Downhole pressure and temperature
- Wellhead and flowline pressure and temperature
- Gas lift meter volume rate
- Gas lift pressure and temperature
- Choke openings
- Where applicable: ESP intake and discharge pressure & temperatures rates, and additional ESP characteristics
We pre-discuss and evaluate the availability of data for every asset we work with you on. When it comes to data availability, we work under the principle of the more the merrier, however, often we can expect the lack of some sensor data. This is typically not a problem as in many cases, we will then make use of the machine learning capabilities we have in-house, to create virtual sensors to close the gaps.
#2 Cloud Requirements
We use cloud because we see great benefit in scaling and maintaining our solutions, together with you. All deployments are specific to each client, which means every client has their own area on the cloud. We do not store data on our system, but data is consistently in transit. We read the data, we process the data, and we transfer the VFM output back immediately.
We can work with all major cloud providers, including Microsoft Azure, AWS (Amazon Web Services), and Google Cloud. If you use a provider we do not use yet, it is typically an easy extension to add. We can also work with your own private cloud. Our API is fully open and as long as you have a subscription, you will be able to use it.
#3 An open mind
Lastly, digitalization offers huge opportunities for our industry. By democratizing data, reducing data silos, and allowing for the integration of applications to enable a more efficient use of our energy sources, we can together work on an improved sustainable practice. This includes utilizing software solutions and real-time simulations to monitor and optimize oil and gas production lines – like ours. Keeping an open mind to what we can develop together helps – let us talk and discuss.