Petroleum Engineering
Petroleum Engineering is one of the AWT core business disciplines. The ever increasing recognition of the importance of this specialist discipline, and the ability to effectively implement the outcomes from studies allows AWT to provide wide ranging engineering support to its clients.
AWT Production Technology personnel have been integrally involved in the detailed evaluation of sanding potential, design of well completions and well operability strategies for many developments, at both field development planning stages and for existing field production optimisation.
With the ability to integrate geomechanic and laboratory sand prediction data into an operational well completion design, AWT can assist clients to identify risks and plan appropriately for future well interventions, thereby maintaining the focus on the client's business drivers. AWT also actively encourages clients to adopt a 'life of well' approach for evaluation, design, implementation and operability.
Recent projects involving sanding tendency study and well completion strategies which the group has been successfully involved with include:
| Client | Project Name | Area of Support | ||
| Sanding tendency assessment | Sand control and completion design | Well lifecycle operability assessment | ||
| Santos | Oyong (Indonesia) |  |
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| Mutineer/Exeter (Aus) | |
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| Woodside | Echo / Yodel (Aus) | |
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| Cairn | Lakshmi (India) | |
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Additionally, senior AWT Production Technology staff have been integrally involved in the development of a number of recognised industry sand control training programs. This work has developed a culture of sharing expertise further enhancing the group's capabilities.
This expertise is recognised externally in the industry, where Professor Peden is an external examiner for Production Technology and Well Engineering for organisations like Shell International and Petronas, in addition to being Head of Well Technology at CSIRO and Curtin University.
Other aspects of our production technology skill set include:
- Nodal analysis/well performance studies (PROSPER, REVEAL, Wellflo);
- Production optimisation/network studies (GAP);
- Reservoir fluid analysis/characterisation (PVTP);
- Mechanical completion design and tubular stress analysis (WellCAT);
- Client specific training on artificial lift theory and production optimisation;
- Evaluation of waxing/scaling tendencies and remedial actions;
- Design of artificial lift systems;
- Design of permanent downhole monitoring systems;
- Stimulation and perforation design and performance evaluation;
- Evaluation of suitability of 'new technologies' for practical applications;
- Well intervention and remedial workover studies;
- Field refurbishment evaluation.
AWT has several engineers who are very experienced in the application of the various software products which are used in the performance of production technology studies. Many of these areas are overlooked or under engineered due to resource constraints, but can have a significant impact on overall project viability. AWT can conduct specific studies in these areas, in-house, and deliver well engineered recommendations within tight time frames.
Flow Assurance
Flow Assurance creates a reliable, manageable and profitable flow of fluids from the reservoir to sales. It is a diverse field that requires a fully integrated approach from various disciplines such as science, engineering and operations. As exploration and production expand into deeper water and smaller fields become more economic, flow assurance must take on a new perspective and focus.
Typically, basic crude analysis provides limited information that may be used to predict fluid behaviour under production conditions. Field development plans can be based upon data which fails to identify and quantify problem areas such as solids deposition, blockages and foaming etc.
AWT have an experienced Flow Assurance and Production Chemistry team who can design and execute studies to evaluate and clarify flow assurance issues. When coupled with our engineering teams, this offers clients unique access to integrated Flow Assurance solutions. Furthermore our expertise can add value to all phases of field life from concept, design, commissioning, operation and troubleshooting.
Typical considerations in a Flow Assurance study of your reservoir can include the issues depicted in the following diagram.
Challenging Crudes
AWT have extensive design & operational experience with heavy/waxy crude production. High in-situ viscosities and unfavorable mobility ratios may require
- Long-reach or Multi-laterals
- Sand control
- Innovative artificial life design
Design considerations must include issues, such as flow assurance
- Well bore damage & emulsion blocks
- Pipelining of high viscosity fluids
- Wax & asphaltene deposition
- High BS&W in export crude
- High oil levels in disposal water
The following are recent projects when AWT were been involved in the conceptual design, FEED, detailed design and execution of challenging crude oil developments;
| Client | Project Name | Description | AWT Involvement |
| Exxon Mobil | Wandoo Field | Offshore oilfield thin reservoir & gas cap 19? API crude highly emulsifying large water production | Completion design for 1000-1500m horizontal wells Reservoir drill-in fluid system selection Emulsion & water treatment programs Supervision of successful well construction and testing On-going production chemistry |
| Apache | Stag Field | Offshore oilfield thin reservoir & gas cap 19? API crude highly emulsifying ESP artificial lift uncontrolled sanding potential | Downhole chemical treatment design Emulsion & water treatment programs On-going production chemistry support On-going workover support |
| ROC Oil | Cliff Head Field | Offshore oilfield 34?C pour point crude highly emulsifying zero discharge environment | Design & supervision of discovery well test Conceptual field development Flow assurance studies Process design Unique Artificial Lift Design |
| Alba Res. | Mariner Field | Offshore oilfield 17 deg API high viscocity 17cp highly emulsifying zero discharge environment | Conceptual field development plan and well design Flow assurance studies Process design Artificial lift design |
| OMV | Maari Field | Offshore oilfield 25?C pour point crude seawater injection | Flow assurance assessment Emulsion studies Artificial Lifting design studies Produced water re-injection design |
