Weatherford Internationalplc has announced a major enhancement to the ForeSite production optimization platform. Among the top features of the new release is expanding predictive failure analytics to electric submersible pumping systems (ESPs) and adding complete optimization capabilities for plunger-lifted wells.
The platform is deigned to expand on its ability to reciprocate rod lift by adding predictive failure analytics for ESP systems. By predicting an ESP failure before it happens, the company says that this capability not only reduces failure frequency, it also reduces total downtime and lost production by enabling proactive failure management and planning.
Weatherford says that its enhanced ForeSite offering now provides predictive failure analytics for ESP systems and complete optimization capabilities for plunger-lifted wells.
Adding plunger-lift optimization builds on previous optimization capabilities in rod lift, gas lift, natural drive, and ESP-lifted wells. Rather than the status quo—using a trial-and-error method to adjust operating pressures—ForeSite enables real-time optimization and surveillance along with intelligent alerts, well modeling, plunger-cycle design and more.
Weatherford also says that the platform is now also edge-computing ready. Combined with advanced IoT-enabled hardware and CygNet SCADA software, placing ForeSite modeling capabilities at the wellsite can increase asset profitability, productivity, and uptime. The capability paves the way for the next-generation automation system, ForeSite Edge, the company says.
Finally, Weatherford says that the enhancement includes automated well testing and the ability to execute well-work activities in the field via ForeSite Mobile.
Weatherford first introduced the platform, which combines physics-based models with advanced data analytics to improve performance across wells, reservoirs, and surface facilities on a single, secure platform, in May 2017.
“Since its launch, ForeSite has been deployed around the world with unmatched success, enabling operators to identify and prioritize their production opportunities,” said Kyle Chapman, President of Production for Weatherford. “Simply put, the new ForeSite release gives operators the field-wide intelligence that they need to monetize their data. The new capabilities added to ForeSite combine an unprecedented ability to monitor performance and recognize current and future improvement opportunities across all reservoirs, wells, surface equipment, and pipelines. This is the field of the future.” •
