The Role of Flow Measurement in Hydrocarbon Recovery Forecasting in the UKCS

In terms of maximizing economic recovery (MER) in the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS), the measurement of well production rates is essential to optimize the hydrocarbon production strategy from within the well itself. This is achieved through a process called a well test in which a snapshot of production is monitored by measurement equipment and instrumentation. The data collected are then used to characterize the reservoir near the wells and to optimize the wells’ production rates. However, the measurement accuracy required to provide sufficient control has not been established, and there is little information in the public domain that shows what the current typical operational measurement uncertainty is. Given that modeling and reservoir management are highly dependent on these measurements, the allowable uncertainty must be known to fully assess whether the equipment and the methodology of verifying the measurements are fit for purpose. This paper details an investigation of the effects of flow measurement errors on interpreting well testing data and estimating the recoverable reserves. In addition, current MER strategies for the UKCS are discussed, and the importance of using downhole flow measurement data in well testing for MER has been emphasized.