General Meeting & Houston Chapter of the API: Practical Application of a Remote Operations Center to Maximize Operational Efficiency

This presentation will share firsthand experience, concepts, strategies and case studies which demonstrate the capability of a remote operations center to improve the operational efficiency and economics of an asset by centralizing the People, Process, Technology and Governance into a single location using technology as the enabler.

Digital transformation programs have become a major improvement initiative within many oil & gas companies. Some operators have been highly successful while others struggle with a transition to the new ways of operating. Many are able to justify the spend on technology but are reluctant to challenge the traditional operating model which inherently accepts lower reliability, higher maintenance cost and daily visits to facilities and wellsite’s.

Remote operations centers are being designed to simultaneously optimize production from several hundred wells, monitor facilities 24/7, provide alarm management, manage by exception and deliver expert support in near real-time. Co-location of operations, engineering and expert support into a single collaborative work environment is critical for the accelerated decision making and near real-time support being delivered to the field.

If successfully deployed, expected results include improved production profile, reduced downtime, lower lifting costs and improved HS&E, all of which are critical to business success.

Speaker Fred Clarke, Principal Advisor of Oper., Prod Optimization. & Artificial Lift, StepChange Global

Fred has worked in the oil & gas business for 40 years performing in a wide range of technical and management roles with E&P operators and major service companies operating in Canada, United States and Australia.

Currently he is based in Houston, TX and is a Principal Consultant with Stepchange Global which is an independent advisory company supporting operators develop and deliver their Integrated Operations programs and Digital Oilfield projects and pilots. He has author and co-author of several SPE papers and has presented at many industry conferences in North America.

His prior roles include Team Leader for Murphy Oil’s remote operations center and Senior Artificial Lift Advisor for their Eagle Ford unconventional asset in South Texas. He also worked with Santos, Australia’s largest onshore operator supporting their artificial lift program, automation and optimization of a large and remote conventional asset located in the ‘Outback’ of Australia as well as helping support the company’s major coal bed methane project in Queensland.