Optimization of petroleum production networks - Through proxy models and structural constraints

Abstract

This paper proposes and explores the properties of a solution algorithm designed to solve network simulation problems to optimality. Emphasis is put on the system being divisible into components, as this underlying assumption motivates the algorithm in its entirety in that rather simple relations between the system components are modeled as explicit structural constraints, while the significantly more complex relations within each component are approximated based on the underlying simulator data. The Real- Time petroleum Production Optimization (RTPO) problem is used as an example of such a network simulation problem that can benefit from using the solution approach outlined. The paper also includes the mathematical formulation of the RTPO, followed by a description of the algorithm and a comprehensive study of the algorithm's properties on a real RTPO application. Finally, the results are compared to a reference case and conclusions are reached about the method. © 2012 IFAC.