TechNight - 1. SPE Distinguished Lecturer John D. Hedengren & 2. Epsis, Henrik Larsen (CTO) / Jan-Erik Nordtvedt (CEO)

An Extra 45 Minutes Can Provide a World of Knowledge

SPE Bergen Section would like to invite you to the TechNight with SPE Distinguished Lecturer and Epsis at Nøsteboden! This is a great chance for you to keep yourself updated on latest technologies in the market and to meet your industry colleagues during the dinner after the presentations.

1. Distinguished Lecture John Hedengren: Drilling Automation and Downhole Monitoring with Physics-based Models

The drilling industry faces challenging market conditions that motivate the use of automation to reduce costs and decrease well manufacturing variability. The objective of this presentation is to motivate automation initiatives that utilize physics-based models for predictive monitoring and control. This presentation explores current progress, challenges, and opportunities to control critical drilling conditions such as downhole pressure in Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD). The 3 essential elements of automation are explored with a perspective on recent advancements in automation due to downhole measurement availability through wired drillpipe. However, only a small fraction of drilling systems currently utilize wired drillpipe. In automated rig systems, there is additional potential to unlock the predictive capabilities of physics-based models to "see" into the near future to optimize and coordinate control actions.

A convergence of several key technologies creates an opportunity to use sophisticated mathematical models within automation. A significant challenge is the size of the physics- based models that have too many adjustable parameters or are too slow in simulation to extract actionable information. This presentation shows how fit-for-purpose models can be used directly in the automation solutions. These fit-for-purpose models have unlocked new ways to think about automation in drilling. For example, rate optimization and pressure control have traditionally been separate applications in MPD. Simulation studies suggest significant potential improvement when combining the two applications.

2. Henrik W. Larsen (CTO, Epsis) & Jan-Erik Nordtvedt (CEO, Epsis) : Digitalization- Silver Bullet or Change Enabler?

The push within the oil and gas industry towards digitalization hold great promises for optimizing operations and improving efficiency. Therefore, most oil and gas companies have large initiatives within digitalization. We now look at data and models as oil and gas “assets” – much like physical assets used in operations. Thus, there is a perceived inherent value in data for operations. For effective operations, the interesting part of data, models and digital capabilities, is the feedback loop it allows to the physical asset itself. The key question is how to do this. Often we find that there are two “camps” on this – those that believe that digitalization is a silver bullet that will help change everything through technology, and those that believe that digitalization is an enabler that will help on a change journey towards improved operations. In this talk, we discuss digitalization in this context, and provide examples from everyday oil and gas operations.

Biography

John Hedengren is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Brigham Young University. He received a PhD degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Previously, he developed the APMonitor Optimization Suite and worked with ExxonMobil on Advanced Process Control. His primary research focuses on accelerating automation technology in drilling. Other research interests include fiber optic monitoring, Intelli-fields, reservoir optimization, and unmanned aerial systems. In addition to drilling automation, he is a leader of the Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS), applying UAV automation and optimization technology to energy infrastructur

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Take part in the professional discussions and meet people within your industry. There will be dinner served at the venue after the presentations!