American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2018 - 91

SpecialReport: Automation & Digital Fields
main unchanged, and the control logic
and algorithms are the same in both systems.
Finally, the virtual reality engine creates
a 3-D, digital representation of the physical
asset. The virtual reality environment has
rigorous data linking to the control system
and process modeling engine, so that an
operator can walk around and study
process conditions displayed on a level
gauge, for example, and interact with the
environment and manipulate manual control elements, such as solenoid valve
resets and valve hand-wheels.
The data linking is two-way, so that
the virtual reality operator sees live data,
and interactions are captured by the simulation engine. The virtual reality operator
is able to practice upset condition responses, perform standard walk arounds,
and learn the "lay of the land" without
ever leaving the office, reducing safety
risks and expanding operators' skills in a
way never before possible.

finalized, a control system needs to be
developed. Using the high-fidelity model,
the control system strategy can be validated
and tuned against a working process model. This reduces risk, complexity and duration in control system projects. It is at
this stage that digital transformation technology selection can be implemented. A
thorough understanding of the process
and control system technology enables

T H E

the most effective implementation of pervasive sensing technologies that feed into
data analytics software. It applies to both
active production well pads and passive
completion well pads.
As engineering is finalized and construction begins, the digital twin can be
leveraged to begin training operators on
effective and safe methods to control the
process and respond to upset conditions.

VA N Z A N D T

1st to Quote

C O M M I T M E N T

1st to Deliver

Reliable Service

Five Key Capabilities
As illustrated in Figure 3, the combination of a high-fidelity/real-time simulation engine, a virtualized control system
and a virtual reality 3-D model creates
the digital twin for surface operations
and provides five key capabilities that
apply to the entire reservoir production
life cycle:
* Front-end feasibility studies;
* Control system validation;
* Operational performance;
* Control performance; and
* Compliance.
The digital twin enables feasibility
studies of the top-side process design at
the beginning of the design stage. The
ability to validate the performance of selected equipment across the well pad's
broad range of operating conditions is
highly valuable for reducing downtime
and ensuring adequate performance of
supporting equipment. Another valuable
application includes examining the feasibility of reusing equipment on the current
well that previously had been installed on
a decommissioned well. This allows equipment to be reliably reused and maximizes
investment across the organization.
Once the design of the equipment is

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AUGUST 2018 91

American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2018

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