Bulky control cabinets at gas production facilities may soon become a thing of the past. At the Eastern section of the Orenburg oil and gas condensate field, they have been replaced with compact electronic modules weighing no more than a chocolate bar. The devices continuously monitor well performance and automatically recommend the optimal operating parameters for gas lift production.
The technology was developed by EN Automation, a graduate of Industrix, Gazprom Neft’s corporate accelerator that supports technology startups addressing specialized challenges in the oil and gas industry.
Each module weighs around 100 grams yet performs tasks that previously required large and complex instrumentation units. The devices continuously collect production data, monitor the volume and pressure of injected gas, and transmit real-time information to a centralized control center. Built-in algorithms instantly calculate the most efficient operating modes, eliminating routine manual analysis for field personnel.
The transition to miniature electronics has delivered measurable benefits in three key areas. Operating costs have declined, production efficiency has improved, and field safety has increased thanks to simplified maintenance—fewer components mean fewer failures and less repair work.
The technology is currently being tested at the Eastern Dome of the Orenburg oil and gas condensate field, one of Russia’s largest hydrocarbon assets. The field contains more than 100 million tonnes of liquid hydrocarbons and nearly 66 billion cubic meters of natural gas, providing an ideal environment for validating the system under real production conditions.
Gazprom Neft plans to deploy the solution across all of its assets where associated gas makes up a significant portion of production. Gas lift operations require continuous monitoring, and the company believes these miniature digital controllers can perform that task more efficiently and at lower cost than conventional measurement systems.
A device small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, developed through a corporate startup accelerator, is setting a new standard for gas lift operations. Less hardware, more analytics, and minimal human intervention are redefining well management across Gazprom Neft’s production assets.
Source: Gazprom Neft
Image: Gazprom Neft
