Automatic Crude Oil Handling Through a Pressurized System from the Wellhead to the Refinery

Discussion of this paper is invited. Three copies of any discussion should be sent to the Society of Petroleum Engineers office. Such discussion may be presented at the above meeting and, with the paper, may be considered for publication in one of the two SPE magazines. Production from 51 wells completed in the three unitized formations of the Lost Soldier Field, Sweetwater County, Wyoming, is brought to a central point through individual flow lines. Here the fluids are directed through separate automatic well testing and oil treating facilities, one for each formation. After separation of oil, gas and water, the oil goes to pressurized surge tanks and then to lease automatic custody transfer units. There is one surge tank and one LACT unit for each formation. The oil is automatically transferred to the Sinclair Pipe Line Company for delivery to Sinclair's refinery at Sinclair, Wyoming, through a closed pipe line systems. A central console provides:supervisory control from the wellheads through the LACT units,well test and production data logging, andmonitoring by activating alarms for abnormal conditions of flow, liquid levels, temperatures and pressures. Fifteen months experience with automatic handling of crude oil through a pressurized system from the wellheads to the refinery at a rate exceeding 12,000 barrels per day of pipe line oil has revealed many advantages to all parties concerned. The advantages include: Increased recovery of produced hydrocarbons and boosted gravities by the elimination of oil storage in atmospheric tanks both in production and pipe line facilities. Early detection of pumping wellmal functions enabling repairs to be made before daily production is substantially decreased. Quick and definite alarm reporting resulting in immediate repairs. Reduced manpower requirements for gathering field data and operating valves, pumps, etc. Provides printed well test and production data records.