Digital platform for E&P Assets Business Process Optimization with a Module for Estimation and Optimizing of Greenhouse Gases Emissions. Case Study

Abstract

Due to the increasing requirements for reducing the carbon footprint on the part of end users of hydrocarbons, there is a need to develop a system for automated analysis of the main business processes of oil and gas field development to assess greenhouse gas emissions, as well as for optimization in order to improve environmental safety. The paper describes a prototype of a platform that was developed for decarbonization of oil and gas enterprises using modern optimization tools and up-to-date methods for inventory of greenhouse gas emissions. The platform is based on the following models: – simulation model (IM) – simulates the company's business processes, identifying weaknesses and areas of potential development, is a set of mathematical algorithms for solving direct problems; – optimization model (OM) – allows to conduct a comprehensive analysis with a large number of parameters, excluding manual data processing and using automated information exchange between various software that is used in the oil and gas industry for modeling and monitoring of various processes, as well as developing various development options (taking into account geological conditions, geophysical interpretation, etc.). The initial conditions and the specified criteria related to economic indicators allow to solve the problem of finding the optimal parameters for the development of the selected asset. This paper shows the economic effect of implementing software based on a digital twin, implemented as a platform with the ability to build a model of an oil and gas asset, using various data (SAP, 1C, IPM GAP, Repos, Eclipse, etc.) and targets for the development. In the same way, the possible losses of the oil and gas industry from the introduction of additional carbon taxation and the potential for optimizing processes to minimize these costs are considered. IPCC methods are used to calculate greenhouse gas emissions, and direct, indirect, and fugitive emissions are considered in the calculation. The main conclusion is the need to reduce the costs for oil and gas companies and prepare modern automated digital solutions for accounting for greenhouse gas emissions in advance to achieve a zero-carbon footprint and maintain the competitiveness of the Russian oil and gas industry. As a result of the work done, the feasibility was justified, and the result was demonstrated to the customer for calculating greenhouse gas emissions based on digital twins of key business processes of oil and gas enterprises. The use of automated systems makes it possible to reduce the potential economic risks associated with the introduction of a carbon fee from large oil and gas consumers.