Field power management

Abstract

Herein disclosed are methods and systems related to processes for managing power consumption by a plurality of wells in a hydrocarbon field. The plurality of wells are used to extract hydrocarbons from the field. An exemplary process comprises gathering operating information about conditions in the hydrocarbon field. The process further comprises receiving requests to operate from each of the plurality of wells. The requests to operate include a readiness indicator that provides a readiness state. The process further comprises evaluating the requests to operate based on the operating information and the readiness state of each of the wells. The requests to operate are responded to in order to control power consumption by the plurality of wells.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of managing power consumption by a plurality of wells in a hydrocarbon field, the plurality of wells being used to extract hydrocarbons from the field, the method comprising:
 gathering operating information about conditions in the hydrocarbon field;   receiving requests to operate from each of the plurality of wells, the requests to operate including a readiness indicator that provides a readiness state;   evaluating the requests to operate based on the operating information and the readiness state of each of the wells; and   responding to the requests to operate in order to control power consumption by the plurality of wells.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein operating information comprises a priority indication for each of the plurality of wells. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request to operate from a well with a high priority indication is automatically granted. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein responding to the requests to operate comprise denying requests from wells for which the readiness state indicates that the well is not ready to operate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein responding to the requests to operate in order to control power consumption comprises optimizing power consumption across the plurality of wells. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein responding to the requests to operate in order to control power consumption comprises minimizing cost of power across the plurality of wells for a given period of time. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein responding to the requests to operate in order to control power consumption comprises restricting operation of one or more of the plurality of wells based on a cost of power to operate the one or more of the plurality of wells at a time the request to operate is received. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein responding to the requests to operate in order to control power consumption comprises determining whether a requesting well may be operated in a cost effective manner based on power availability at a time the request to operate is received. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein responding to the requests to operate in order to control power consumption comprises determining whether a threshold level of renewable energy is available at a time the request to operate is received. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the requests to operate are sent from the plurality of wells at regular intervals. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of wells comprises a sucker rod pump. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of wells comprises one of a progressive cavity pump, an electric submersible pump, or a chemical injection pump. 
     
     
         13 . A system for managing power consumption by a plurality of wells in a hydrocarbon field, the plurality of wells being used to extract hydrocarbons from the field, the system comprising:
 a data gathering system that gathers operating information about conditions in the hydrocarbon field; and   an electrical supervisory system (ESS) that:   (i) receives requests to operate from each of the plurality of wells, the requests to operate including a readiness indicator that provides a readiness state;   (ii) evaluates the requests to operate based on the operating information and the readiness state of each of the wells; and   (iii) responds to the requests to operate in order to control power consumption by the plurality of wells.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein responding to the requests to operate comprise denying requests from wells for which the readiness state indicates that the well is not ready to operate. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein responding to the requests to operate in order to control power consumption comprises optimizing power consumption across the plurality of wells. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein responding to the requests to operate in order to control power consumption comprises minimizing cost of power across the plurality of wells for a given period of time. 
     
     
         17 . A computing system, comprising:
 a processor; and   a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium, comprising code configured to direct the processor to:
 gather operating information about conditions in a hydrocarbon field, the hydrocarbon field having a plurality of wells that are used to extract hydrocarbons from the field; 
 receive requests to operate from each of the plurality of wells, the requests to operate including a readiness indicator that provides a readiness state; 
 evaluate the requests to operate based on the operating information and the readiness state of each of the wells; and 
 respond to the requests to operate in order to control power consumption by the plurality of wells. 
   
     
     
         18 . The computing system of  claim 17 , wherein responding to the requests to operate comprise denying requests from wells for which the readiness state indicates that the well is not ready to operate. 
     
     
         19 . The computing system of  claim 17 , wherein responding to the requests to operate in order to control power consumption comprises optimizing power consumption across the plurality of wells. 
     
     
         20 . The computing system of  claim 17 , wherein responding to the requests to operate in order to control power consumption comprises minimizing cost of power across the plurality of wells for a given period of time.