The next frontier – aiming to prevent emissions
When we think about methane emissions detection, we often think about the sensors that detect emissions in the atmosphere. But what about if we think about sensors that can look for signs that an emission might occur before it reached the atmosphere? That is the premise of Chevron’s Realtime Autonomous Optimizer (RAO). RAO throttles back production when it detects upset conditions and resumes production when conditions allow. It also signals to a control room dashboard that prompts field teams to investigate and resolve issues.
Coupling sensors that measure pressure and level with analytics and production control automation required strong coordination across multiple functions, from instrumentation to asset development to IT. After the concept came together, a 2020–2021 pilot of the RAO technology showed an 80% decrease in flaring and venting upset volumes at sites and a 40% reduction in well shutdowns. After the pilot, we worked to scale the RAO technology across our unconventional assets in the Permian Basin.