PRODML: A Shared Solution for Upstream Oil & Gas Cos to Optimize Production

The PRODuction xML, or PRODML(TM), Work Group is seeking the development of commercial software products within a twelve-month work effort that will improve data exchange and work process efficiency in production optimization.

PRODML will build on the earlier success of WITSML(TM), a similar XML-based standard for drilling information. WITSML(TM) (Wellsite Information Transfer Standard Markup Language) is now an open industry standard maintained by POSC (Petrotechnical Open Standards Consortium). PRODML will extend the results of the ongoing WITSML(TM) standards development efforts to include data needed for field production optimization.

Production optimization involves integrating real time data from specialty, multi-vendor software applications and streamlining work processes to enable oil and gas field operational efficiencies. PRODML will develop the necessary XML-based data exchange solutions as an open industry standard. After a working PRODML pilot is launched, POSC will maintain the standard and make it publicly available.

Up till now, oil companies and service providers have wasted a lot of time and effort converting common data for in-house custom-built systems. PRODML will allow the transfer of production data more easily, saving huge amounts of money across the industry, and allowing us to concentrate on the real business of making our wells and production facilities work better and more efficiently.

Since the initial meeting in August 2005 PRODML, the Work Group has specified the fundamental data requirements to enable generic production optimization work flows. This work has highlighted the data elements that are the PRODML focus for delivering an XML-based open standard for the E&P industry.

The data exchange requirements are based on these generic production optimization work flows:

     * Gas Lift Optimization
     * Optimizing Free Flowing wells based on real-time measurements and
       network models
     * Field Wide Optimization based on real-time measurements, network models
       and reservoir simulation

An aggressive development schedule includes pilot tests for these three initial flows by early summer. The PRODML open standard should be available to software developers and Oil and Gas producers by late 2006.

The PRODML Work Group includes: BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, Statoil, Halliburton, Invensys, OSIsoft, Petroleum Experts, Schlumberger, Sense Intellifield, TietoEnator, Weatherford and POSC.