In the upstream oil and gas industry, efficiency is everything. Managing hundreds of wells with a small team is no small feat, especially in regions where production per well is lower, requiring a higher volume of wells to achieve comparable outputs. For one independent operator in Eastern Kansas, these challenges were compounded by rapid expansion, limited manpower, and operational inefficiencies that impacted their bottom line.
The Challenge: Monitoring Hundreds of Wells Efficiently
Operating over 700 wells, with plans to expand by over 100 more in the next few years, the company faced a daunting task: maintaining productivity and reducing downtime with only two pumpers managing their growing field. Traditional well monitoring methods involved daily site visits and manual checks, but this approach was time-consuming and left room for failures to go undetected for days. For high-volume wells, where identifying pressure fluctuations required extra steps, the problem was even more pronounced.
Additionally, water tanks tied to disposal wells presented environmental risks. Issues like stuck floats, line blockages, or disposal well failures often resulted in tank overflows, leading to costly cleanups and compliance challenges.
The Solution: Real-Time Monitoring with ioX-Connect
To overcome these hurdles, the operator turned to ioX-Connect’s remote monitoring solutions. By deploying cost-effective, wireless sensors across their wells and water tanks, they gained real-time insights into their operations. Here’s how the solution transformed their workflows:
- Reduced Downtime and Increased Production: Sensors alerted the team to well failures in real time, cutting response times from 3-4 days to just 12-15 hours. This improvement saved the operator 10-20 barrels of production per well during downtime, representing significant financial gains.
- Streamlined High-Volume Well Monitoring: Continuous pressure monitoring eliminated the reliance on manual checks, ensuring failures were detected without delays.
- Proactive Environmental Risk Management: Water tank sensors provided immediate alerts when fluid levels exceeded normal thresholds, helping the operator prevent overflows and avoid costly remediation efforts.
The solution’s scalability, customizable features, and self-installation capability allowed the operator to deploy sensors across their existing wells and expand seamlessly as their operations grew. Moreover, ioX-Connect’s pricing model was designed to support high-well-count, low-production operations, making it a perfect fit for their needs.
The Results: Significant Operational and Financial Gains
Since implementing ioX-Connect’s monitoring system, the operator has achieved remarkable improvements in efficiency, production, and risk management. Here’s what they’ve gained:
- Annual Production Saved: Approximately 31,050 barrels, adding over $2,500,000 in annual revenue.
- Labor Efficiency: Saved 2,825 hours annually, reducing labor costs by over $120,000.
- Environmental Compliance: Avoided costly tank overflow incidents, saving $20,000 - $30,000 annually in cleanup expenses.
- Scalability: A monitoring system that grows with their operations, supporting sustainable expansion.
Learn More
For operators managing large well counts with limited resources, remote monitoring solutions like ioX-Connect® can make a tangible difference. By leveraging advanced technology, real-time data, and scalable solutions, you can transform your operations, reduce costs, and protect your bottom line.
Ready to see how ioX-Connect® can benefit your operations?
Download the full case study to learn more about how we helped this oil & gas operator overcome their challenges and achieve measurable results.
ioX-Connect
ioX-Connect is a comprehensive IoT Management Platform designed to streamline the monitoring of facilities and equipment.
Topics from this blog: IoT Internet of Things Pressure Monitoring Water Tank Level Monitoring