IMPROVED PRODUCTION OPERATING EFFICIENCIES THROUGH AUTOMATION

During 1994 - 1995, Wascana Energy Inc. implemented a supervisory cont rol and data acquisition system (SCADA) covering its entire southeast Saskatchewan operating area. This SCADA system was implemented to impr ove operating efficiencies by reducing operating costs and increasing production volumes. The system provided for remote monitoring and cont rol of certain production facilities and wells. Wascana contracted an automation system integrator to assist in customizing the graphical us er interface and configuring the PC based computer system to communica te with various end devices in several fields. The master polling stat ion and backup PC are located in Wascana's Estevan office. Data commun ications between the Estevan office, the field and district offices is accomplished with a UHF radio system and existing phone lines. Select ed real time data is stored on an SQL database server, located on Wasc ana's local and wide area networks (LAN, WAN) to support corporate wid e data sharing. Field automation includes wellhead managers (WHM) on a ll horizontal producers for pump off control and real time dynamometer analysis, remote tank level monitoring, electronic flow measurement, water injection facility control and flowline leak detection.