The Deputy for Scientific, Technological, and Knowledge-Based Economy Affairs of the Presidential Office stated at the inauguration ceremony of the Integrated Well, Reservoir, and Facility Management Center of the Pasargad Energy Group:
The opening of the WRFM center marks the beginning of the oil industry's transition from business intelligence to artificial intelligence
Saturday،
28 December 2024
The "Integrated Well, Reservoir, and Facility Management (WRFM)" Center of the Pasargad Energy Group, which was established with the aim of focusing on efficient data management and ensuring safe and sustainable operations of wells and surface facilities at the Sepehr and Jofeir oil fields through collaboration with Sharif University of Technology and knowledge-based companies, was inaugurated on Tuesday, December 25.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by several high-profile guests, including Hussein Afshar, Deputy for Scientific, Technological, and Knowledge-Based Economy Affairs of the Presidential Office; Majid Ghasemi, CEO of Bank Pasargad; Omid Shakery, Deputy Minister of Oil for Engineering, Research, and Technology; Nasrollah Zarei, CEO of the Iranian Oil Engineering and Development Company; and Alireza Sadeq Abadi, CEO of the Pasargad Energy Group.
During the ceremony, Dr. Afshar described the WRFM center as the first real project in the realm of business intelligence aimed at transitioning to artificial intelligence within the oil industry. He emphasized that the investment made by the Pasargad Energy Group in establishing this platform represents a significant step toward integrating artificial intelligence. He noted that the groundwork for this center began in February 2024 through a joint effort between the Pasargad Energy Group and the Energy, Water, and Environment Research Institute at Sharif University, with the center becoming operational in less than ten months.
Dr. Afshar credited the achievement to the dedicated work of the team at Sepehr Pasargad Oil and Gas Operations Company, led by Mr. Dehghani and his forty-member team, who received support from the CEO of the Pasargad Energy Group. He stressed that without forward-thinking and innovative managers, technological advancements would be hindered. He pointed out that this innovation has already led to a $100 million profit from one well by preventing production decline.
Looking ahead, Dr. Afshar stated that the WRFM center currently operates on a business intelligence framework and that artificial intelligence will be integrated into it next year, helping managers make more informed decisions in the oil industry. He also highlighted that the country’s first smart refinery is being built on Qeshm Island by the Pasargad Energy Group, marking yet another step towards embracing artificial intelligence.
It is worth noting that the Pasargad WRFM center is designed to improve data management through the collection, storage, and real-time analysis of information, allowing for the observation of patterns and trends, as well as issuing necessary alerts. This integration facilitates quicker decision-making in development and production operations and helps reduce operational risks.
The center ensures the achievement of performance indicators across various phases, effectively managing the company’s assets in any geographical location, and integrating online monitoring with automated data processing for the continuous optimization of asset value. Additionally, the comprehensive data display system, which clearly illustrates relationships and trends, supports informed decision-making and provides integrated analyses for production, drilling operations, and well management, thereby empowering experts and senior managers in their decision-making processes.
With the establishment of this center and timely corrective actions, production losses due to issues such as asphaltene deposits have been prevented.
Furthermore, through real-time optimization from the reservoir to the processing plant, the daily oil production has increased by 8,000 barrels, resulting in a cumulative increase of 1.4 million barrels to date. With the plans that have been put in place, this center is on the verge of entering the phase of practical digital transformation and smart technology under the title "Pasargad Smart WRFM Center," setting a new standard in the upstream oil and gas sector in the West Asia region.