Fred Newman
This is a discussion of a newly developed and field tested system to measure and track fluids produced in the oilfield. The system’s mission is to track the fluid movement from the cradle to the grave and is, for the most part, a “hands off-no humans needed” custody scheme that provides precise verifiable electronic information to the producer, the trucking company that hauls the fluids, and the companies that handle the final deposition of the fluids, either at the disposal well or the pipeline terminal.
The discussion centers on a West Texas well where the use of this system saves over $10,000 per year in operating costs. The paper discloses patented technology as well as how the implementation process evolved and overcame the paradigms and mindsets of the people and companies. Developing new technology is cake walk when compared to altering the complexity of the “oilfield thought” process.