| name | neqsim-field-development |
| description | Field development workflows, concept selection, and integrated project evaluation using NeqSim. USE WHEN: performing field development studies, concept screening, tieback analysis, production forecasting, or integrated field planning. Covers the full lifecycle from discovery through operations with NeqSim's field development classes. |
| last_verified | 2026-07-19 |
NeqSim Field Development Skill
Comprehensive reference for oil & gas field development using NeqSim's field
development framework. Covers the full lifecycle from discovery through
decommissioning, with emphasis on concept selection, production forecasting,
economics, and risk assessment.
Field Development Lifecycle (Decision Gates)
| Phase | Decision Gate | Fidelity | Accuracy | NeqSim Focus |
|---|
| Discovery | — | SCREENING | ±50% | Volumetrics, PVT lab, analogs |
| Feasibility | DG1 | SCREENING | ±50% | Flow assurance screening, cost correlations, Arps decline |
| Concept Select | DG2 | CONCEPTUAL | ±30% | EOS tuning, IPR/VLP, process simulation, concept ranking |
| FEED | DG3/DG4 | DETAILED | ±20% | Full process model, reservoir coupling, Monte Carlo NPV |
| Operations | — | DETAILED | ±10% | History matching, debottlenecking, optimization |
| Late Life | — | DETAILED | ±20% | IOR/EOR, recompletion, decommissioning cost |
Workflow Orchestration
FieldDevelopmentWorkflow workflow = new FieldDevelopmentWorkflow("Field Name");
workflow.setStudyPhase(StudyPhase.FEASIBILITY);
workflow.setFidelityLevel(FidelityLevel.SCREENING);
ReservoirInput reservoir = new ReservoirInput();
reservoir.setFluidType("gas_condensate");
reservoir.setGIIP(1.5e9);
reservoir.setReservoirPressure(350.0);
reservoir.setReservoirTemperature(95.0);
reservoir.setRecoveryFactor(0.65);
workflow.setReservoirInput(reservoir);
WellsInput wells = new WellsInput();
wells.setNumberOfProducers(4);
wells.setWaterDepth(350.0);
wells.setTotalDepth(3800.0);
workflow.setWellsInput(wells);
InfrastructureInput infra = new InfrastructureInput();
infra.setDevelopmentType("subsea_tieback");
infra.setTiebackDistance(25.0);
workflow.setInfrastructureInput(infra);
WorkflowResult result = workflow.run();
Key Result Classes
| Class | Key Fields |
|---|
WorkflowResult | npvMUSD, irrPercent, paybackYears, totalCapexMUSD, totalOpexMUSD, totalPowerMW, co2IntensityKgPerBoe |
ConceptKPIs | Same as WorkflowResult + concept-level metrics |
CashFlowResult | Year-by-year revenue, opex, capex, tax, net_cash_flow, cumulative_dcf |
Concept Selection (Multi-Concept Comparison)
Define Concepts
FieldConcept tieback = new FieldConcept("Subsea Tieback");
tieback.setReservoirInput(reservoir);
tieback.setWellsInput(wells);
InfrastructureInput tiebackInfra = new InfrastructureInput();
tiebackInfra.setDevelopmentType("subsea_tieback");
tiebackInfra.setTiebackDistance(25.0);
tiebackInfra.setHostCapacity(50000.0);
tieback.setInfrastructureInput(tiebackInfra);
FieldConcept fpso = new FieldConcept("Standalone FPSO");
fpso.setReservoirInput(reservoir);
fpso.setWellsInput(wells);
InfrastructureInput fpsoInfra = new InfrastructureInput();
fpsoInfra.setDevelopmentType("fpso");
fpso.setInfrastructureInput(fpsoInfra);
FieldConcept platform = new FieldConcept("Fixed Platform");
Batch Evaluation
BatchConceptRunner runner = new BatchConceptRunner();
runner.addConcept(tieback);
runner.addConcept(fpso);
runner.addConcept(platform);
runner.setFluid(tunedEosFluid);
runner.setOilPrice(70.0);
runner.setGasPrice(0.30);
runner.setDiscountRate(0.08);
List<ConceptKPIs> results = runner.runAll();
DevelopmentOptionRanker ranker = new DevelopmentOptionRanker();
for (ConceptKPIs kpi : results) {
ranker.addOption(kpi);
}
List<ConceptKPIs> ranked = ranker.rankByNPV();
Physically Coupled Lifetime Comparison
Use process.fielddevelopment.lifecycle after rapid screening when reservoir pressure, well/SURF hydraulics,
processing capacity, gas injection and economics must share one time-dependent state:
FieldLifecycleEvaluator evaluator = new FieldLifecycleEvaluator();
List<FieldLifecycleResult> ranked = evaluator.evaluateAll(
NorwegianOilFieldCase.createDevelopmentPortfolio());
FieldLifecycleModel accepts a user-built ProcessSystem or a complete multi-area ProcessModel, so screening
concepts can be refined without replacing the lifecycle/economic interface. Use
existingSurfAndFacility(...) when the new field enters a shared existing SURF area before a host facility; wire the
areas with shared streams and map host feeds at their actual subsea or topsides entry points. Whole-model execution,
power, sizing and area::equipment bottlenecks then include both SURF and processing. Each concept must own an
independent mutable reservoir/process model.
Use FacilityLifecycleStrategy.greenfield(...) to auto-size a new detailed processing facility from design cases. Use
FacilityLifecycleStrategy.tieback(...) with the existing HostFacility, ProductionProfileSeries,
CapacityAllocationPolicy, and HoldbackPolicy types for a producing-host tieback. Connect the model's optional host
oil/gas/water feeds to the real shared process so annual FieldLifecycleResult records host load, admitted satellite
rate, deliberate holdback, capacity-deferred oil, operating and requested utilization, and their primary bottlenecks.
Set FieldLifecycleModel.setProductionPotentialProvider(...) when a detailed NeqSim well/network model or imported
reservoir schedule should replace the reference aggregate PI/water-cut potential calculation.
Use AreaDevelopmentPortfolio when one discovery can be routed to several independently modeled producing assets or
to a new facility. Add one AreaDevelopmentOption per host/tieback route or greenfield alternative, then use
AreaDevelopmentEvaluator to compare route identity, NPV, break-even, recovery, deferment, utilization, bottlenecks
and specification compliance. Each option must own its reservoir, SURF and mutable process state.
Attach FieldProductSpecifications to each configuration to check live export-gas CO2/H2S/O2, ISO 6976 GCV/Wobbe,
dew points, stabilized-oil RVP/BS&W and treated-water oil-in-water. The built-in evaluator uses NeqSim stream
analysers and standards; connect
FieldProductQualityProvider where a real facility has a dedicated water-treatment or online-analyser model. Choose
REPORT_ONLY for diagnostics or REJECT_OPTION to exclude non-compliant options from the area recommendation.
For brownfield studies, preserve actual equipment limits (autoSizeDetailedProcess(false)). For greenfield studies,
run the process at the simultaneous design case, auto-size equipment with the selected design margin, and use explicit
oil/gas/water/liquid nameplates for non-coincident component peak cases. Put any debottleneck capacity change in
capacityFromYear(...) and its CAPEX in FieldLifecycleConfiguration.
Use FacilityModificationPlanner.analyse(result, targetUtilization) to create traceable screening candidates from
annual requested utilization and deferred oil. Implement, size and cost each candidate in a cloned detailed process
before comparing its rerun lifecycle; the planner's multiplier is not a substitute for that engineering model.
See docs/fielddevelopment/FIELD_LIFECYCLE_SIMULATION.md for the connection points and fidelity boundaries.
Reservoir & Well Modeling
Material Balance (SimpleReservoir)
SimpleReservoir reservoir = new SimpleReservoir("Main Reservoir");
reservoir.setReservoirFluid(fluid.clone(), giipSm3, reservoirThickness, reservoirArea);
reservoir.addOilProducer("P1");
reservoir.addWaterInjector("I1");
for (int year = 0; year < 20; year++) {
reservoir.setProductionRate(annualRate[year]);
reservoir.run();
pressureProfile[year] = reservoir.getReservoirPressure();
}
Inverse Material Balance / Reserves Surveillance
Regress OGIP/OOIP, drive mechanism and aquifer support directly from a measured
pressure-vs-cumulative-production history (the "inverse" of the forward
SimpleReservoir model). Package
neqsim.pvtsimulation.reservoirproperties.materialbalance:
import neqsim.pvtsimulation.reservoirproperties.materialbalance.GasMaterialBalance;
import neqsim.pvtsimulation.reservoirproperties.materialbalance.OilMaterialBalance;
import neqsim.pvtsimulation.reservoirproperties.materialbalance.VanEverdingenHurstAquifer;
GasMaterialBalance.Result g = GasMaterialBalance.fitVolumetric(pressure, z, gp);
double ogip = g.getOgip();
OilMaterialBalance.Result o = OilMaterialBalance.fitGasCapDrive(f, eo, eg);
double u = VanEverdingenHurstAquifer.aquiferConstant(phi, ct, h, re, angleDeg);
double[] we = VanEverdingenHurstAquifer.cumulativeInfluxCarterTracy(tD, deltaP, u, reD);
See the neqsim-production-optimization skill for the full surveillance workflow.
Injection Strategy (Voidage Replacement)
InjectionStrategy strategy = InjectionStrategy.waterInjection(1.0);
InjectionResult injection = strategy.calculateInjection(
reservoir, oilRate, gasRate, waterRate
);
double requiredInjection = injection.waterInjectionRate;
Well Performance (IPR/VLP Nodal Analysis)
WellSystem well = new WellSystem("Producer-1", reservoirStream);
well.setIPRModel(WellSystem.IPRModel.VOGEL);
well.setVogelParameters(qTest, pwfTest, pRes);
well.setTubingLength(2500.0, "m");
well.setTubingDiameter(4.0, "in");
well.setPressureDropCorrelation(
TubingPerformance.PressureDropCorrelation.BEGGS_BRILL);
well.setWellheadPressure(50.0, "bara");
well.run();
double operatingRate = well.getOperatingFlowRate("Sm3/day");
double operatingBHP = well.getOperatingBHP("bara");
Production Network
NetworkSolver network = new NetworkSolver("Gathering System");
network.addWell(well1, 3.0);
network.addWell(well2, 5.5);
network.setSolutionMode(SolutionMode.FIXED_MANIFOLD_PRESSURE);
network.setManifoldPressure(60.0);
NetworkResult result = network.solve();
Production Forecasting
Decline Curves (Arps)
ProductionProfile profile = new ProductionProfile();
profile.setDeclineModel(ProductionProfile.DeclineModel.EXPONENTIAL);
profile.setPeakRate(25000.0);
profile.setDeclineRate(0.15);
profile.setPlateauDuration(3);
profile.setProjectLife(25);
double[] annualRates = profile.generateProfile();
Decline-Curve History Matching (Arps + Duong)
Fit decline parameters to a measured rate-time history and estimate EUR with
neqsim.pvtsimulation.util.DeclineCurveAnalysis (static, unit-agnostic):
import neqsim.pvtsimulation.util.DeclineCurveAnalysis;
Map<String, Double> arps = DeclineCurveAnalysis.fitArps(t, q);
double eur = DeclineCurveAnalysis.eurFromFit(arps, qEconLimit);
Map<String, Double> duong = DeclineCurveAnalysis.fitDuong(t, q);
Production Scheduling
FieldProductionScheduler scheduler = new FieldProductionScheduler();
scheduler.setNumberOfWells(6);
scheduler.setDrillingInterval(6);
scheduler.setFirstOil(2027);
scheduler.setWellProductivity(5000.0);
scheduler.setDeclineRate(0.12);
scheduler.setFacilityCapacity(28000.0);
double[][] schedule = scheduler.generateSchedule(25);
Well Scheduling
WellScheduler wellScheduler = new WellScheduler();
wellScheduler.setDrillingDaysPerWell(45);
wellScheduler.setCompletionDaysPerWell(25);
wellScheduler.setMobDemobDays(30);
wellScheduler.setRigs(1);
wellScheduler.setWells(6);
wellScheduler.setStartDate(2026, 1);
List<WellSchedule> schedule = wellScheduler.generate();
Facility Design Integration
Building a Process System from Concept
FacilityBuilder builder = new FacilityBuilder();
FacilityConfig config = new FacilityConfig();
config.setInletPressure(85.0);
config.setExportPressure(150.0);
config.setDesignRate(50000.0);
config.addBlock(BlockType.INLET_SEPARATION, new BlockConfig()
.set("stages", 2)
.set("hp_pressure", 70.0)
.set("lp_pressure", 5.0));
config.addBlock(BlockType.GAS_COMPRESSION, new BlockConfig()
.set("stages", 3)
.set("export_pressure", 150.0));
config.addBlock(BlockType.DEHYDRATION, new BlockConfig()
.set("type", "TEG"));
ProcessSystem process = builder.build(config, fluid);
process.run();
Bottleneck Analysis
BottleneckAnalyzer analyzer = new BottleneckAnalyzer(process);
analyzer.setReservoirDecline(reservoir);
analyzer.setRateRange(10000, 60000, 5000);
Map<String, Double> bottlenecks = analyzer.findBottlenecks();
Subsea Production Systems
Tieback Analysis
TiebackAnalyzer analyzer = new TiebackAnalyzer();
HostFacility host = new HostFacility("Platform A");
host.setAvailableCapacity(30000.0);
host.setProcessingPressure(70.0);
TiebackOption opt1 = new TiebackOption("Direct Tieback");
opt1.setFlowlineLength(15.0);
opt1.setFlowlineDiameter(10.0);
opt1.setWaterDepth(350.0);
TiebackOption opt2 = new TiebackOption("Via Manifold");
opt2.setFlowlineLength(25.0);
opt2.setFlowlineDiameter(12.0);
opt2.setWaterDepth(450.0);
opt2.setHasManifold(true);
opt2.setHasBooster(true);
analyzer.setHost(host);
analyzer.addOption(opt1);
analyzer.addOption(opt2);
analyzer.setFluid(reservoirFluid);
TiebackReport report = analyzer.analyze();
Subsea System Configuration
SubseaProductionSystem subsea = new SubseaProductionSystem("Subsea System");
subsea.setNumberOfWells(4);
subsea.setWaterDepth(350.0);
subsea.setFlowlineLength(25.0);
subsea.setUmbilicalLength(27.0);
subsea.setRiserType("flexible");
subsea.setTreeType("vertical");
subsea.setHasManifold(true);
subsea.setManifoldWells(4);
Key NeqSim Classes for Field Development
| Package | Class | Purpose |
|---|
process.fielddevelopment.workflow | FieldDevelopmentWorkflow | Master orchestrator |
process.fielddevelopment.concept | FieldConcept, ReservoirInput, WellsInput, InfrastructureInput | Concept definition |
process.fielddevelopment.evaluation | ConceptEvaluator, BatchConceptRunner, DevelopmentOptionRanker | Concept comparison |
process.fielddevelopment.evaluation | BottleneckAnalyzer, MonteCarloRunner, ScenarioAnalyzer | Analysis tools |
process.fielddevelopment.screening | FlowAssuranceScreener, SafetyScreener, EconomicsEstimator, EmissionsTracker | Screening |
process.fielddevelopment.economics | CashFlowEngine, NorwegianTaxModel, SensitivityAnalyzer | Economics |
process.fielddevelopment.facility | FacilityBuilder, FacilityConfig, ConceptToProcessLinker | Process facility |
process.fielddevelopment.tieback | TiebackAnalyzer, TiebackOption, HostFacility | Tieback screening |
process.fielddevelopment.subsea | SubseaProductionSystem | Subsea systems |
process.fielddevelopment.network | NetworkSolver, NetworkResult | Production network |
process.fielddevelopment.reservoir | , |
Common Patterns & Pitfalls
Always Verify API Before Use
NeqSim's field development classes are under active development. Before using any
class, search the source to confirm:
- The class exists and compiles
- Constructor signatures match expected parameters
- Methods have the expected return types
Temperature Units
ReservoirInput.setReservoirTemperature() — Celsius (field development classes)
SystemSrkEos(T, P) constructor — Kelvin
- Always confirm with source which convention each class uses
Production Rate Units
- NeqSim process equipment:
setFlowRate(value, "kg/hr") or "Sm3/hr"
- Field development classes: typically boe/d or Sm3/d
- Always specify units explicitly
EOS Selection for Field Development
| Fluid Type | EOS | Mixing Rule | Notes |
|---|
| Dry gas | SystemSrkEos | "classic" | Simplest, fastest |
| Gas condensate | SystemSrkEos or SystemPrEos | "classic" | PR better for liquid densities |
| Black oil | SystemPrEos | "classic" | Need C7+ characterization |
| Oil + water + MEG | SystemSrkCPAstatoil | 10 | CPA for polar systems |
| CO2-rich (CCS) | SystemSrkCPAstatoil | 10 | CPA for CO2-water |
| HP/HT reservoir | SystemPrEos or SystemSrkEos | "classic" | Validate against PVT data |
Fiscal Regime
- Norwegian NCS: 22% corporate + 56% special petroleum tax = 78% marginal rate
- UK UKCS: 30% ring-fence CT + 10% supplementary charge = 40% marginal rate
- Generic: Configurable via
GenericTaxModel
- Always use
CashFlowEngine with the correct country code