Maximus’ Model Building Environment allows the User to construct models very easily indeed.  Various options can be selected from the Maximus menus and toolbars (see figure).  More details of the menus applicable to model building and definition are given below.

Model building in Maximus is achieved using the Network Editor.  This is a sophisticated drawing software that allows Users to connect physical objects, such as reservoirs, tubings, manifolds and pipelines together to create a network model of their system.  For more details see the discussion on the Network Editor. To edit the individual objects in the network model, the user simply ‘double-clicks’ on the object and enters data (e.g. pipeline diameter) through its dialog.

Maximus’ Menu System & Toolbars

 

File and Edit Menus

The File and Edit provide the usual functionality expected from Windows programs.

Mode Menu

The Mode menu option allows the User to select the type of simulation operation that is required.  This operations divide into Basic Operations and Super Operations as listed below. 

Basic Operations

·        Snapshot – simulation of a model at a given instant with a single set of boundary conditions or specifications

·        Life of Field – simulation of a model through field life modifying boundary conditions as required e.g. reducing reservoir pressures

Super Operations

·        Sensitivity Analysis – perform simulations changing specifications in a systematic way thus investigating the sensitivity to given parameters

·        Model Correlation – perform data reconciliation to tune production system model to measured operating data

·        Optimisation – perform continuous variable optimisation of a given objective function with specified parameters, e.g. maximise oil production rate

·        Monte Carlo – perform simulations changing uncertain parameters in a stochastic manner thus establishing the distributions of calculated parameters

·        Economic Analysis – perform simulations, size and cost equipment and calculate econometrics (e.g. NPV or IRR) for field development

Setup and Global Menus

The Setup and Global menu options allow the User to define parameters and correlation options for a particular network model, i.e. the model that is currently highlighted.  The options available on the Setup and Global menus are as follows:

·        Units of Measurement – select the preferred system of units for the simulation model (i.e. SI or Engineering) and tailor these as desired

·        Numerical Parameters – for example solution tolerances, maximum iteration limits applied to simulation calculations etc

·       Simulation Operations – settings for simulation operations e.g. start and end times for Life-of-Field simulation

·        Object Defaults – default parameters to be used when creating new objects e.g. wall roughness for a new pipeline

·        Fluid Model Options – select between Blackoil or Compositional and define the correlation options comprising these Fluid Models

·        Define Estimates – provide estimates to be used for unknown parameters to initialise solution algorithms

·        Custom Results – define customised results to best suit the User’s problem

Object Menu

The Object menu option allows the User to select different objects (e.g. pipeline, compressor etc).  These options are also available from the toolbar.