According to one embodiment, there is provided herein a system and method for producing a well lifecycle lift plan that includes considerations of multiple types of lift, multiple lift configurations associated with each lift type, and can be used to provide a prediction of when or if it would be desirable to change the lift plan at some time in the future. Another embodiment utilizes a heuristic database with rules that might be used to limit the solution space in some instances by restricting the solution to feasible configurations. A further embodiment teaches how multiple individual well optimization results might be combined with a reservoir model to obtain an optimized lift schedule for an entire field.
Please help me write a proper abstract based on the patent claims. CLAIM: 1. A method of managing production in a hydrocarbon producing well, comprising the steps of: a. accessing a decline curve for the well, said decline curve predicting production from the well over a predetermined period of time at a plurality of different time points; b. selecting a plurality of lift types, each of said lift types being associated with two or more different lift configurations; c. selecting a time point from among said plurality of different time points; d. for each of said plurality of lift types and said associated two or more different lift configurations, calculating a performance lift model value at said selected time point; e. using said decline curve and any of said calculated performance model values at said selected time point to determine a set of feasible equipment configurations at said selected time point; f. for each of said determined set of feasible equipment configurations at said selected time point, determining an objective function value; g. performing steps (c) through (f) for each of said plurality of different time points, thereby producing a network of feasible objective function values; h. determining a minimum travel path through said network of feasible objective function values, thereby obtaining a lifecycle lift plan for the well; and, i. implementing at least a portion of said lifecycle lift plan for the well. 2. The method of managing production in a hydrocarbon producing well according to claim 1, wherein said objective function value is a cost objective function value. 3. The method of managing production in a hydrocarbon producing well according to claim 1, wherein said objective function value is one of a maximum production value, a minimum changeover cost value, and a minimum downtime value. 4. The method of managing production in a hydrocarbon producing well according to claim 1, wherein step (f) comprises the step of: for each of said determined set of feasible equipment configurations at said selected time point, determining an objective function value that includes a cost to operate said feasible equipment configuration for a predetermined period of time. 5. The method of managing production in a hydrocarbon producing well according to claim 3, wherein said predetermined period of time is five years. 6. The method of managing production in a hydrocarbon producing well according to claim 1, wherein said objective function is a cost objective function and step (h) comprises the steps of (h1) determining a minimum travel path through said network of feasible cost objective function values, thereby obtaining a lifecycle lift plan for the well, and, (h2) based on said lifecycle lift plan calculating a net present value of said minimum travel path through said network of feasible cost objective function. 7. The method of managing production in a hydrocarbon producing well according to claim 1, wherein is provided a rules engine, and wherein step (e) comprises the step of: e. using said decline curve, any of said calculated performance model values at said selected time point, and said rules engine to determine a set of feasible equipment configurations at said selected time point; 8. The method of managing production in a hydrocarbon producing well according to claim 1, wherein is provided a rules engine, and wherein step (e) comprises the step of: e. using said decline curve, any of said calculated performance model values at said selected time point, and said rules engine to determine a set of feasible equipment configurations at said selected time point; 9. The method of managing production in a hydrocarbon producing well according to claim 1, wherein is provided a rules engine containing a plurality of heuristic risk values, and wherein said objective function value comprises a cost objective function value weighted by one or more of said heuristic risk values. 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said decline curve predicts a production of at least one of gas, oil, and water as a function of time. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said determined objective function value of step (f) comprises at least one of a cost to operate, a cost of a changeover, a cost of a work over, and a cost of a power usage. 12. A method of managing production in a hydrocarbon producing well, comprising the steps of: a. accessing a well lifecycle lift plan calculated according to the steps of: (1) accessing a decline curve for the well, said decline curve predicting production from the well over a predetermined period of time at a plurality of different time points; (2) selecting a plurality of lift types, each of said lift types being associated with two or more different lift configurations; (3) selecting a time point from among said plurality of different time points; (4) for each of said plurality of lift types and said associated two or more different lift configurations, calculating a performance lift model value at said selected time point; (5) using said decline curve and any of said calculated performance model values at said selected time point to determine a set of feasible equipment configurations at said selected time point; (6) for each of said determined set of feasible equipment configurations at said selected time point, determining an objective function value; (7) performing steps (3) through (6) for each of said plurality of different time points, thereby producing a network of feasible objective function values; (8) determining a minimum travel path through said network of feasible objective function values, thereby obtaining a lifecycle lift plan for the well; and, b. implementing at least a portion of said well lifecycle lift plan for the well. 13. A method of managing production in a hydrocarbon producing well, comprising the steps of: a. selecting a plurality of lift types, each of said lift types being associated with two or more different lift configurations; in a computer: (1) accessing a decline curve for the well, said decline curve predicting production from the well over a predetermined period of time at a plurality of different time points; (2) selecting a plurality of lift types, each of said lift types being associated with two or more different lift configurations; (3) selecting a time point from among said plurality of different time points; (4) for each of said plurality of lift types and said associated two or more different lift configurations, calculating a performance lift model value at said selected time point; (5) using said decline curve and any of said calculated performance model values at said selected time point to determine a set of feasible equipment configurations at said selected time point; (6) for each of said determined set of feasible equipment configurations at said selected time point, determining an objective function value; (7) performing steps (3) through (6) for each of said plurality of different time points, thereby producing a network of feasible objective function values; (8) determining a minimum travel path through said network of feasible objective function values, thereby obtaining a lifecycle lift plan for the well; and, b. making at least one lift decision for the well based on said lifecycle lift plan.