NSGA-II-trained neural network approach to the estimation of prediction intervals of scale deposition rate in oil & gas equipment

► We predict scale rate occurred on the equipment used in the oil & gas production industry. ► We use NSGA-II to train a NN to provide PIs of the scale deposition rate. ► We optimize both the interval width and coverage probability to increase the accuracy of the PIs. ► The method is successfully applied to a set of experimental observations. Scale deposition can damage equipment in the oil & gas production industry. Hence, the reliable and accurate prediction of the scale deposition rate is critical for production availability. In this study, we consider the problem of predicting the scale deposition rate, providing an indication of the associated prediction uncertainty. We tackle the problem using an empirical modeling approach, based on experimental data. Specifically, we implement a multi-objective genetic algorithm (namely, non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm–II (NSGA-II)) to train a neural network (NN) (i.e. to find its parameters, that is its weights and biases) to provide the prediction intervals (PIs) of the scale deposition rate. The PIs are optimized both in terms of accuracy (coverage probability) and dimension (width). We perform k-fold cross-validation to guide the choice of the NN structure (i.e. the number of hidden neurons). We use hypervolume indicator metric to evaluate the Pareto fronts in the validation step. A case study is considered, with regards to a set of experimental observations: the NSGA-II-trained neural network is shown capable of providing PIs with both high coverage and small width.