Patent · US Active

Automated field development planning of well and drainage locations

US8005658B2 · kind B2 · utility

28Cited by
5References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 31, 2007
Grant dateAug 23, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 17, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B41/00
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A hybrid evolutionary algorithm (“HEA”) technique is described for automatically calculating well and drainage locations in a field. The technique includes planning a set of wells on a static reservoir model using an automated well planner tool that designs realistic wells that satisfy drilling and construction constraints. A subset of these locations is then selected based on dynamic flow simulation using a cost function that maximizes recovery or economic benefit. In particular, a large population of candidate targets, drain holes and trajectories is initially created using fast calculation analysis tools of cost and value, and as the workflow proceeds, the population size is reduced in each successive operation, thereby facilitating use of increasingly sophisticated calculation analysis tools for economic valuation of the reservoir while reducing overall time required to obtain the result. In the final operation, only a small number of full reservoir simulations are required for the most promising FDPs.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.