US2016003008A1PendingUtilityA1

Reservoir Segment Evaluation for Well Planning

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Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Feb 11, 2013Filed: Dec 27, 2013Published: Jan 7, 2016
Est. expiryFeb 11, 2033(~6.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Ruben D. UribeJose J. Sequeira, Jr.Yao-Chou Cheng
E21B 7/00E21B 49/00G01V 11/00E21B 7/04E21B 43/00E21B 43/30E21B 41/0092E21B 47/0224E21B 41/00G01V 20/00
35
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Claims

Abstract

A method is presented for well planning. The method includes modeling one or more reservoir segments within a subsurface model. The reservoir segments, which are associated with target reservoirs, are evaluated prior to creating a well plan based on the reservoir segments to provide a fluid flow path from the reservoir targets to the well pad through the reservoir segments. The method enhances the well planning process through the use of these reservoir segments.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for obtaining hydrocarbons comprising:
 obtaining a three dimensional (3D) Earth model representing a subsurface region;   determining one or more reservoir targets within the 3D Earth model;   defining one or more reservoir segments in the 3D Earth model, wherein each of the reservoir segments pass through at least a portion of one of the target reservoirs;   evaluating the reservoir segments; and   creating a well plan based on the reservoir segments to provide a fluid flow path from the one or more reservoir targets to a well pad through the one or more of the reservoir segments.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein evaluating the reservoir segments comprises:
 calculating a cost function that minimizes net sand or net pay penetrated by one and/or more of the reservoir segments based on one or more of the reservoir segments; and   determining whether the calculated cost function is within a threshold.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein evaluating the reservoir segments comprises:
 calculating a cost function that minimizes the drilling cost and/or maximizes production of hydrocarbons based on one or more of the reservoir segments; and   determining whether the calculated cost function is within a threshold.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein evaluating the reservoir segments comprises:
 obtaining one or more of geographic data, geological data and seismic data associated with the subsurface region;   comparing the one or more of geographic data, geological data and seismic data associated with the subsurface region with the reservoir segments to verify the reservoir segments.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein geographic data comprises one or more of topography data and infrastructure data. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein geologic data comprises one or more of type of rock; structural framework and hazards. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising updating the reservoir segments if the cost function does not satisfy the threshold. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the reservoir segments are updated by changing one or more of inclination, orientation and location of the reservoir segments to optimize the cost function or based on the comparison. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein creating the well plan comprises determining a well trajectory for each of a plurality of slots in the well pad to one of the one or more reservoir segments. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein creating the well plan comprises evaluating the well pad location and well trajectories based on one or more of maximizing production of hydrocarbons, minimizing drilling complexity, and minimizing drilling cost. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein creating the well plan comprises:
 determining a common surface location for the well pad;   coupling the common surface location to the one or more reservoir segments; and   evaluating the well plan.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein evaluating the well plan comprises determining whether the drilling parameters are satisfied by the well plan. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein creating the well plan comprises determining whether a pad location and well trajectory satisfy the engineering constraints and/or geological constraints. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more reservoir segments comprise a straight section defined by two points between or relative to one or two surfaces. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more reservoir segments comprise a curved section defined by two points between or relative to one or two surfaces. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more reservoir segments comprise a continuous line defined by two points between or relative to one or two surfaces. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising defining one or more completion intervals after the one or more reservoir segments are defined; wherein the one or more completion intervals comprise one or more perforations and/or completion hardware. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 drilling one or more wellbore based on the well plan;   producing hydrocarbons from the one or more wellbores.   
     
     
         19 . A system for well planning comprising:
 a processor;   memory coupled to the processor; and   a set of instructions stored in the memory and accessible by the processor, wherein the set of instructions, when executed, are configured to:
 obtain a three dimensional (3D) Earth model representing a subsurface region; 
 determine one or more reservoir targets within the 3D Earth model; 
 define one or more reservoir segments in the 3D Earth model, wherein each of the reservoir segments pass through at least a portion of one of the target reservoirs; 
 evaluate the reservoir segments; and 
 create a well plan based on the reservoir segments to provide a fluid flow path from the one or more reservoir targets to a well pad from one or more of the reservoir segments. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the set of instructions to evaluate the reservoir segments are configured to:
 calculate a cost function that minimizes net sand or net pay penetrated by one and/or more of the reservoir segments based on one or more of the reservoir segments; and   determine whether the calculated cost function is within a threshold.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the set of instructions to evaluate the reservoir segments are configured to:
 calculate a cost function that minimizes the drilling cost and/or maximizes production of hydrocarbons based on one or more of the reservoir segments; and   determine whether the calculated cost function is within a threshold.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the set of instructions to evaluate the reservoir segments are configured to:
 obtain one or more of geographic data, geological data and seismic data associated with the subsurface region;   compare the one or more of geographic data, geological data and seismic data associated with the subsurface region with the reservoir segments to verify the reservoir segments.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the set of instructions are configured to obtain geographic data from memory, wherein the geographic data comprises one or more of topography data and infrastructure data. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the set of instructions are configured to obtain geologic data from memory, wherein geologic data comprises one or more of type of rock; structural framework and hazards. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the set of instructions are configured to update the reservoir segments if the cost function does not satisfy the threshold. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the set of instructions are configured to update the reservoir segments by changing one or more of inclination, orientation and location of the reservoir segments to optimize the cost function or based on the comparison. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the set of instructions to create the well plan are configured to determine a well trajectory for each of a plurality of slots in the well pad to one of the one or more reservoir segments. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the set of instructions to create the well plan are configured to evaluate the well pad location and well trajectories based on one or more of maximizing production of hydrocarbons, minimizing drilling complexity, and minimizing drilling cost. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the set of instructions to create the well plan are configured to:
 determine a common surface location for the well pad;   couple the common surface location to the one or more reservoir segments; and   evaluate the well plan.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the set of instructions to create the well plan are configured to determine whether the drilling parameters are satisfied by the well plan. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the set of instructions to create the well plan are configured to determine whether a pad location and well trajectory satisfy the engineering constraints and/or geological constraints. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the set of instructions are configured to calculate the one or more reservoir segments of a straight section defined by two points between or relative to one or two surfaces. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the set of instructions are configured to calculate the one or more reservoir segments of a curved section defined by two points between or relative to one or two surfaces. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the set of instructions are configured to calculate the one or more reservoir segments of a continuous line defined by two points between or relative to one or two surfaces. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the set of instructions are configured to define one or more completion intervals after the one or more reservoir segments are defined; wherein the one or more completion intervals comprise one or more perforations and/or completion hardware. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the set of instructions are configured to:
 drill one or more wellbore based on the well plan; and   produce hydrocarbons from the one or more wellbores.

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