System and method for planning a well path
First Claim
1. A method for planning a well path, comprising:
- defining a proxy constraint volume as a three-dimensional (3D) cellular volume having one or more cells, where each cell has at least one value derived from data from a 3D earth model;
defining an initial well path within user defined drilling parameter constraints;
defining acceptable constraint parameters to be applied to values derived from an intersection of the initial well path and the proxy constraint volume;
if the intersection of the initial well path and the proxy constraint volume is within the acceptable constraint parameters, indicating the initial well path is within the acceptable constraint parameters; and
if the intersection of the initial well path and the proxy constraint volume is not within the acceptable constraint parameters, iteratively adjusting the initial well path to create successive well paths until at least one of the successive well paths is within the acceptable constraint parameters for the values derived from the intersection of the well path and proxy constraint volume.
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Abstract
A system and method for planning a well path is described. An exemplary method comprises defining a proxy constraint volume as a three-dimensional (3D) cellular volume where each cell has at least one value derived from data from a 3D earth model. An initial well path is defined within user defined drilling parameter constraints. The exemplary method comprises defining acceptable constraint parameters to be applied to values derived from an intersection of the initial well path and the proxy constraint volume. If the intersection of the initial well path and the proxy constraint volume is not within the acceptable constraint parameters, the initial well path may be iteratively adjusted to create successive well paths until at least one of the successive well paths is within the acceptable constraint parameters for the values derived from the intersection of the well path and proxy constraint volume.
207 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for planning a well path, comprising:
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defining a proxy constraint volume as a three-dimensional (3D) cellular volume having one or more cells, where each cell has at least one value derived from data from a 3D earth model; defining an initial well path within user defined drilling parameter constraints; defining acceptable constraint parameters to be applied to values derived from an intersection of the initial well path and the proxy constraint volume; if the intersection of the initial well path and the proxy constraint volume is within the acceptable constraint parameters, indicating the initial well path is within the acceptable constraint parameters; and if the intersection of the initial well path and the proxy constraint volume is not within the acceptable constraint parameters, iteratively adjusting the initial well path to create successive well paths until at least one of the successive well paths is within the acceptable constraint parameters for the values derived from the intersection of the well path and proxy constraint volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for producing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon field using a physical property model representative of a physical property of the hydrocarbon field, the method comprising:
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defining a proxy constraint volume as a three-dimensional (3D) cellular volume having one or more cells, where each cell has at least one value derived from data from a 3D earth model representing the hydrocarbon field; defining an initial well path within user defined drilling parameter constraints; defining acceptable constraint parameters to be applied to values derived from an intersection of the initial well path and the proxy constraint volume; if the intersection of the initial well path and the proxy constraint volume is within the acceptable constraint parameters, indicating the initial well path is within the acceptable constraint parameters; and if the intersection of the initial well path and the proxy constraint volume is not within the acceptable constraint parameters, iteratively adjusting the initial well path to create successive well paths until at least one of the successive well paths is within the acceptable constraint parameters for the values derived from the intersection of the well path and proxy constraint volume; drilling a well according to the initial well path or one of the successive well paths that is within the acceptable constraint parameters; and extracting hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon field from the well. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer system that is adapted to perform a well-planning process, the computer system comprising:
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a processor; and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium that stores computer-readable instructions for execution by the processor, the computer-readable instructions comprising; code that, when executed by the processor, is adapted to cause the processor to define a proxy constraint volume as a three-dimensional (3D) cellular volume having one or more cells, where each cell has at least one value derived from data from a 3D earth model; code that, when executed by the processor, is adapted to define an initial well path within user defined drilling parameter constraints; code that, when executed by the processor, is adapted to cause the processor to define acceptable constraint parameters to be applied to values derived from an intersection of the initial well path and the proxy constraint volume; code that, when executed by the processor, is adapted to cause the processor to, if the intersection of the initial well path and the proxy constraint volume is within the acceptable constraint parameters, indicate the initial well path is within the acceptable constraint parameters; and code that, when executed by the processor, is adapted to cause the processor to, if the intersection of the initial well path and the proxy constraint volume is not within the acceptable constraint parameters, iteratively adjust the initial well path to create successive well paths until at least one of the successive well paths is within the acceptable constraint parameters for the values derived from the intersection of the well path and proxy constraint volume. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification