Process for defining the locations of a plurality of wells in a field, related system and computer program product

A well drilling system, comprising:

• an electronic system configured to define the location of a plurality of wells in a field, the locations being used in a drilling operation to drill at least a well in the field, the electronic system comprising a computer having a processor configured to:
• acquire a geocellular model of the field, the model defining a plurality of cells, each cell being provided with fluid properties including at least a fluid density property and at least a fluid flow property for at least two fluid phases;
• select a group of potential cells able to become a well location;
• and
• position wells one after another in the group of potential cells by:
• determining for each cell of the group of potential cells, at least a fluid property insertion point driver representative of a fluid property maximization, the fluid property insertion point driver being calculated by using a window average of the fluid property taken around the cell;
• determining for each cell of the group of potential cells, at least a maximized distance insertion point driver representative of a maximization distance to another cell or group of cells having at least an undesired property, the undesired property being chosen among a cell containing a fluid phase which production from or injection into is not desired or a cell containing a well of the same type that the well being positioned, the at least one maximized distance insertion point driver being determined for each cell by using a diffusive time of flight from the cell to the cell or group of cells having undesired properties;
• determining for each cell of the group of potential cells a combined insertion point driver based at least on the fluid property insertion point driver and the maximized distance insertion point driver, each insertion point driver being determined for each cell as normalized relative to the maximal value of the same insertion point driver among the cells of the group of potential cells;
• and
• defining a well insertion point of the well being positioned at the cell having a maximal combined insertion point driver;
• and
• a driller configured to drill the plurality of wells at locations in the field corresponding to each of the defined well insertion points.

A process to define the locations of a plurality of wells in a field, the process being carried out by an electronic location defining computer and comprising:

• acquiring a geocellular model of the field, the geocellular model defining a plurality of cells, each cell being provided with fluid properties including at least a fluid density property and at least a fluid flow property for at least two fluid phases;
• selecting a group of potential cells able to become a well location;
• positioning wells one after another in the group of potential cells, each positioning of a well comprising:
• calculating for each cell of the group of potential cells, at least one fluid property insertion point driver representative of a fluid property maximization;
• calculating for each cell of the group of potential cells, at least one maximized distance insertion point driver, representative of a maximization of a distance to another cell or group of cells having at least an undesired property, the undesired property being chosen among a cell containing a fluid phase which production from or injection into is not desired or a cell containing a well of the same type that the well being positioned;
• calculating for each cell of the group of potential cells a combined insertion point driver based on the at least one fluid property insertion point driver and the at least one maximized distance insertion point driver,
• determining a cell among each cell of the group of potential cells among having a maximal combined insertion point driver;
• and
• defining a well insertion point of the well, the well insertion point being positioned at the cell having a maximal combined insertion point driver;
• and
• drilling the plurality of wells at locations in the field corresponding to each of the defined well insertion points,
• wherein the fluid property insertion point driver is calculated based on a window average of the fluid property taken around the cell, and
• wherein the fluid property insertion point driver is calculated from a decreasing moving average in at least two directions from each cell.

A process to define the locations of a plurality of wells in a field, the process being carried out by an electronic location defining computer and comprising:

• acquiring a geocellular model of the field, the geocellular model defining a plurality of cells, each cell being provided with fluid properties including at least a fluid density property and at least a fluid flow property for at least two fluid phases;
• selecting a group of potential cells able to become a well location;
• positioning wells one after another in the group of potential cells, each positioning of a well comprising:
• calculating for each cell of the group of potential cells, at least one fluid property insertion point driver representative of a fluid property maximization;
• calculating for each cell of the group of potential cells, at least one maximized distance insertion point driver, representative of a maximization of a distance to another cell or group of cells having at least an undesired property, the undesired property being chosen among a cell containing a fluid phase which production from or injection into is not desired or a cell containing a well of the same type that the well being positioned;
• calculating for each cell of the group of potential cells a combined insertion point driver based on the at least one fluid property insertion point driver and the at least one maximized distance insertion point driver,
• determining a cell among each cell of the group of potential cells among having a maximal combined insertion point driver;
• and
• defining a well insertion point of the well, the well insertion point being positioned at the cell having a maximal combined insertion point driver;
• and
• drilling the plurality of wells at locations in the field corresponding to each of the defined well insertion points,
• wherein each successive positioning of a well comprises, after at least an insertion point of a well has been positioned, defining a toe and a heel of the well based on a predefined drain length distance.