Method for optimizing well production in reservoirs having flow barriers

A method for optimizing the location of wells in a subsurface formation having flow barriers for use in hydrocarbon recovery from the subsurface formation, comprising:

• identifying, through a computer system, by-pass oil areas of the subsurface formation using one or more reservoir simulations;
• identifying, through a computer system, one or more flow barriers in the subsurface formation from well logs based on the by-pass oil areas identified by the one or more reservoir simulations;
• predicting a lateral extension of the identified one or more flow barriers in the subsurface formation;
• determining a placement of one or more horizontal infill wells, based upon the predicted lateral extension, at areas of the subsurface formation that have a predefined level of remaining oil saturation and such that the identified one or more flow barriers are positioned between the paths of the one or more horizontal infill wells and an area of contact between water and oil in the subsurface formation;
• and
• determining a placement of at least one horizontal well relative to an oil column of the subsurface formation based upon the placement of the one or more horizontal infill wells,
• wherein production of fluids, comprising hydrocarbons, from the at least one horizontal well optimizes hydrocarbon recovery from the subsurface formation.

A method for improving production of hydrocarbons from a subsurface formation having flow barriers, comprising:

• identifying by-pass oil areas of the subsurface formation using one or more reservoir simulations;
• identifying one or more flow barriers in the subsurface formation based on the by-pass oil areas identified by the one or more reservoir simulations;
• predicting a lateral extension of the identified one or more flow barriers in the subsurface formation;
• placing one or more horizontal infill wells, based upon the predicted lateral extension, at areas of the subsurface formation that have a predefined level of remaining oil saturation and such that the identified one or more flow barriers are positioned between the paths of the one or more horizontal infill wells and an area of contact between water and oil in the subsurface formation;
• placing at least one horizontal well relative to an oil column of the subsurface formation based upon placement of the one or more horizontal infill wells;
• and
• producing fluids comprising hydrocarbons from the at least one horizontal well with small drawdown, thereby improving production of hydrocarbons from the subsurface formation.

A system for use in optimizing the location of wells in a subsurface formation having flow barriers for use in hydrocarbon recovery from the subsurface formation, the system comprising:

• one or more data structures resident in a memory for storing data representing of by-pass oil areas in the subsurface formation from one or more reservoir simulations;
• and
• software instructions, for executing on one or more data processors, to identify one or more flow barriers in the subsurface formation based on the by-pass oil areas identified by the one or more reservoir simulations and to predict a lateral extension of the identified flow barriers in the subsurface formation;
• wherein:
• based upon the predicted lateral extension, one or more horizontal infill wells are placed at areas of the subsurface formation that have a predefined level of remaining oil saturation and such that the one or more flow barriers are positioned between the paths of the one or more horizontal infill wells and an area of contact between water and oil in the subsurface formation;
• based upon placement of the one or more horizontal infill wells, at least one horizontal well is placed relative to an oil column of the subsurface formation;
• and
• production of fluids, comprising hydrocarbons, from the at least one horizontal well optimizes hydrocarbon recovery from the subsurface formation.