Creating Platform Positioning Maps Representing Surface Pad Location Feasibility

A non-transitory program carrier device tangibly carrying computer-executable instructions for creating a platform positioning map for validating a current surface pad location and determining the suitability of another surface pad location, the instructions being executable to implement:

• determining a position for each pixel in an area of interest;
• determining if each pixel position is valid;
• assigning one of a first color and a first grey-scale shade to each pixel subject to an invalid pixel position, the first color and the first grey-scale shade representing an invalid position for a surface pad location where drilling cannot be conducted without at least one of a surface constraint and a subsurface constraint;
• calculating a value for each pixel with a valid pixel position;
• assigning one of a second color and a second grey-scale shade to each pixel subject to the respective value, the second color and the second grey-scale shade representing at least (1) lateral well but less than a full set of lateral wells can be planned from a valid pixel position for a surface pad location;
• and
• assigning one of a third color and a third grey-scale shade to each pixel subject to the respective value, the third color and the third grey-scale shade representing a full set of lateral wells can be planned from a valid pixel position for a surface pad location.

A non-transitory program carrier device tangibly carrying computer-executable instructions for creating a platform positioning map for validating a current surface pad location and determining the suitability of another surface pad location, the instructions being executable to implement:

• determining a position for each pixel in an area of interest;
• assigning one of a first color and a first grey-scale shade to each pixel subject to an invalid pixel position, the first color and the first grey-scale shade representing an invalid position for a surface pad location where drilling cannot be conducted without at least one of a surface constraint and a subsurface constraint;
• calculating a value for each pixel with a valid pixel position;
• assigning one of a second color and a second grey-scale shade to each pixel subject to the respective value, the second color and the second grey-scale shade representing at least (1) lateral well but less than a full set of lateral wells can be planned from a valid pixel position for a surface pad location;
• assigning one of a third color and a third grey-scale shade to each pixel subject to the respective value, the third color and the third grey-scale shade representing a full set of lateral wells can be planned from a valid pixel position for a surface pad location;
• and
• displaying each pixel in the area of interest.