Drilling Pad Positioning via Inversion and Local Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for positioning drilling pads in horizontal well field development are not optimal, as they fail to consider the precise location and spacing of each horizontal well, boundaries, and surface/subsurface hazards effectively, leading to suboptimal results, especially in terrain-constrained areas.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines the optimal positioning of multiple drilling pads within a predetermined boundary by computing seed point locations, adjusting for row and column spacings, and evaluating the placement based on a total value computation, while avoiding hazards through 'walking' techniques to ensure maximum coverage with the fewest pad locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional targeting algorithms are used to generate pad locations, then the maximum number of targets can be filled, but the pad locations are not optimally distributed and do not achieve maximum coverage with the fewest pad locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by not directly optimizing pad locations to maximize target coverage, but instead optimizing them to minimize the number of pad locations while maintaining adequate coverage. This inversion transforms the objective function from maximizing targets per pad to minimizing total pads needed, thereby improving overall development efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optimization parameter from target coverage density to spatial distribution uniformity. By adjusting the objective function to evaluate pad locations based on even distribution across the field rather than concentrated target filling, the system achieves better overall coverage with fewer pads
2Productivity
If pad locations are densely concentrated to maximize coverage, then more wells can be drilled, but the terrain constraints and hazards make site preparation too expensive or infeasible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by evaluating each potential pad location against specific local constraints such as terrain suitability, surface hazards, and subsurface hazards. Instead of uniform placement, the system adapts pad locations to local conditions, selecting sites that are both optimal for well spacing and suitable for construction, thereby maintaining productivity while avoiding problematic areas
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary evaluation layer between the target locations and pad placements. This intermediary step assesses terrain and hazard conditions for each potential pad site, acting as a mediator that reconciles the need for dense pad placement with the constraints of difficult terrain and hazardous areas
3Device complexity
If throw away targeting is used to simplify the process, then computation is faster, but the results are less effective in terrain-constrained regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-evaluating terrain and hazard data before generating pad locations. Instead of performing simple targeting and then adjusting for constraints, the system incorporates constraint awareness into the initial pad location generation process, thereby achieving both computational efficiency and placement precision in terrain-constrained regions
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for optimal positioning of drilling pads for horizontal well field development considering the location and spacing of each horizontal well, boundaries and surface/subsurface hazards.