Lateral Wellbore Planning in Irregular Mineral Boundaries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Planning the layout of lateral wellbores within irregularly shaped mineral rights boundaries in shale formations is challenging due to the difficulty in achieving economically viable and thorough hydrocarbon extraction, as traditional methods often result in inadequate coverage and inefficient well placement.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that logically divides the irregular polygon boundary into contiguous sub-areas, plans and selects layouts for lateral wellbores in each sub-area along distinct azimuthal directions, and combines these layouts to create an overall layout that optimizes hydrocarbon extraction, using a computer system with a processor, memory, and display device to facilitate the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional well layout methods are used in irregular mineral rights boundaries, then the process is simpler, but the hydrocarbon extraction coverage is inadequate and economically unviable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the irregular mineral rights boundary into multiple regular sub-areas (rectangular or square grids) that can be independently planned. This segmentation allows each sub-area to be optimized for maximum hydrocarbon extraction while maintaining simple, systematic planning procedures. The complex irregular boundary is transformed into manageable regular sections, resolving the contradiction between extraction coverage and planning complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different well layout configurations to different sub-areas based on their specific characteristics. Each sub-area can have customized well spacing, orientation, and pattern (e.g., linear, staggered, or radial) optimized for local geological conditions and boundary constraints, thereby maximizing overall extraction coverage without requiring a single complex unified plan.
2Productivity
If wells are placed to maximize drainage coverage, then hydrocarbon extraction improves, but the time and effort required for planning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-establishes standardized well layout patterns and spacing configurations that have been optimized for maximum drainage coverage. These pre-planned templates can be quickly applied to each sub-area, eliminating the need for time-consuming iterative optimization while ensuring optimal drainage coverage is achieved from the outset.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically varies key parameters such as well spacing, azimuthal direction, and lateral length across different sub-areas to optimize drainage coverage. By methodically adjusting these parameters according to standardized procedures rather than ad-hoc analysis, the patent achieves comprehensive drainage coverage while minimizing planning time through structured parameter optimization.
3Area of stationary object
If a single azimuthal direction is used for all wellbores, then the layout is simpler to plan, but the coverage of irregular boundaries is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the irregular boundary into multiple sub-areas, each of which can be assigned a specific azimuthal direction optimized for that local region. This segmentation allows different orientations to be used in different sub-areas, achieving comprehensive boundary coverage while keeping each individual sub-area layout relatively simple and systematic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric azimuthal directions in different sub-areas to match the irregular geometry of the mineral rights boundary. Rather than forcing a symmetric uniform orientation, the layout adapts asymmetric orientations to each sub-area's specific shape and boundary constraints, maximizing coverage of the irregular overall boundary while maintaining local simplicity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Planning lateral wellbores within irregular boundaries. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: logically dividing an irregular polygon into a plurality of contiguous sub-areas, the irregular polygon representing an outer boundary of mineral rights; planning a first plurality of layouts of lateral wellbores residing in a first sub-area, each layout along a distinct azimuthal direction; selecting a layout of the first plurality of layouts based on a selection criteria, the selecting creates a first selected layout; planning a second plurality of layouts of lateral wellbores residing in a second sub-area; selecting a layout of the second plurality of layouts based on a selection criteria, the selecting creates a second selected layout; creating an overall layout for the irregular polygon by combining the first and second selected layouts; and displaying the overall layout on a display device.