Hydrocarbon Extraction Planning via Stress-Aware Well Trajectory Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for hydrocarbon extraction from underground reservoirs do not adequately consider time-varying stress and faulting when determining take point and injector well placement, leading to inefficient hydrocarbon recovery and increased drilling risks.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that model hydrocarbon formations under expected production conditions to select completion parameters and borehole trajectories based on time-varying stress and faulting, optimizing take point and injector well placement to reduce costs and enhance production efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If take point placement and completion types are determined using sophisticated reservoir models and geo-mechanical modeling, then production efficiency and formation stability are improved, but drilling costs and project complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs comprehensive reservoir modeling, stress analysis, and completion optimization in the planning phase before drilling begins. By predetermined optimal take point locations, completion types, and borehole trajectories based on simulated production scenarios, the system eliminates the need for complex real-time adjustments during drilling operations, thus resolving the contradiction between improved productivity and reduced complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses automated algorithms to analyze reservoir data, predict stress conditions, and determine optimal completions without requiring extensive manual intervention. The self-service capability of the modeling system to generate drilling plans reduces operational complexity while maintaining high productivity through data-driven decision-making.
2Ease of manufacture
If borehole trajectories are selected based on shortest distance to take points, then drilling cost is reduced, but drilling risk increases due to unfavorable stress directions
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the optimization parameter for borehole trajectory selection from purely geometric (shortest distance) to a composite parameter that includes both distance and stress direction compatibility. By incorporating stress orientation data into the trajectory optimization algorithm, the system identifies paths that balance drilling cost with drilling risk, achieving moderate cost increase for significant risk reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces stress analysis as an intermediary factor between take point location and borehole trajectory selection. Rather than directly connecting these elements, the stress regime acts as a mediator that modifies the optimal path, ensuring trajectories avoid high-risk stress zones while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
3Device complexity
If completion parameters are selected without considering time-varying stress, then project complexity is reduced, but formation stability and production reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary stress evolution analysis to predict how stress conditions will change over the production lifecycle. By determining completion parameters that account for future stress states before drilling begins, the system ensures long-term formation stability without requiring complex real-time monitoring and adjustment mechanisms, thus maintaining relatively simple operational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system of planning hydrocarbon extraction from a hydrocarbon formation. The various methods and systems take a holistic approach to producer well placement and completion, injector well placement and completion, and borehole trajectories to reach the various producer wells and injector wells, the placement and completion selections based on parameters such as initial and expected time-varying stress in the formation, stress in overburden formations, and proximity to faults.