Method and system for field planning

Abstract

A method is presented for field planning. The method includes obtaining a shared earth model comprising the hydrocarbon field. The hydrocarbon field comprises an area of ground surface and a reservoir disposed beneath the area of ground surface. The method also includes obtaining a plurality of targets for the reservoir. Additionally, the method includes specifying one or more field planning parameters for accessing the plurality of targets from the surface. The method further includes determining a plurality of well site locations for an entirety of the hydrocarbon field using constraint optimization. The number of well site locations is minimized. The number of the plurality of targets accessible from the plurality of well site locations is maximized.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for field planning, comprising:
 obtaining a shared earth model comprising a hydrocarbon field, the hydrocarbon field comprising an area of ground surface and a reservoir disposed beneath the area of ground surface;   obtaining a plurality of targets for the reservoir;   specifying one or more field planning parameters for accessing the plurality of targets from the well sites; and   determining a plurality of well site locations for an entirety of the hydrocarbon field, wherein a number of well sites is minimized, and wherein a number of the plurality of targets accessible from the plurality of well sites is maximized.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 generating a cost function that optimizes for a number of the well site locations and a number of accessible targets of the plurality of targets;   generating a plurality of target groups, wherein a target group comprises a plurality of targets corresponding to a plurality of slots on a well site, and wherein only one target group comprises each of the plurality of targets; and   determining a plurality of well site locations corresponding to the plurality of target groups based on ground surface parameters and field planning parameters using optimization methodologies.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the field planning parameters comprise one or more ground surface parameters, wherein the ground surface parameters comprise a constraint corresponding to a ground surface obstacle. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the ground surface parameters comprise a constraint corresponding to a specified distance between the well site locations and the ground surface obstacle. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising determining a well trajectory for each of the plurality of slots to one of the plurality of targets. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cost function comprises a constraint corresponding to a specified distance between a well trajectory and a subsurface geo-hazard. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cost function comprises a constraint corresponding to a specified distance between trajectories to the plurality of targets. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the field planning parameters comprise one or more of:
 a number of slots on the well sites;   a spacing between the slots;   a maximum horizontal reach;   kick-off depth;   hold distances;   trajectory type;   an azimuth orientation of the well sites;   a hold and curve to target parameter; and   a dogleg severity.   
     
     
         9 . A system for field planning, comprising:
 a plurality of processors;   a machine readable medium comprising code configured to direct at least one of the plurality of processors to:   obtain a shared earth model comprising a hydrocarbon field, the hydrocarbon field comprising an area of ground surface and a reservoir disposed beneath the area of ground surface;   identify a plurality of targets for the reservoir;   specify one or more field planning parameters for accessing the plurality of targets from the surface; and   determine a plurality of well site locations for an entirety of the hydrocarbon field using constraint optimization, wherein a number of well site locations is minimized, and wherein a number of the plurality of targets accessible from the plurality of well sites is maximized.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , comprising code configured to direct at least one of the plurality of processors to:
 generate a cost function that optimizes for the number of well site locations and a number of accessible targets of the plurality of targets;   generate a plurality of target groups, wherein a target group comprises a plurality of targets corresponding to a plurality of slots on a well site, and wherein only one target group comprises each of the plurality of targets; and   determine a plurality of well site locations corresponding to the plurality of target groups based on the cost function.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the field planning parameters comprise one or more ground surface parameters, wherein the ground surface parameters comprise a constraint corresponding to a ground surface obstacle. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the ground surface parameters comprise a constraint corresponding to a specified distance between the well site locations and the ground surface obstacle. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , comprising code configured to direct at least one of the plurality of processors to determine a well trajectory for each of the plurality of slots to one of the plurality of targets. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the cost function comprises a constraint corresponding to a specified distance between the well trajectory and a subsurface geo-hazard. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the cost function comprises a constraint corresponding to a specified distance between trajectories to the plurality of targets. 
     
     
         16 . A method for producing hydrocarbons from an oil and/or gas field using a field planning method relating to a hydrocarbon field, the method for producing hydrocarbons comprising:
 obtaining a shared earth model comprising the hydrocarbon field, the hydrocarbon field comprising a surface, and a reservoir disposed beneath the surface;   obtaining a plurality of targets for the reservoir;   specifying one or more field planning parameters for accessing the plurality of targets from the surface; and   determining a plurality of well site locations for an entirety of the hydrocarbon field using constraint optimization, wherein a number of well site locations is minimized, and wherein a number of the plurality of targets accessible from the plurality of well site locations is maximized.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising:
 generating a cost function that optimizes for a number of the well site locations and a number of accessible targets of the plurality of targets;   generating a plurality of target groups, wherein a target group comprises a plurality of targets corresponding to a plurality of slots on a well site, and wherein only one target group comprises each of the plurality of targets; and   determining a plurality of well site locations corresponding to the plurality of target groups based on ground surface parameters and field planning parameters using optimization methodologies.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the field planning parameters comprise one or more ground surface parameters, wherein the ground surface parameters comprise a constraint corresponding to a ground surface obstacle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the ground surface parameters comprise a constraint corresponding to a specified distance between the well site locations and the ground surface obstacle. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising determining a well trajectory for each of the plurality of slots to one of the plurality of targets.