Selecting potential well location in a reservoir grid model

Abstract

Systems and methods for selecting potential well locations in a reservoir grid model using a bounding box with grid-block dimensions to calculate a total original gas-in-place (OGIP) and/or original oil-in-place (OOIP) for each bounding box associated with a potential well location.

1 . A method for selecting potential well locations in a reservoir, which comprises:
 a) selecting a bounding box with grid-block dimensions;   b) selecting a surface grid-block for a potential well location in a reservoir grid model comprising multiple grid-blocks;   c) positioning the bounding box around the surface grid-block;   d) calculating a total original gas-in-place in the bounding box using an original gas-in-place for each grid-block in the bounding box;   e) repeating steps b)-d) for each surface grid-block in the reservoir grid model using a computer processor; and   f) selecting a largest total original gas-in-place calculated for a bounding box, which represents a bounding box with surface grid-block coordinates for a best well location.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the surface grid-block coordinates for the best well location to drill a well. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the grid-block dimensions for the bounding box are a same odd number representing a preferred length and width of the bounding box and a depth of the bounding box substantially corresponds to a grid-block depth of the reservoir grid model. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the bounding box is positioned around the selected surface grid-block so that one side of the bounding box is co-terminus with an exterior side of the selected surface grid-block and the selected surface grid-block is equidistant between the preferred length and width of the bounding box. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each grid-block in the reservoir grid model includes the same dimensions. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 g) selecting each total original gas-in-place calculated for a bounding box positioned around a surface grid-block that is within a predetermined number of surface grid-blocks from the surface grid-block with coordinates for the best well location.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein each selected total original gas-in-place represents a bounding box with surface grid-block coordinates for a potential well location. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising using the surface grid-block coordinates for the best well location and each potential well location to prepare a field development plan. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , repeating steps a)-g) using another bounding box and another predetermined number of surface grid-blocks. 
     
     
         10 . A non-transitory program carrier device tangibly carrying computer-executable instructions for selecting potential well locations in a reservoir, the instructions being executable to implement:
 a) selecting a bounding box with grid-block dimensions;   b) selecting a surface grid-block for a potential well location in a reservoir grid model comprising multiple grid-blocks;   c) positioning the bounding box around the surface grid-block;   d) calculating a total original gas-in-place in the bounding box using an original gas-in-place for each grid-block in the bounding box;   e) repeating steps b)-d) for each surface grid-block in the reservoir grid model; and   f) selecting a largest total original gas-in-place calculated for a bounding box, which represents a bounding box with surface grid-block coordinates for a best well location.   
     
     
         11 . The program carrier device of  claim 10 , further comprising using the surface grid-block coordinates for the best well location to drill a well. 
     
     
         12 . The program carrier device of  claim 10 , wherein the grid-block dimensions for the bounding box are a same odd number representing a preferred length and width of the bounding box and a depth of the bounding box substantially corresponds to a grid-block depth of the reservoir grid model. 
     
     
         13 . The program carrier device of  claim 12 , wherein the bounding box is positioned around the selected surface grid-block so that one side of the bounding box is co-terminus with an exterior side of the selected surface grid-block and the selected surface grid-block is equidistant between the preferred length and width of the bounding box. 
     
     
         14 . The program carrier device of  claim 10 , wherein each grid-block in the reservoir grid model includes the same dimensions. 
     
     
         15 . The program carrier device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 g) selecting each total original gas-in-place calculated for a bounding box positioned around a surface grid-block that is within a predetermined number of surface grid-blocks from the surface grid-block with coordinates for the best well location.   
     
     
         16 . The program carrier device of  claim 15 , wherein each selected total original gas-in-place represents a bounding box with surface grid-block coordinates for a potential well location. 
     
     
         17 . The program carrier device of  claim 16 , further comprising using the surface grid-block coordinates for the best well location and each potential well location to prepare a field development plan. 
     
     
         18 . The program carrier device of  claim 16 , repeating steps a)-g) using another bounding box and another predetermined number of surface grid-blocks. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory program carrier device tangibly carrying computer-executable instructions for selecting potential well locations in a reservoir, the instructions being executable to implement:
 a) selecting a bounding box;   b) selecting a surface grid-block for a potential well location in a reservoir grid model comprising multiple grid-blocks;   c) positioning the bounding box around the surface grid-block;   d) calculating a total original gas-in-place in the bounding box using an original gas-in-place for each grid-block in the bounding box;   e) repeating steps b)-d) for each surface grid-block in the reservoir grid model;   f) selecting a largest total original gas-in-place calculated for a bounding box, which represents a bounding box with surface grid-block coordinates for a best well location; and   g) selecting each total original gas-in-place calculated for a bounding box positioned around a surface grid-block that is within a predetermined number of surface grid-blocks from the surface grid-block with coordinates for the best well location.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory program carrier device of  claim 19 , further comprising using the surface grid-block coordinates for the best well location to drill a well.