Title: Well placement optimisation using a productivity potential area map

Authors: Jihun Jung; Dongkwon Han; Sunil Kwon

Addresses: Department of Energy and Mineral Resources Engineering, Dong-A University, 550-37 Nakdong-daero, Saha-gu, Busan 49315, South Korea ' Department of Energy and Mineral Resources Engineering, Dong-A University, 550-37 Nakdong-daero, Saha-gu, Busan 49315, South Korea ' Department of Energy and Mineral Resources Engineering, Dong-A University, 550-37 Nakdong-daero, Saha-gu, Busan 49315, South Korea

Abstract: This paper presents a method for placing wells during the development of oil and gas fields, and during production. A well placement model developed using an optimisation algorithm that automatically searches for the best well locations can help increase efficiency, provide objective decision making, and reduce risk. A productivity potential map (PPM) derives well locations from static reservoir properties and can describe the properties of a heterogeneous reservoir. However, it can only determine values at individual locations and cannot consider the interference of pressure drops at well production site. Thus, we have defined a new concept called the productivity potential area map, which uses the sum total of all PPM values influenced by each well, and a radius of investigation equation, to select well locations in a reservoir. Using this concept, we demonstrate that it is possible to quickly determine well locations with good productivity and identify the most promising areas. [Received: July 30, 2018; Accepted: February 6, 2020]

Keywords: well placement; productivity potential area map; PPAM; reservoir simulation; radius of investigation; low permeability zone.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2021.114858

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2021 Vol.27 No.1, pp.41 - 53

Accepted: 06 Feb 2020
Published online: 10 May 2021 *

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