Patent ID: 9494017
Filing Date: 2016-11-15
CPC Classification: E21B

Claim Text:
1. A method for determining appraisal locations in a reservoir system, which comprises: creating a geocellular model using a computer processor; defining a first priority area for the geocellular model using predetermined priority rule levels and one of a plurality of hydrocarbon recovery production values determined by a first simulation; defining a second priority area for the geocellular model using predetermined priority rule levels and one of a plurality of adjusted hydrocarbon recovery production values determined by a second simulation based on the first priority area, wherein the second priority area is constrained by the first priority area; defining an optimal portfolio for one or more appraisal patterns determined by a third simulation based on the second priority area using one of a plurality of objective function values determined by the third simulation, wherein the optimal portfolio is constrained by the second priority area; identifying common appraisal locations in the optimal portfolio; calculating a ranking value for each respective common appraisal location using a respective critical risk and opportunity size; discretizing each ranking value by predetermined priority levels; removing each of the common appraisal locations inside a predetermined coverage area that do not have a highest priority level, the common appraisal locations inside the predetermined coverage area that have the highest priority level representing all remaining common appraisal locations; and creating a sequential appraisal plan using the remaining common appraisal locations and at least one of available drilling activity and drilling capacity for a specified interest period of the sequential appraisal plan.