Patent ID: 9708899
Date: 2017-07-18
CPC Classifications: E21B,G01V

Claim:
1. A computer-based method for optimizing operation of at least one oilfield device that performs an operation carried out by instructions executing on a computer, on a hydrocarbon reservoir, the performed method operation comprising: for each given iteration t in a number of successive iterations over increasing time, performing a sequence of operations for the given iteration t that include: (i) using at least one optimal setting for the at least one oilfield device determined from all previous iterations up to t−1 as input to a plurality of reservoir model simulations to determine forecasted oilfield measurements for the hydrocarbon reservoir, wherein the plurality of reservoir model simulations of (i) use a plurality of reservoir models that represent uncertainty associated with the hydrocarbon reservoir, (ii) grouping the forecasted oilfield measurements into clusters, and (iii) using the clusters of forecasted oilfield measurements to configure a plurality of reservoir model simulations to determine at least one optimal setting for the at least one oilfield device for the given iteration t, wherein (a) the plurality of reservoir model simulations of (iii) use a plurality of reservoir models that represent uncertainty associated with the hydrocarbon reservoir and (b) the clusters of forecasted oilfield measurements are grouped in (ii) to correspond to a partition of a state space of the plurality of reservoir model simulations of (iii); and dynamically adjusting operation of the at least one oilfield device on the hydrocarbon reservoir to change at least one aspect of production of the hydrocarbon reservoir, wherein the dynamically adjusting uses the at least one optimal setting determined for the number of successive iterations to account for a reduction of uncertainty associated with the hydrocarbon reservoir over time.