Patent ID: 8849640
Filing Date: 2014-09-30
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A method of planning a drilling operation, the method comprising: obtaining at least two or more targeted regions based on data from a three-dimensional shared earth model; generating at least one targeted segment within each one of the at least two or more targeted regions, wherein the at least one targeted segment is a three dimensional volume defining a path through or within a respective one of the at least two or more targeted regions; evaluating, with at least one application agent, the at least one targeted segment within each one of the at least two or more targeted regions based on a potential payout in terms of production of hydrocarbons within the at least one targeted segment, wherein at least one targeted segment is characterized by its potential to be a partial segment of a potential well trajectory and to recover hydrocarbons from the one of the at least two or more targeted regions; identifying, after the generating and the evaluating, at least one well trajectory through the at least one targeted segment within each one of the at least two or more targeted regions, wherein the at least one application agent is adapted to define desired geometric constraints on the at least one well trajectory through the at least one targeted segment within each one of the at least two or more targeted regions; and evaluating, with the at least one application agent, the at least one well trajectory based on the potential payout in terms of at least one of production of hydrocarbons, drilling complexity, cost or stability of well planning.