Patent ID: 8543364

Claim:
A method for optimizing the location of wells in a subsurface formation having flow barriers for use in hydrocarbon recovery from the subsurface formation, comprising: receiving, through a computer system, data indicative of by-pass oil areas in the subsurface formation from one or more reservoir simulations; identifying, through a computer system, one or more flow barriers in the subsurface formation based on the by-pass oil areas identified by the one or more reservoir simulations; and predicting a lateral extension of the identified one or more flow barriers in the subsurface formation; wherein, based upon the predicted lateral extension, one or more horizontal infill wells are placed at areas of the subsurface formation that have a predefined level of remaining oil saturation and such that the identified one or more flow barriers are positioned between the paths of the one or more horizontal infill wells and an area of contact between water and oil in the subsurface formation; and wherein production of fluids, comprising hydrocarbons, from the one or more horizontal infill wells optimizes hydrocarbon recovery from the subsurface formation.