The disclosure provides a method and apparatus for predicting an optimal exploitation approach for shale oil in-situ conversion. The method includes: determining a lower limit temperature required for completely converting convertible organic matter in a shale to be measured into oil and gas, based on a pre-established relationship between the temperature rise rate and the lower limit temperature; determining an optimal well distance of heating wells, based on a thermal field parameter of a target reservoir of interest, an optimal heating time corresponding to the lower limit temperature, and a pre-established relationship between an optimal well distance of heating wells and the optimal heating time; determining an oil yield equivalent based on a temperature and an oil yield equivalent of the shale; determining an optimal well pattern; the lower limit temperature, the optimal well distance of heating wells, the oil yield equivalent and the optimal well pattern are optimal parameters.

The disclosure provides a method and apparatus for predicting an optimal exploitation approach for shale oil in-situ conversion. The method includes: determining a lower limit temperature required for completely converting convertible organic matter in a shale to be measured into oil and gas, based on a pre-established relationship between the temperature rise rate and the lower limit temperature; determining an optimal well distance of heating wells, based on a thermal field parameter of a target reservoir of interest, an optimal heating time corresponding to the lower limit temperature, and a pre-established relationship between an optimal well distance of heating wells and the optimal heating time; determining an oil yield equivalent based on a temperature and an oil yield equivalent of the shale; determining an optimal well pattern; the lower limit temperature, the optimal well distance of heating wells, the oil yield equivalent and the optimal well pattern are optimal parameters.

Single well SAGD is improved by having one or more injection segments and two or more production segments between the toe end and the heel end of a flat, horizontal well. The additional injection points improve the rate of steam chamber development as well as the rate of production, as shown by simulations of a central injection segment bracketed by a pair of production segments (-P-I-P-), and by a pair of injection segments with three production segments (-P-I-P-I-P). Although the completion of the single well costs more, this configuration allows the development of thin plays that cannot be economically developed with traditional SAGD wellpairs.

Methods for making efficient use of steam in a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) process for recovering heavy oils from tar sands and similar petroleum deposits are disclosed. The methods utilize a surfactant to generate steam foam in ways that maximize efficient use of steam. In some aspects, steam foam is used in water layers or gas caps that reside above steam chambers to prevent loss of steam from the steam chamber. The predominant use of relatively dry steam in SAGD processes makes it challenging to find ways to introduce surfactants and generate steam foam. However, decreasing the mobility of the steam by converting at least some of it to foam allows the wellbore and steam chambers above the injection site to be more fully developed, provides for more effective heat transfer to the heavy oil and rock, improves production, and allows recovery of the heavy oil with a minimum amount of steam usage.

A well system comprising at least one gas well extending from a ground surface into the ground, a water production well extending from a surface into the ground and a water drainage well fluidly connecting the at least one gas well to the water production well.

A well system comprising at least one gas well extending from a ground surface into the ground, a water production well extending from a surface into the ground and a water drainage well fluidly connecting the at least one gas well to the water production well.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a process for producing dean energy from oil bearing reservoirs comprises the steps of: utilizing in-situ combustion to combust oil within an oil-bearing formation so as to generate thermal energy; producing the generated thermal energy to a surface using a purpose-built closed loop well system, the closed loop well system comprising a plurality of horizontal lateral circulation wells to circulate a working fluid between the ground-level surface and the subterranean oil-bearing formation so as to capture the generated thermal energy in the oil-bearing formation and transfer the captured generated thermal energy to the surface; and producing a plurality of combustion products to the surface using a plurality of production wells. A system for operating the process of producing clean energy from oil bearing reservoirs is also provided.

Techniques for determining trajectories for a plurality of wells while avoiding collision between wells are presented. The techniques can include determining a zone of uncertainty for individual wells of the plurality of wells, determining a minimum separation factor for individual wells of the plurality of wells, determining a gradient of a separation factor for at least one pair of wells the plurality of pairs of wells, updating a nudge position for at least one well, and providing nudge positions for the individual wells of the plurality of wells.

Techniques for determining trajectories for a plurality of wells while avoiding collision between wells are presented. The techniques can include determining a zone of uncertainty for individual wells of the plurality of wells, determining a minimum separation factor for individual wells of the plurality of wells, determining a gradient of a separation factor for at least one pair of wells the plurality of pairs of wells, updating a nudge position for at least one well, and providing nudge positions for the individual wells of the plurality of wells.

Embodiments of the invention include systems, methods, and computer-readable mediums for optimizing the placement of wells in a reservoir. Embodiments include, for example, determining for a reservoir a productivity index for each coordinate of a reservoir using reservoir metrics associated with the reservoir, generating a grid pattern of the reservoir using the productivity index with time values extracted for each coordinate, determining a total dynamic productivity index for each coordinate, and determining placement of one or more wells responsive to the total dynamic productivity index and minimum spacing between the one or more wells. Embodiments further include, for example, generating a production analysis report for the reservoir that includes an assessment of well placement and generating a wells placement map using one or more total dynamic productivity index indicators.