The application of Complex Wells (CW) as a component of an optimized field development strategy at single well, sector model and or small scale multi-well level is generally well understood. In contrast, the application, modeling and optimization of a full field strategy inclusive of CW remains a daunting industry challenge. This paper describes a highly successful four-step workflow to manage, assess and model the qualification of a CW optimization strategy at a full field model scale. The paper utilizes a field case to illuminate a CW field wide optimization - extended production plateau, increased production rates and CW completion strategies - approach as compared to single, sector and or multi-well level CW model derived field development decisions. In this paper, complex wells include; Multi-laterals (ML) and Maximum Reservoir Contact wells (MRC) inclusive of down-hole Internal Control Devices (ICD), Equalizers (ICD or equalizers) and or Internal Control Valves (ICV). The workflow starts with reservoir understanding and identifying the need for CW. A sector model is then extracted from the full field model to conduct detailed well level analysis. This is followed by defining well sensitivity cases, that may include a range of field development decision scenarios and a resultant optimization strategy that recommends a combined conventional and CW field optimization approach. From sensitivity cases, the best fit well(s) case scenario is identified. Thereafter, the optimized well(s) strategy is applied to the full field model and evaluated under uncertainty. Detailed analysis is conducted on both the sector and full field models including well location, orientation, placement, length, and target zones for various CW configurations. The resultant development strategy is an optimized full field CW development decision approach including for example; improved sweep efficiency, delayed water breakthrough, improved oil recovery, reduced water handling expense, reduced produced water, extended oil plateau duration and reduced environmental impact. Introduction A field development plan that supports optimized cost, maximize production plateau duration and recovery (maximizing net present value) is a primary target of all studies. Although simply stated, the scale and complexity of most studies presents many challenges to a successful study outcome. For example, the requirement to investigate all possible study decisions and or strategies (e.g., depletion, water injection, etc.), the potential of various well types (i.e., vertical, horizontal, maximum reservoir contact, etc.), the range of potential well completions (e.g., open hole, ICVs, ICDs, etc), alternative optimization tactics (e.g., water injection voidage replacement, well spacing, etc.), and finally the need to consider full study uncertainty analysis and a specific study objective function (e.g., recovery, NPV, etc.). Most attempts to handle the scale and complexity of most projects opt to reduce study complexity by reducing the number of study variables either on the uncertainty or decision side1,2. Such an approach, in our experience, omits critical project decision factors, leading to misleading project decisions and results.

An enormous volume of data, models and decisions are gathered and generated in each and every integrated study. The ability and opportunity, however, for a multi-disciplinary project team, including management, to easily browse, review, visualize and analyze in-progress and final cross-discipline study results in a fast, responsive and easily comprehendible manner does not readily exist. Likewise, it is challenging to easily visualize the impact (potential gain and / or loss) of study uncertainties and alternative study decisions. It is suggested that the integrated Studies Decision Synergy (SDS) initiative is a major new industry step change innovation that is unparalleled in enabling a level of integrated multidisciplinary study synergy across all technical and management professionals at a pace not achieved by traditional industry means. The SDS initiative is composed of five primary components: (1) An integrated multidisciplinary study process (the Event Solution process approach), (2) A proxy, also known as a response surface, to quickly interrogate all study results, (3) Data storage and data mining, (4) Fast, interactive 2D and 3D plotting and mapping, and finally, (5) A user interface enabling process oriented study practice. This paper presents the evolutionary development (technology and process) and study improvement impact (technical workflows, study decisions and results) of the SDS initiative as an innovation product of the Saudi Aramco Event Solution Study Approach (Elrafie et al., 2007). The paper is supported with sanitized illustrations from completed world-class scaled reservoir studies. Additionally, the paper explores potential SDS applications including: (1) Real-time simulation, and (2) A content rich staff skill set development program. The ultimate objective of the SDS initiative is to facilitate easy access, retrieval and visualization of all integrated reservoir study data and decisions by a wide multidisciplinary technical and management community with a specific focus on critical study results and the relationships that exist between: (1) Study uncertainties (static, dynamic, timing, and financial), and (2) Study decisions (strategic, well and operations tactics) in the achievement and success of the project objective (i.e., off take rate, oil recovery, oil rate plateau extent, NPV, etc.).

The application and adoption of collaboration centers in the E&P industry has increased significantly in the past decade. The benefits of collaboration center utilization have been clearly identified including the delivery of cost-effective and fully integrated multidiscipline field, reservoir and well management decisions.Saudi Aramco has established a number of collaboration centers that directly capitalize on large scale, multidiscipline, value added technical and business collaborations. These centers, for instance, cover areas of Exploration, Geosteering, Real-time Drilling, Field Development, Production and Intelligent Field Management. Tangible economic and technical benefits of such collaboration encompasses: improved recovery, improved technical workflows, technology innovation, enhanced staff skill set development, and significant reduction of critical field development study cycle times. This paper outlines Saudi Aramco's experience from 5 years of utilizing multidiscipline collaboration workrooms with a focus on facility design, technology (software and hardware) support and lessons learned.

In this paper, we present an update of the highly successful Event Solution process (SPE 105276, The Event Solution; a New Approach for Fully Integrated Studies Covering Uncertainty Analysis and Risk Assessment).The Event Solution is a short, intensively collaborative, multi-disciplinary field development optimization study approach that compresses complex, multi-year, study decision cycle times into weeks / months with increased clarity and detail on a wider range of development options, under uncertainty. The Event Solution is a highly successful study approach that creates significant value added synergy (understanding, decisions, technical and business) among all stakeholders (technical professionals, managers, executives and partners). Project results are faster with more qualified decisions (operational, tactical, strategy and portfolio) that encompass the complexity and diversity of multiple project realizations under uncertainty.

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