Abstract: A method for producing hydrocarbon fluid, such as crude oil and/or natural gas, through a well or well cluster of which the trajectory is at least partly defined and iteratively optimized by an well trajectory optimization algorithm that is coupled to a finite difference reservoir simulation program that represents a hydrocarbon fluid containing reservoir as a set of grid cells with a specified permeability and fluid content, wherein the algorithm: provides a virtual well with a series of virtual well branches that extend into cells in the vicinity of inflow points of the virtual well; and subsequently iteratively moves the inflow points of the virtual well or well cluster through the reservoir in order to optimize a reservoir depletion strategy that provides an optimized life cycle value of the well and/or well cluster and/or optimized Net Present Value (NPV) of the produced crude oil and/or natural gas.

Abstract: A method of heating a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation includes providing heat flux per volume to a first portion of a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation. The heat flux per volume is provided by two or more first heat sources positioned in the first portion. Heat flux per volume is provided to a second portion of the subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation with the heat flux per volume being provided by two or more second heat sources positioned in the second portion. The heat flux per volume provided by the two or more second heat sources is greater than the heat flux per volume provided by the two or more first heat sources. The second portion is positioned below the first portion.

Abstract: A method of heating a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation includes providing heat flux per volume to a first portion of a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation. The heat flux per volume is provided by two or more first heat sources positioned in the first portion. Heat flux per volume is provided to a second portion of the subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation with the heat flux per volume being provided by two or more second heat sources positioned in the second portion. The heat flux per volume provided by the two or more second heat sources is greater than the heat flux per volume provided by the two or more first heat sources. The second portion is positioned below the first portion.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing hydrocarbon fluid, such as crude oil and/or natural gas, through a well or well cluster of which the trajectory is at least partly defined and iteratively optimized by an well trajectory optimization algorithm which is coupled to a finite difference reservoir simulation program that represents a hydrocarbon fluid containing reservoir as a set of grid cells with a specified permeability and fluid content and which algorithm: provides a virtual well (101) with a series of virtual well branches (102) that extend into cells in the vicinity of inflow points of the virtual well (101); and subsequently iteratively moves the inflow points of the virtual well or well cluster through the reservoir in order to optimize a reservoir depletion strategy that provides an optimized life cycle value of the well and/or well cluster and/or optimized NPV of the produced crude oil and/or natural gas.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling production of oil and/or gas from an underground reservoir by means of a closed loop production control system, in which: an assembly of monitoring sensors (4) monitor the physical properties of hydrocarbon and other fluids within the reservoir; a plurality of high order and/or low order mathematical reservoir models (5,7) calculate each an estimate of the physical properties of hydrocarbon and other fluids in the hydrocarbon containing formation and in the wells; the mathematical reservoir models (5,7) are iteratively updated in response to data provided by the assembly of sensors such that any difference between the properties monitored by the assembly of sensors and those calculated by each of the reservoir models is minimized; an optimal mathematical reservoir model (5,7) or an optimal combination thereof is selected during at least one updating step for which an averaged difference between the calculated properties and the properties monitored by the assembly of sens

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling production of oil and/or gas from an underground reservoir by means of a closed loop production control system, in which: —an assembly of monitoring sensors (4) monitor the physical properties of hydrocarbon and other fluids within the reservoir; —a plurality of high order and/or low order mathematical reservoir models (5, 7) calculate each an estimate of the physical properties of hydrocarbon and other fluids in the hydrocarbon containing formation and in the wells; —the mathematical reservoir models (5, 7) are iteratively updated in response to data provided by the assembly of sensors such that any difference between the properties monitored by the assembly of sensors and those calculated by each of the reservoir models is minimized; —an optimal mathematical reservoir model (5, 7) or an optimal combination thereof is selected during at least one updating step for which an averaged difference between the calculated properties and the properties monitored by the assembly