Abstract: A method of selecting the positions of wells to be drilled for the development of a petroleum reservoir from a set of reservoir images. Well configurations are optimized by calculating a first quality criterion using a flow simulator applied to a limited number of reservoir images. Previously obtained configuration simulation results previously obtained are used for configurations physically close to the configuration to be assessed. A second reservoir development quality criterion is calculated for the optimized configurations using a flow simulator applied to each image of the reservoir. Finally, the well location corresponding to the optimized configuration having the best second quality criterion is selected.

Abstract: A method of selecting the positions of wells to be drilled for the development of a petroleum reservoir from a set of reservoir images. Well configurations are optimized by calculating a first quality criterion using a flow simulator applied to a limited number of reservoir images. Previously obtained configuration simulation results previously obtained are used for configurations physically close to the configuration to be assessed. A second reservoir development quality criterion is calculated for the optimized configurations using a flow simulator applied to each image of the reservoir. Finally, the well location corresponding to the optimized configuration having the best second quality criterion is selected.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining well placements, or drainage areas, in a hydrocarbon reservoir to facilitate operation of the reservoir. Drainage area configurations are generated randomly, by generating, for each configuration, placements for each drainage area. The placements of each drainage area are determined to optimize a quality criterion, by an iterative optimization algorithm during which for first iterations, the quality criterion is evaluated by a flow simulator, and for subsequent iterations, an approximate evaluation model of the quality criterion is constructed. The quality of the approximate model is evaluated and the quality criterion is determined by the approximate model or by the flow simulator according to the quality of this approximate model.