Evolutionary Computation for Valves Control Optimization in Intelligent Wells Under Uncertainties

This work presents a new decision support system for intelligent wells control considering technical uncertainties. The intelligent control of valves operation tends to become a competitive advantage for reservoirs development. Such control refers to the opening and shutting of the valves that distinguish the intelligent wells. The strategy consists in identifying a valve configuration that maximizes the net present value. The developed system uses Genetic Algorithms, reservoir simulation, Monte Carlo simulation, techniques of sampling variance reduction and uncertainties representation by probability distribution and geologic sceneries. The theoretical concepts applied and the implementation of a system capable of supporting, managing and developing the intelligent fields, constitute an advance to petroleum exploration area. The obtained results demonstrate that the approach given to the problem and the used methodologies deal with the control valves in an efficient and practical way.