Locating optimum location for well drilling using genetic algorithms

In this paper the genetic algorithm (GA) is used as an optimization tool to estimate the optimum location for well drilling. Locating the suitable reservoir to drill a well is a real time petroleum engineering problem. An effective solution to this problem involving the use of GA technique is presented here. The GA is found to be a useful optimization tool, capable of locating global optimum while accumulating useful information about the response surface. Because the GA provides a directed, randomized search using a population of points, local hill climbing can be avoided. Geological surface data for porosity and permeability properties of the reservoir rock, which is implemented as the two dimensional search space for the problem, is used as model parameters. The final solution will indicate the finding of most optimum location for a well drilling operation. This finding can have important financial impact on the operation and investment in petroleum industry by avoiding a 'dry well'.