Thesis title: Integrated framework for constrained optimization of well placement and control in subsurface operations

Date and time: Monday, December 4, 9:30 AM PST

Location: Green Earth Sciences Buildings, Room 365

Abstract:

The use of formal optimization procedures for hydrocarbon production and geological carbon storage enables the most effective operating strategies to be identified. These optimizations are challenging computationally as function evaluations are expensive, the objective function is complex and multimodal, and nonlinear constraints of several types may appear. In this work, we first introduce an efficient and general framework incorporating suitable algorithms and constraint treatments for such optimization problems. We then apply the framework for well placement and control optimizations for geological carbon storage involving practical linear and nonlinear constraints. A multifidelity approach is utilized to achieve computational savings. Single-objective and biobjective optimization results will be presented. Finally, we develop a global transmissibility upscaling approach with near-well local grid refinement for carbon storage problems and incorporate the upscaled models into optimizations.