Optimization of Multilateral Well Placement in a Thin Oil Rim Complicated by a Large Gas Cap

The proportion of hard-to-recover hydrocarbon reserves is steadily increasing, making it critical to develop technologies that enhance hydrocarbon recovery rates. One effective method to increase oil recovery and extend the reach of reserves is drilling multilateral wells with a fishbone trajectory. In the Russian Federation, the most complex multilateral well was drilled at the Srednebotuobinskoye oil and gas condensate field in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The main development target, the Botuobinsky horizon, contains about 75% of its reserves in a thin oil rim, with an average oil-saturated thickness of 10 meters and an extensive gas cap, making development challenging. One of the critical design stages for such wells is determining the optimal placement within the oil-saturated reservoir. This paper presents sector modeling results using the Tempest simulator to find the best location for multilateral wells at the Srednebotuobinskoye field.