Hydrocarbon recovery from conventional reservoirs is decreasing and the need to produce oil cheaply from mature, marginal and unconventional reservoirs poses a big challenge to the industry today. Multilateral well technology can provide innovative solutions to these problems and prove to be the most likely tool to propel the industry in the next century. In this research we propose a new multilateral well architecture for more efficient and effective field drainage. We study the architecture from a reservoir engineering point of view and analyze the effect of various design parameters such as branch density and penetration extent of laterals on the performance of the proposed architecture for homogeneous reservoirs. We also analyze the performance in case of anisotropic reservoirs. The numerical simulation results show that the multilateral wells usually help improve the overall cumulative production from a reservoir as compared to conventional wells. Also, they provide the added benefit of faster field drainage and present a more attractive return on investment. In this thesis we also present the results for a representative field case analysis. The rapidly changing Solution GOR contributed to making the oil viscous, which reduced the problem to optimize the mother bore location. In addition to these numerical studies we perform analytic studies to develop quick estimates of the theoretical limits of Productivity Index of the proposed architecture. We use known results from the literature to test their validity to estimate the upper and lower bounds on productivity. The results show that current tools to determine the lower limit is insufficient to predict performance.

Hydrocarbon recovery from conventional reservoirs is decreasing and the need to produce oil cheaply from mature, marginal and unconventional reservoirs poses a big challenge to the industry today. Multilateral well technology can provide innovative solutions to these problems and prove to be the most likely tool to propel the industry in the next century. In this research we propose a new multilateral well architecture for more efficient and effective field drainage. We study the architecture from a reservoir engineering point of view and analyze the effect of various design parameters such as branch density and penetration extent of laterals on the performance of the proposed architecture for homogeneous reservoirs. We also analyze the performance in case of anisotropic reservoirs. The numerical simulation results show that the multilateral wells usually help improve the overall cumulative production from a reservoir as compared to conventional wells. Also, they provide the added benefit of faster field drainage and present a more attractive return on investment. In this thesis we also present the results for a representative field case analysis. The rapidly changing Solution GOR contributed to making the oil viscous, which reduced the problem to optimize the mother bore location. In addition to these numerical studies we perform analytic studies to develop quick estimates of the theoretical limits of Productivity Index of the proposed architecture. We use known results from the literature to test their validity to estimate the upper and lower bounds on productivity. The results show that current tools to determine the lower limit is insufficient to predict performance.

Horizontal, undulating, and multilateral wells are relatively new alternatives in field development because they can increase the productivity per well and reduce the cost of field development. Because the feasibility of these wells may not be valid in some reservoirs, well performance should be verified before making decisions. Undulation is usually associated to horizontal wells with some degrees. Existing inflow performance models do not account for the undulation of the well, which can cause significant error and economic loss. Moreover, some of the inflow models ignore pressure drop along the lateral, which is definitely not true in high production and long lateral wells. The inflow performance models of horizontal, undulating, and multilateral wells are developed in this study. The models can be divided into two main categories: the closed form model and the line source model. The closed form model applies for relatively low vertical permeability formations for the single-phase system and twophase system. The model is flexible and easy to apply with reasonable accuracy. The line source model does not have any restrictions with permeability. The model applies for single-phase system. The model is very accurate and easy to use. Both models can be applied to various well trajectories with realizable accuracy. As a result of this study, the well performance of unconventional well trajectories can be predicted and optimized.

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Multilateral well technology has been widely used in the world oil fields. There still has technical limitation of these kinds of well structure. This thesis presents a new multilateral well architecture which is more flexible and economical. The performance of new multilateral well in heterogeneous reservoirs is studied, and that is compared with vertical well architecture also. In order to study the productivity of new multilateral wells, we use a numerical simulation method to set up heterogeneous reservoir models. The three reservoir models included anisotropic permeability, shale multi-layer, and flow units. Under a pseudo-steady-state, the productivities of horizontal laterals and deviated laterals are calculated and compared. We find that new multilateral well architecture has good performance in heterogeneous reservoir. The heterogeneous properties of reservoirs influence the productivity of horizontal laterals more than deviated laterals. The shale multi-layer and flow units that dominate the fluid flow in reservoirs are important for reservoir characterization.

Multilateral well technology has been widely used in the world oil fields. There still has technical limitation of these kinds of well structure. This thesis presents a new multilateral well architecture which is more flexible and economical. The performance of new multilateral well in heterogeneous reservoirs is studied, and that is compared with vertical well architecture also. In order to study the productivity of new multilateral wells, we use a numerical simulation method to set up heterogeneous reservoir models. The three reservoir models included anisotropic permeability, shale multi-layer, and flow units. Under a pseudo-steady-state, the productivities of horizontal laterals and deviated laterals are calculated and compared. We find that new multilateral well architecture has good performance in heterogeneous reservoir. The heterogeneous properties of reservoirs influence the productivity of horizontal laterals more than deviated laterals. The shale multi-layer and flow units that dominate the fluid flow in reservoirs are important for reservoir characterization.

A foco desta tese acontece sobre o processo de concepção e de implementação de um projeto com financiamento multilateral, sendo realizada uma análise das relações sociais e políticas entre os Governos Brasileiros e os Bancos Multilaterais de Desenvolvimento (BMDs). O objetivo principal é compreender o arranjo institucional dos BMDs e do Estado Brasileiro e suas implicações no processo de planejamento territorial, a partir do caso do Estado do Ceará. A pesquisa teórica passa primeiramente pela análise da evolução do conceito de desenvolvimento, destacando as interpretações dadas pelas instituições globais de poder, iluminando o fundamental papel dos BMDs na construção e na disseminação de uma compreensão global de desenvolvimento. É discutido também o entrelaçamento dos BMDs com as políticas de desenvolvimento do Brasil desde meados do século XX até a primeira década do século XXI. Para a pesquisa empírica foram escolhidos três projetos de desenvolvimento territorial ainda em fase de implementação pelo Governo do Ceará, financiados individualmente pelos Banco Mundial, Banco Interamericano (BID), Corporação Andina de Fomento (CAF). A análise desses projetos reforçou o argumento de que a década de 1990 foi uma década de alinhamento entre os governos brasileiros e os BMDs, o que, no caso particular do Estado do Ceará, deu-se harmoniosamente, a partir do \"Governo das Mudanças\" (1987-2006), com o início da sistematização do planejamento territorial no Ceará. Os BMDs, além de financiadores, foram responsáveis por grande parte da metodologia de planejamento aplicada hoje no Estado do Ceará. A compreensão do papel que o Brasil representa para as instituições financeiras multilaterais foi fundamental para a reflexão sobre a mudança de relacionamento entre o Estado Brasileiro e os Bancos Multilaterais no início do século XXI, iluminando que não somente os BMDs são importantes para o Brasil, como também o Brasil transformou-se em um importante \"player\" na arquitetura do financiamento multilateral. Isso ocorre tanto pelo seu peso financeiro, como também por se configurar um grande território de geração e exportação de best practices. As entrevistas com funcionários dos bancos e com servidores públicos do Governo do Estado conformaram o método fundamental desta tese. Outros caminhos consistiram na análise de dados primários fornecidos pelas Unidades de Gerenciamento de Projeto e adquiridos nos sites dos bancos. / The focus of this thesis is on the process of planning and of implementation of a project with multilateral financing, analyzing social and political relations between Brazilian governments and the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs). The main objective is to understand the institutional arrangement of the MDBs and the Brazilian State and its implications in the spatial planning process, from the case of the State of Ceara. Firstly the theoretical research approaches the evolution of the concept of development, highlighting the interpretations given by global institutions of power, sheding light on the fundamental role of the MDBs in the construction and the dissemination of a global understanding of development. The interweaving of the MDBs with Brazil\'s development policies is also discussed, from the mid-twentieth century to the first decade of twenty-first century. For the empirical research, three spatial development projects, still under implementation by Government of Ceara, were selected, which are individually financed by the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Andean Development Corporation (CAF). The analysis of these projects reinforced the argument that the 1990s were a decade of alignment between the Brazilian governments and the MDBs. In the particular case of the State of Ceara, it has harmoniously occurred, from the \"Government of Changes\" (1987-2006), with the start of the systematization of the spatial planning. The MDBs, as well as financiers, were responsible for much of the planning methodology applied today in the State of Ceara. The understanding of the role that Brazil represents for the multilateral financial institutions was fundamental for the reflection on the change of relationship between the Brazilian State and the Multilateral Banks in the early 21st century, enlightening that not only the MDBs are important for Brazil, but also because Brazil has become an important player in the architecture of multilateral financing. This is due both to its financial influence and to consist in a great territory for the generation and export of best practices. Interviews with bank employees and public servants of Ceara are the fundamental method of this thesis. Other paths are the analysis of primary data provided by the project management units and on banks\' websites.

Práce se zabývá transnacionálními korporacemi, zejména metodami jejich financování. Zaměřuje se hlavně na metody specifické pro tyto společnosti v porovnání s lokálně působícími podniky. V úvodu se zabývá obecnými charakteristikami transnacionálních korporací - jejich definováním, typy, statistickými údaji, jejich významem a vlivem na národní ekonomiky a etickými otázkami. V druhé části se zabývá strategiemi užívanými pro financování transnacionálních korporací, hlavně problematikou opatřování finančních zdrojů, centralizací finančních toků, využíváním inflačního vývoje a změn měnových kurzů a využíváním rozdílů v daňových systémech. Podrobněji je analyzována problematika multilateral nettingu, poolingu a transferových cen.

A foco desta tese acontece sobre o processo de concepção e de implementação de um projeto com financiamento multilateral, sendo realizada uma análise das relações sociais e políticas entre os Governos Brasileiros e os Bancos Multilaterais de Desenvolvimento (BMDs). O objetivo principal é compreender o arranjo institucional dos BMDs e do Estado Brasileiro e suas implicações no processo de planejamento territorial, a partir do caso do Estado do Ceará. A pesquisa teórica passa primeiramente pela análise da evolução do conceito de desenvolvimento, destacando as interpretações dadas pelas instituições globais de poder, iluminando o fundamental papel dos BMDs na construção e na disseminação de uma compreensão global de desenvolvimento. É discutido também o entrelaçamento dos BMDs com as políticas de desenvolvimento do Brasil desde meados do século XX até a primeira década do século XXI. Para a pesquisa empírica foram escolhidos três projetos de desenvolvimento territorial ainda em fase de implementação pelo Governo do Ceará, financiados individualmente pelos Banco Mundial, Banco Interamericano (BID), Corporação Andina de Fomento (CAF). A análise desses projetos reforçou o argumento de que a década de 1990 foi uma década de alinhamento entre os governos brasileiros e os BMDs, o que, no caso particular do Estado do Ceará, deu-se harmoniosamente, a partir do \"Governo das Mudanças\" (1987-2006), com o início da sistematização do planejamento territorial no Ceará. Os BMDs, além de financiadores, foram responsáveis por grande parte da metodologia de planejamento aplicada hoje no Estado do Ceará. A compreensão do papel que o Brasil representa para as instituições financeiras multilaterais foi fundamental para a reflexão sobre a mudança de relacionamento entre o Estado Brasileiro e os Bancos Multilaterais no início do século XXI, iluminando que não somente os BMDs são importantes para o Brasil, como também o Brasil transformou-se em um importante \"player\" na arquitetura do financiamento multilateral. Isso ocorre tanto pelo seu peso financeiro, como também por se configurar um grande território de geração e exportação de best practices. As entrevistas com funcionários dos bancos e com servidores públicos do Governo do Estado conformaram o método fundamental desta tese. Outros caminhos consistiram na análise de dados primários fornecidos pelas Unidades de Gerenciamento de Projeto e adquiridos nos sites dos bancos. / The focus of this thesis is on the process of planning and of implementation of a project with multilateral financing, analyzing social and political relations between Brazilian governments and the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs). The main objective is to understand the institutional arrangement of the MDBs and the Brazilian State and its implications in the spatial planning process, from the case of the State of Ceara. Firstly the theoretical research approaches the evolution of the concept of development, highlighting the interpretations given by global institutions of power, sheding light on the fundamental role of the MDBs in the construction and the dissemination of a global understanding of development. The interweaving of the MDBs with Brazil\'s development policies is also discussed, from the mid-twentieth century to the first decade of twenty-first century. For the empirical research, three spatial development projects, still under implementation by Government of Ceara, were selected, which are individually financed by the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Andean Development Corporation (CAF). The analysis of these projects reinforced the argument that the 1990s were a decade of alignment between the Brazilian governments and the MDBs. In the particular case of the State of Ceara, it has harmoniously occurred, from the \"Government of Changes\" (1987-2006), with the start of the systematization of the spatial planning. The MDBs, as well as financiers, were responsible for much of the planning methodology applied today in the State of Ceara. The understanding of the role that Brazil represents for the multilateral financial institutions was fundamental for the reflection on the change of relationship between the Brazilian State and the Multilateral Banks in the early 21st century, enlightening that not only the MDBs are important for Brazil, but also because Brazil has become an important player in the architecture of multilateral financing. This is due both to its financial influence and to consist in a great territory for the generation and export of best practices. Interviews with bank employees and public servants of Ceara are the fundamental method of this thesis. Other paths are the analysis of primary data provided by the project management units and on banks\' websites.

The main objective of this study is to investigate the applicability of a new multilateral well architecture in the domain of small size and offshore gas fields. The new architecture completely reverses the current multilateral technology. The innovative concept suggests that laterals can be achieved like any conventional wells. They could be drilled from the surface and tied back to a common wellbore referred to as the mother well. Production would go through the toe of laterals into the mother well. The mother well could be as simple as a large diameter casing equipped with prepared connections to tie in feeder wells. This study looked past the mechanical challenge of achieving the new architecture. I demonstrated important benefits in terms of cost reduction, well completion and operations, and reservoir drainage. I looked at a typical field case, Phoenix, located in West Africa. Its actual development plan targets an ultimate recovery of 600 BCF with a total of four sub-vertical wells. I implemented a new development scenario with the innovative multilateral architecture. For comparison purposes, I achieved a reservoir simulation and a production forecast with both scenarios. The only simulation variable was the well architecture definition. As a main result, the new multilateral structure could produce as many as four vertical wells with three slim-hole laterals. I achieved a quantitative risk analysis on both development plans. I assessed the development cost of each scenario and performed a Monte Carlo simulation to account for cost uncertainties. In addition to the actual 70 MMSCFD gas contract, I simulated a progressive gas demand increase of 20 MMSCFD every five years and a 150 MMSCFD gas market. The study demonstrates the economic benefits of the new technology in the domain of offshore and small gas fields. This work also shows that this new generation of multilaterals brings new option values to the domain of multilateral technology.