Systems and methods for determining optimum platform count and position

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

identifying, by a computer system including a processor, a project associated with a hydrocarbon field development, the hydrocarbon field development including a plurality of platforms used to produce hydrocarbon fluid, each platform of the plurality of platforms being associated with a slot representing a physical location of the platform, the project corresponding to a data structure storing data representing the plurality of platforms and the corresponding physical locations, and each platform of the plurality of platforms connecting to one or more targets of the hydrocarbon field development;

accessing, by the processor, a plurality of predictors that identify candidate platforms for removal from the plurality of platforms corresponding to the project;

executing, by the processor, the plurality of predictors, the execution including:

calculating, by the processor, a first minimum value for each platform of the plurality of platforms, the first minimum value for each platform being calculated by executing a first-platform-value algorithm; and

calculating, by the processor, a second minimum value for each platform of the plurality of platforms, the second minimum value for each platform being calculated by executing a second-platform-value algorithm;

evaluating, by the processor, at least one result from the execution of the plurality of predictors, the result of the execution including generating a list comprising one or more candidate platforms from the plurality of platforms, each of the one or more candidate platforms included in the list having a lowest first minimum value of the calculated first minimum values and a lowest second minimum value of the calculated second minimum values;

calculating, by the processor, a number of targets each platform in the list connects to;

determining, by the processor, a platform in the list to remove from the project based the calculated number of targets for each platform;

in response to removing the platform from the project, eliminating the removed platform from being used to produce hydrocarbon fluid in the hydrocarbon field development, and the slot representing the physical location of the removed platform being unused;

determining, after the platform is eliminated from use in the hydrocarbon field development, that one or more remaining platforms of the plurality of platforms are not in fixed positions;

executing, by the processor, a workflow for iteratively determining a new location for each remaining platform of the one or more remaining platforms that are not in a fixed position, the execution of the workflow resulting in moving at least one remaining platform to the corresponding new location;

reconfiguring, by the processor, the project by modifying the data stored in the data structure to remove the platform from the project and include the new location of the one or more remaining platforms; and

repeatedly executing the plurality of predictors for the remaining platforms of the plurality of platforms, the repeated execution resulting in identification of one or more additional platforms to eliminate from use in the hydrocarbon field development, and the repeated execution ending upon satisfying an exit criteria.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first minimum value is based on how many well plans there are for each platform.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second minimum value is based on how many well plans there are for each platform, a reach for each platform and a first multiplier.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

calculating a third minimum value for each platform in the project using a third-platform-value algorithm; and

recompiling the list comprising each platform in the project with at least one of the lowest first minimum value, the lowest second minimum value and a lowest third minimum value.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

evaluating a fourth minimum value for each platform in the project using a fourth-platform-value algorithm; and

recompiling the list comprising each platform in the project with at least one of the lowest first minimum value, the lowest second minimum value, the lowest third minimum value and a lowest fourth minimum value.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the third minimum value is based on how many well plans there are for each platform, a reach for each platform and a second multiplier.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the fourth minimum value is based on how many well plans there are for each platform, a reach for each platform and a third multiplier.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the list comprises one or two platforms in the project.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the computer system, input corresponding to a selection of a platform in the project to remove that is in the list and connects to a least number of targets.

10. A program carrier device for carrying computer executable instructions, the instructions being executable to implement:

identifying a project associated with a hydrocarbon field development, the hydrocarbon field development including a plurality of platforms used to produce hydrocarbon fluid, each platform of the plurality of platforms being associated with a slot representing a physical location of the platform, the project corresponding to a data structure storing data representing the plurality of platforms and the corresponding physical locations, and each platform of the plurality of platforms connecting to one or more targets of the hydrocarbon field development;

accessing a plurality of predictors that identify candidate platforms for removal from the plurality of platforms corresponding to the project;

executing the plurality of predictors, the execution including:

calculating a first minimum value for each platform of the plurality of platforms, the first minimum value for each platform being calculated by executing a first-platform-value algorithm; and

calculating a second minimum value for each platform of the plurality of platforms, the second minimum value for each platform being calculated by executing a second-platform-value algorithm;

evaluating at least one result from the execution of the plurality of predictors, the result of the execution including generating a list comprising one or more candidate platforms from the plurality of platforms, each of the one or more candidate platforms included in the list having a lowest first minimum value of the calculated first minimum values and a lowest second minimum value of the calculated second minimum values;

calculating, a number of targets each platform in the list connects to;

determining which platform in the project to remove from the project based on calculated number of targets for each platform;

in response to removing the platform from the project, eliminating the removed platform from being used to produce hydrocarbon fluid in the hydrocarbon field development, and the slot representing the physical location of the removed platform being unused;

determining, after the platform is eliminated from use in the hydrocarbon field development, that one or more remaining platforms of the plurality of platforms are not in fixed positions;

executing a workflow for iteratively determining a new location for each remaining platform of the one or more remaining platforms that are not in a fixed position, the execution of the workflow resulting in moving at least one remaining platform to the corresponding new location;

reconfiguring, by a processor, the project by modifying the data stored in the data structure to remove the platform from the project and include the new location of the one or more remaining platforms; and

repeatedly executing the plurality of predictors for the remaining platforms of the plurality of platforms, the repeated execution resulting in identification of one or more additional platforms to eliminate from use in the hydrocarbon field development, and the repeated execution ending upon satisfying an exit criteria.

11. The program carrier device of claim 10 , wherein the first minimum value is based on how many well plans there are for each platform.

12. The program carrier device of claim 10 , wherein the second minimum value is based on how many well plans there are for each platform, a reach for each platform and a first multiplier.

13. The program carrier device of claim 10 , further comprising:

calculating a third minimum value for each platform in the project using a third-platform-value algorithm; and

recompiling the list comprising each platform in the project with at least one of the lowest first minimum value, the lowest second minimum value and a lowest third minimum value.

14. The program carrier device of claim 13 , further comprising:

evaluating a fourth minimum value for each platform in the project using a fourth-platform-value algorithm; and

recompiling the list comprising each platform in the project with at least one of the lowest first minimum value, the lowest second minimum value, the lowest third minimum value and a lowest fourth minimum value.

15. The program carrier device of claim 13 , wherein the third minimum value is based on how many well plans there are for each platform, a reach for each platform and a second multiplier.

16. The program carrier device of claim 14 , wherein the fourth minimum value is based on how many well plans there are for each platform, a reach for each platform and a third multiplier.

17. The program carrier device of claim 10 , wherein the list comprises one or two platforms in the project.

18. The program carrier device of claim 10 , further comprising:

receiving input corresponding to a selection of a platform in the project to remove that is in the list and connects to a least number of targets.