Drilling collision avoidance apparatus, methods, and systems
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorBurkay Donderici
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus, systems, and methods may include a magnetic dipole transmitter to be located in a ranging well. A voltage measurement device can include a plurality of probes where each probe is to be located on one of a target well, the ranging well or a surface of a geological formation comprising the ranging well and the target well. A controller coupled to the voltage measurement device calculates a distance or relative direction between the target well and the ranging well based on a voltage difference between the plurality of probes. The distance/direction can be used to control drilling operations. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
Claims29
A system comprising:
- a first magnetic dipole transmitter located in a ranging well;
- a second magnetic dipole transmitter located in the ranging well, wherein the second magnetic dipole transmitter is radially, axially, or azimuthally separated from the first magnetic dipole transmitter;
- a voltage measurement device comprising a plurality of probes wherein each probe is conductively coupled to one of a target well, the ranging well, or a geological formation, and wherein a first probe of the plurality of probes is conductively coupled to the target well and a second probe of the plurality of probes is conductively coupled to the geological formation;
- and
- a controller coupled to the voltage measurement device to calculate a distance or relative direction between the target well and the ranging well based on a ratio of voltage difference measurements measured by the plurality of probes, wherein the voltage difference measurements are induced by the first magnetic dipole transmitter and the second magnetic dipole transmitter.
A method for ranging between a ranging well and a target well, the method comprising:
- activating a first magnetic dipole transmitter in the ranging well;
- activating a second magnetic dipole transmitter in the ranging well, wherein the second magnetic dipole transmitter is radially, axially, or azimuthally separated from the first magnetic dipole transmitter;
- sensing a voltage difference between a pair of probes, wherein a first probe of the pair of probes is conductively coupled to the target well, and wherein a second probe of the pair of the pair of probes is conductively coupled to a geological formation;
- and
- determining at least one of a distance or a relative direction between the ranging well and the target well based on a ratio of voltage difference measurements measured by the pair of probes, wherein the voltage difference measurements are induced by the first magnetic dipole transmitter and the second magnetic dipole transmitter.
A method for ranging between a ranging well and a target well, the method comprising:
- lowering a first magnetic dipole transmitter into the ranging well;
- lowering a second magnetic dipole transmitter into the ranging well, wherein the second magnetic dipole transmitter is radially, axially, or azimuthally separated from the first magnetic dipole transmitter;
- generating an alternating current on the target well with at least one of the first magnetic dipole transmitter and the second magnetic dipole transmitter;
- sensing a voltage difference between a pair of probes, wherein a first probe of the pair of probes is conductively coupled to a geological formation and a second probe of the pair of probes is conductively coupled to the target well;
- and
- determining at least one of a distance or a relative direction between the ranging well and the target well based on a ratio of voltage difference measurements measured by the pair of probes, wherein at least one of the voltage difference measurements are indicative of the alternating current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.