Well location optimizer for high inclination complex well trajectories
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorSimon A. Stewart
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer-implemented method for well location optimization for high inclination complex well trajectories includes calculating a thickness of a target geological layer with respect to a planned intersection angle between wellbores and the target geological layer, wherein the target geological layer comprises a known complex geology. A sensitivity of the wellbores is calculated based on reservoir parameters derived from the calculated thickness of the target geological layer at the planned intersection angle. A least sensitive wellbore is selected from the wellbores, wherein the least sensitive wellbore of the wellbores has a lowest uncertainty in geological layer orientation and wellbore orientation.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method for well location optimization for high inclination complex well trajectories, the method comprising:
- receiving, from one or more downhole logging tools during drilling of a well, measurements indicative of geological layer orientation comprising geological layer dip and geological layer dip azimuth, and wellbore orientation comprising inclination and azimuth;
- calculating, with one or more hardware processors, a thickness of a target geological layer with respect to a planned intersection angle between wellbores and the target geological layer, wherein the target geological layer comprises a known complex geology and wherein the planned intersection angle is computed as a geometrically complementary angle to a direction cosine associated with a respective wellbore and a pole to bedding of the target geological layer;
- calculating, with the one or more hardware processors, a sensitivity of the wellbores based on reservoir parameters derived from the calculated thickness of the target geological layer at the planned intersection angle including at least apparent measured depth (AMD), total vertical thickness (TVT), vertical thickness (VT), and true stratigraphic thickness (TST);
- selecting, with the one or more hardware processors, a least sensitive wellbore from the wellbores, wherein the least sensitive wellbore of the wellbores has a lowest uncertainty in geological layer orientation and wellbore orientation;
- and
- responsive to the selecting, controlling a steerable drilling assembly to adjust a trajectory of the well in real time to follow the selected least sensitive wellbore.
A system, comprising:
- one or more memory modules;
- one or more hardware processors communicably coupled to the one or more memory modules, the one or more hardware processors configured to execute instructions stored on the one or more memory models to perform operations comprising:
- receiving, from one or more downhole logging tools during drilling of a well, measurements indicative of geological layer orientation comprising geological layer dip and geological layer dip azimuth, and wellbore orientation comprising inclination and azimuth;
- calculating a thickness of a target geological layer with respect to a planned intersection angle between wellbores and the target geological layer, wherein the target geological layer comprises a known complex geology and wherein the planned intersection angle is computed as a geometrically complementary angle to a direction cosine associated with a respective wellbore and a pole to bedding of the target geological layer;
- calculating a sensitivity of the wellbores based on reservoir parameters derived from the calculated thickness of the target geological layer at the planned intersection angle including at least apparent measured depth (AMD), total vertical thickness (TVT), vertical thickness (VT), and true stratigraphic thickness (TST);
- selecting a least sensitive wellbore from the wellbores, wherein the least sensitive wellbore of the wellbores has a lowest uncertainty in geological layer orientation and wellbore orientation;
- and
- responsive to the selecting, controlling a steerable drilling assembly to adjust a trajectory of the well in real time to follow the selected least sensitive wellbore.
An apparatus comprising a non-transitory, computer readable, storage medium that stores instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
- receiving, from one or more downhole logging tools during drilling of a well, measurements indicative of geological layer orientation comprising geological layer dip and geological layer dip azimuth, and wellbore orientation comprising inclination and azimuth;
- calculating a thickness of a target geological layer with respect to a planned intersection angle between wellbores and the target geological layer, wherein the target geological layer comprises a known complex geology and wherein the planned intersection angle is computed as a geometrically complementary angle to a direction cosine associated with a respective wellbore and a pole to bedding of the target geological layer;
- calculating a sensitivity of the wellbores based on reservoir parameters derived from the calculated thickness of the target geological layer at the planned intersection angle including at least apparent measured depth (AMD), total vertical thickness (TVT), vertical thickness (VT), and true stratigraphic thickness (TST);
- selecting a least sensitive wellbore from the wellbores, wherein the least sensitive wellbore of the wellbores has a lowest uncertainty in geological layer orientation and wellbore orientation;
- and
- responsive to the selecting, controlling a steerable drilling assembly to adjust a trajectory of the well in real time to follow the selected least sensitive wellbore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.