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US 12,709,976 B1Granted
Fusion of wellbore surveys and ranging measurements
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsMakito Katayama, Mahmoud ElGizawy, Ross Lowdon, Alexandre de Saint Germain
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Abstract
Improved wellbore trajectories are determined via fusing wellbore surveys and ranging measurements. A probability function is optimized to compute the improved trajectories having improved positional uncertainties. The probability function is defined such that it includes trajectories of first and second wellbores, corresponding positional uncertainties of the first and second wellbores, ranging measurements between the first and second wellbores, and a ranging uncertainty.
Claims20
A method for combining wellbore surveying measurements and ranging measurements to obtain an improved wellbore trajectory, the method comprising:
- obtaining first and second wellbore trajectories for first and second corresponding wellbores and first and second positional uncertainties for the first and second wellbore trajectories;
- obtaining a set of ranging measurements and a corresponding ranging uncertainty, the ranging measurements including at least a distance between the first and second wellbores, the ranging measurements made using a bottom hole assembly (BHA) deployed in the second wellbore;
- defining a probability function including the first and second wellbore trajectories, the first and second positional uncertainties, the ranging measurements, and the ranging uncertainty, the probability function determining a probability of observing the obtained first and second wellbore trajectories and the obtained ranging measurements for various actual first and second wellbore trajectories;
- optimizing the probability function to compute an improved wellbore trajectory of at least one of the first and second wellbores, the improved wellbore trajectory having an improved positional uncertainty;
- determining a direction of drilling the second wellbore from the improved wellbore trajectory of the at least one of the first and second wellbores;
- and
- causing a BHA to drill the second wellbore in the determined direction of drilling.
4 more elements
A system for combining wellbore surveying measurements and ranging measurements to obtain an improved wellbore trajectory, comprising:
- one or more processors;
- memory, accessible by the one or more processors, and storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
- receiving first and second wellbore trajectories for first and second corresponding wellbores and first and second positional uncertainties for the first and second wellbore trajectories;
- receiving a set of ranging measurements and a corresponding ranging uncertainty, the ranging measurements including at least a distance between the first and second wellbores;
- optimizing a probability function to compute the improved wellbore trajectory of at least one of the first and second wellbores, the probability function including the first and second wellbore trajectories, the first and second positional uncertainties, the ranging measurements, and the ranging uncertainty, the probability function determining a probability of observing the received first and second wellbore trajectories and the received ranging measurements for various actual first and second wellbore trajectories;
- and
- determining a direction of drilling the second wellbore from the improved wellbore trajectory of the at least one of the first and second wellbores;
- and
- a bottom hole assembly (BHA) configured for deployment in the second wellbore on a drill string, the BHA configured to make the set of ranging measurements in the second wellbore, the BHA still further configured to receive the determined direction of drilling from the one or more processors and to drill the second wellbore along the determined direction of drilling.
6 more elements
A method for drilling a subterranean wellbore, the method comprising:
- obtaining a first wellbore trajectory and corresponding first positional uncertainties for a first wellbore;
- drilling a second wellbore in proximity to the first wellbore using a bottom hole assembly (BHA) deployed in the second wellbore;
- making wellbore surveying measurements and ranging measurements in the second wellbore using the BHA, the ranging measurements measuring at least a distance between the first wellbore and the second wellbore;
- computing a second wellbore trajectory and corresponding second positional uncertainties for the second wellbore;
- computing a ranging uncertainty;
- defining a probability function including the first and second wellbore trajectories, the first and second positional uncertainties, the ranging measurements, and the ranging uncertainty, the probability function determining a probability of observing the obtained first and second wellbore trajectories and the obtained ranging measurements for various actual first and second wellbore trajectories;
- optimizing the probability function to compute an improved wellbore trajectory of at least one of the first and second wellbores;
- computing an improved ranging uncertainty from the improved wellbore trajectory of the at least one of the first and second wellbores obtained in the optimizing;
- determining a direction of drilling or a change in the direction of drilling of the second wellbore from the ranging measurements and the improved ranging uncertainty;
- and
- using the BHA to drill the second wellbore in the determined direction of drilling.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.