Wellbore surveying and ranging data integration

A system for drilling a second wellbore in proximity to a first wellbore, the system comprising:

• a drill string deployed in a second wellbore in proximity to a first wellbore, the drill string configured to drill the second wellbore along a determined direction, the drill string including a survey tool configured to make survey measurements in the second wellbore and a ranging tool configured to make ranging measurements in the second wellbore that measure at least a distance between the first wellbore and the second wellbore;
• one or more processors;
• and
• 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:
• obtaining a first trajectory for the first wellbore;
• computing a second trajectory for the second wellbore from wellbore surveying measurements made in the second wellbore using the survey tool;
• obtaining a plurality of ranging measurements at a corresponding plurality of ranging locations in the second wellbore using the ranging tool, the plurality of ranging locations defining a ranging interval in the second wellbore;
• and
• transforming a portion of the second trajectory corresponding to the ranging interval in the second wellbore such that the portion of the second trajectory fits selected ones of the plurality of ranging measurements, wherein the transforming includes translating the portion of the second trajectory to match one of the plurality of ranging measurements and then rotating the portion of the second trajectory to obtain the fit;
• and
• determining a direction of drilling or a change in a direction for the drill string to drill the second wellbore from the transformed portion of the second trajectory.

A method for drilling an intercept wellbore, the method comprising:

• obtaining a target trajectory for a target wellbore;
• using a drill string to drill an intercept wellbore in proximity to the target wellbore;
• making wellbore surveying measurements in the intercept wellbore using the drill string and computing an intercept trajectory for the intercept wellbore from the wellbore surveying measurements made in the intercept wellbore;
• making a plurality of ranging measurements at a corresponding plurality of ranging locations in the intercept wellbore using the drill string, the plurality of ranging locations defining a ranging interval in the intercept wellbore, each of the plurality of ranging measurements measuring at least a distance between the target wellbore and the intercept wellbore;
• translating a portion of the intercept trajectory corresponding to the ranging interval in the intercept wellbore such that the portion of the intercept trajectory matches one of the plurality of ranging measurements and then rotating the portion of the intercept trajectory to fit selected ones of the plurality of ranging measurements and obtain a transformed portion of the intercept trajectory;
• and
• determining a direction of drilling or a change in a direction of drilling of the intercept wellbore towards the target wellbore from the transformed portion of the intercept trajectory;
• and
• using the drill string to continue drilling the intercept wellbore along the determined direction of drilling or the determined change in the direction of drilling towards the target wellbore until the intercept wellbore intercepts the target wellbore.