Optimizing Drilling Operations Using Petrotechnical Data
AssigneeWesternGeco L.L.C.
InventorsJoerg H. Meyer, Annabelle Kania, Mark Egan, Andrew Hawthorn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for optimizing drilling operations. The method includes providing an earth model of a volume having a well, obtaining petrotechnical data about the volume while drilling the well, comparing the petrotechnical data with the earth model, updating the earth model with the petrotechnical data based on the comparison, and modifying a drilling plan of the well using the updated earth model.
Claims56
A method for optimizing drilling operations, comprising:
- providing an earth model of a volume having a well;
- obtaining petrotechnical data about the volume while drilling the well;
- comparing the petrotechnical data with the earth model;
- updating the earth model with the petrotechnical data based on the comparison;
- and
- modifying a drilling plan of the well using the updated earth model.
A method for optimizing drilling operations of a well, comprising:
- highgrading an earth model of a volume having the well;
- obtaining petrotechnical data about the volume while drilling the well;
- comparing the petrotechnical data with the highgraded earth model;
- updating the highgraded earth model with the petrotechnical data based on the comparison;
- and
- modifying a drilling plan of the well using the updated highgraded earth model.
A method for conducting an audit and feasibility study for drilling operations, comprising:
- evaluating the quality and relevance of available petrotechnical information regarding a volume having a well to be drilled;
- performing a forward modeling on earth models and seismic images of the volume;
- and
- generating a scenario plan for the well.
A method for providing a set of actions for modifying a drilling plan of a well, comprising:
- comparing a subsurface image, property volume or interpretation of an earth model of the well with a subsurface image, property volume or interpretation of an updated earth model;
- generating a set of three dimensional (3D) coordinates for a well trajectory based on the comparison;
- and
- modifying the drilling plan based on the well trajectory.
A method for updating an earth model of a volume having a well, comprising:
- creating a three dimensional anisotropic depth model;
- comparing the three dimensional anisotropic depth model with petrotechnical data obtained while drilling the well;
- determining whether the three dimensional anisotropic depth model deviates from the petrotechnical data by greater than a predetermined amount;
- and
- if the deviation exceeds the predetermined amount, then updating the three dimensional anisotropic depth model.
A computer system, comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a memory comprising program instructions executable by the processor to:
- highgrade an earth model of a volume having a well to be drilled;
- obtain petrotechnical data about the volume while drilling the well;
- compare the petrotechnical data with the highgraded earth model;
- update the highgraded earth model with the petrotechnical data based on the comparison;
- and
- modify a drilling plan of the well using the updated highgraded earth model.
A computer system, comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a memory comprising program instructions executable by the processor to:
- evaluate the quality and relevance of available petrotechnical information regarding a volume having a well to be drilled;
- perform a forward modeling on earth models and seismic images of the volume;
- and
- generate a scenario plan for the well.
A computer system, comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a memory comprising program instructions executable by the processor to:
- compare a subsurface image, property volume or interpretation of an earth model of a well with a subsurface image, property volume or interpretation of an updated earth model;
- generate a set of three dimensional (3D) coordinates for a well trajectory based on the comparison;
- and
- modify the drilling plan based on the well trajectory.
A computer system, comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a memory comprising program instructions executable by the processor to:
- create a three dimensional anisotropic depth model of a volume having a well;
- compare the three dimensional anisotropic depth model with petrotechnical data obtained while drilling the well;
- determine whether the three dimensional anisotropic depth model deviates from the petrotechnical data by greater than a predetermined amount;
- and
- if the deviation exceeds the predetermined amount, then update the three dimensional anisotropic depth model.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.