System and method for densely packing wells using magnetic ranging while drilling
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorBrian Clark
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Abstract
Systems and methods for drilling a plurality of densely packed wells to efficiently utilize available drilling space. In accordance with one embodiment, a method of drilling densely packed wells may include drilling a second well using magnetic ranging while drilling to control a distance between the second well and a first well (the first well being either existing or drilled immediately prior to starting to drill the second well), and drilling a third well using magnetic ranging while drilling to control a distance between the third well and the first and second wells.
Claims21
1-42. (canceled)
A method for drilling closely spaced wells comprising:
- drilling a second well using magnetic ranging to control a distance between the second well and a first well;
- and
- drilling a third well using magnetic ranging to control a distance between the third well and the first and second wells.
A method for drilling a plurality of wells in a triangular arrangement, comprising:
- drilling a second well using magnetic ranging to position the second well within a first specified distance and first direction relative to a first well;
- and
- drilling a third well using magnetic ranging to position the third well within a second specified distance and second direction relative to the first well, and within a third specified distance and third direction relative to the second well.
A method of efficiently utilizing available drilling area, comprising:
- drilling a second well substantially parallel to a first well for at least a predetermined distance using magnetic ranging;
- and
- drilling a third well using a bottom hole assembly such that the third well is substantially parallel to the first and second wells for at least a second predetermined distance using magnetic ranging,
- wherein the third well is positioned based on a 3D magnetic field model.
The method of 59, wherein drilling the third well comprises monitoring differences between magnetic field component values predicted by the 3D magnetic field model and magnetic field component values identified by the bottom hole assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.