Magnetic ranging from behind a magnetic shield
AssigneeScientific Drilling International, Inc.
InventorsDouglas RIDGWAY, Clinton Moss
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for determining the direction and/or range from a drilling well to a target well may include positioning a magnetic source in the target well and a magnetic sensor in the drilling well. The method may include activating the magnetic source in the target well and moving one or both of the magnetic source and magnetic sensors until a location in which the magnetic sensor is not saturated is identified. The method may include determining the direction and/or range to the target well at that location.
Claims11
A method comprising:
- forming a target well in an earthen formation;
- forming a drilling well in the earthen formation;
- positioning a magnetic source in the target well;
- positioning a magnetic sensor in the drilling well;
- activating the magnetic source;
- measuring the magnetic field in the drilling well as the magnetic sensor is moved through the drilling well;
- identifying a location in the drilling well in which the magnetic sensor is not saturated;
- and
- determining the direction and/or range to the target well at the location.
A method comprising:
- forming a target well in an earthen formation;
- forming a drilling well in the earthen formation;
- positioning a magnetic source and a first magnetic sensor in the target well;
- positioning a second magnetic sensor in the drilling well;
- measuring the magnetic field in the target well as the first magnetic sensor is moved through the target well;
- identifying a location in the target well in which the first magnetic sensor is not saturated;
- activating the magnetic source at the location in the target well;
- positioning the second magnetic sensor at a corresponding location in the drilling well;
- and
- determining the direction and/or range to the target well at the corresponding location.
A method comprising:
- forming a target well in an earthen formation;
- forming a drilling well in the earthen formation;
- positioning a magnetic source in the target well at a first location having a known direction and range to the drilling well;
- positioning a magnetic sensor in the drilling well at a corresponding location;
- activating the magnetic source;
- measuring the magnetic field in the drilling well with the magnetic sensor;
- determining the shielding and interference of the magnetic field;
- and
- determining the direction and/or range to the target well at a second location in the drilling well.
A method comprising:
- forming a target well in an earthen formation;
- forming a drilling well in the earthen formation;
- positioning a magnetic source in the target well;
- positioning a magnetic sensor in the drilling well;
- supplying oscillating current to the magnetic source;
- degaussing at least a portion of a casing of the target well;
- activating the magnetic source;
- measuring the magnetic field in the drilling well;
- and
- determining the direction and/or range to the target well at the location.
A method comprising:
- forming a target well in an earthen formation;
- forming a drilling well in the earthen formation;
- positioning a first magnetic source in the target well;
- positioning a magnetic sensor and a second magnetic source in the drilling well;
- supplying oscillating current to the second magnetic source;
- degaussing at least a portion of a casing of the drilling well;
- activating the first magnetic source;
- measuring the magnetic field in the drilling well;
- and
- determining the direction and/or range to the target well at the location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.