Method for reservoir navigation using formation pressure testing measurement while drilling
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsRoland E. Chemali, Tron B. Helgesen, Volker Krueger, Matthias Meister, Per-Erik Berger, Peter Aronstam
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Abstract
A formation pressure testing while drilling device on a bottomhole assembly makes measurements of fluid pressure during drilling of a borehole. Based on the pressure measurements, drilling direction can be altered to maintain the wellbore in a desired relation to a fluid contact. Acoustic transmitters and/or receivers on the bottomhole assembly can provide additional information about bed boundaries, faults and gas-water contacts.
Claims32
A method of developing a hydrocarbon reservoir in an earth formation, the method comprising:
- (a) using a bottom hole assembly (BHA) having a drillbit thereon for drilling a borehole, said BHA including a formation pressure tester while drilling (FPTWD) for determining a pressure of a fluid in said earth formation;
- (b) drilling said borehole to a first depth;
- (c) making measurements of said fluid pressure with said FPTWD during drilling of the borehole;
- and
- (d) altering a drilling direction of said borehole if a measured value of said fluid pressure differs from a predetermined value.
A system for developing a hydrocarbon reservoir in an earth formation, the system comprising:
- (a) a bottom hole assembly (BHA) having a drillbit thereon for drilling a borehole,
- (b) a formation pressure tester while drilling (FPTWD) on the BHA for determining a pressure of a fluid in said earth formation, said FPTWD making measurements of said fluid pressure during drilling,
- (c) a processor for controlling drilling operations to maintain the BHA at a depth wherein a pressure measurement made by said FPTWD is substantially at a specified value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.