Downhole microseismic detection for passive ranging to a target wellbore

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10364667-B2
Application number	US-201415315208-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 7, 2014
Priority date	Jul 7, 2014
Publication date	Jul 30, 2019
Grant date	Jul 30, 2019

Abstract

A method can include measuring microseismic activity in a relief wellbore, thereby detecting a microseismic event in an earth formation penetrated by the relief wellbore, and determining a location of an influx into a target wellbore, based on the microseismic event detecting. A microseismic ranging system for use with a subterranean well can include at least one microseismic sensor in a relief wellbore that penetrates an earth formation, with the microseismic sensor detecting a microseismic event in the formation, the microseismic event being caused by an influx into a target wellbore. Another method can include measuring optical scattering in an optical waveguide positioned in a relief wellbore, thereby detecting a microseismic event in an earth formation penetrated by the relief wellbore, and determining a location of an influx into a target wellbore, based on the microseismic event detecting.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
measuring microseismic activity in a relief wellbore that is being drilled to intersect an existing target wellbore, thereby detecting a microseismic event in an earth formation that is produced in response to an influx into the target wellbore; and
determining a location of the influx into the target wellbore, based on the detected microseismic event.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measuring is performed with at least one microseismic sensor positioned in the relief wellbore.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the microseismic sensor comprises a geophone.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measuring comprises detecting optical scattering in an optical waveguide positioned in the relief wellbore.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the optical waveguide is positioned in a drill string.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising establishing fluid communication between the relief and target wellbores after the determining.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location of the influx is at an open hole portion of the target wellbore.

8. A microseismic ranging system for use with a subterranean well, comprising:
at least one microseismic sensor in a relief wellbore that is being drilled to intersect an existing target wellbore, wherein the microseismic sensor detects a microseismic event in the formation, the microseismic event being caused by an influx into the target wellbore.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the microseismic sensor comprises a geophone.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the microseismic sensor comprises an optical waveguide.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising an optical interrogator that measures scattering in the optical waveguide.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the influx is at an open hole portion of the target wellbore.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the optical waveguide is positioned in a drill string.

14. A method, comprising:
measuring optical scattering in an optical waveguide positioned in a relief wellbore that is being drilled to intersect an existing target wellbore, thereby detecting a microseismic event in an earth formation that is produced in response to an influx into the target wellbore; and
determining a location of the influx into the target wellbore, based on the detected microseismic event.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the microseismic event is caused by a change in stress distribution in the formation.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the microseismic event is caused by a change in reservoir volume in the formation.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising establishing fluid communication between the relief and target wellbores after the determining.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the location of the influx is at an open hole portion of the target wellbore.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Cuthbert Andrew J
• Hess Joseph E
• Cramm Carl J

Classifications

• G01V1/40 Primary

  specially adapted for well-logging · CPC title

• E21B47/107 Primary

  using acoustic means · CPC title

• G01V1/288 Primary

  Event detection in seismic signals, e.g. microseismics (G01V1/36 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B47/022

  of the borehole, e.g. using geomagnetism · CPC title

• E21B47/101 Primary

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic