Look-around/look-ahead pixel-based inversion workflow for real time prediction ahead of the bit in horizontal and high-angle wells

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12467353-B2
Application number	US-202319114477-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2023
Priority date	Oct 27, 2022
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

Abstract

Embodiments presented provide for a method for providing look-ahead measurements ahead of a drill bit in hydrocarbon recovery operations. Embodiments use a pixel-based inversion workflow to produce real time prediction in horizontal and high-angle wells. The method includes obtaining data related to geological properties, performing a one dimensional look around inversion of the data to achieve one dimensional results, performing a two dimensional look ahead pixel based inversion wherein the generated results for the one dimensional look around inversion are used as a starting model to obtain a second set of results, and displaying the second set of results.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for prediction ahead of a drill bit in a well, comprising:
disposing a drilling tool in a wellbore, the drilling tool comprising a transmitter, a receiver, a sensor, and the drill bit; performing a one dimensional look around inversion of data obtained via the sensor to achieve one dimensional results, wherein the data is related to geological properties; performing a pixel based two dimensional look around inversion of the data, wherein the inversion uses one or more T-R spacings, at least one of the one or more T-R spacings based on a distance between the transmitter and the receiver, wherein the one dimensional results are used as a starting model for the two dimensional look around inversion of the data, and wherein at least horizontal and vertical resistivity are inverted; displaying results of the pixel based two dimensional look around inversion; performing a two dimensional look ahead pixel based inversion wherein the results for the two dimensional look around inversion are used as a starting model, wherein two dimensional pixel grids are constructed on the one or more T-R spacings to obtain a second set of results; displaying the second set of results; and predicting a geological feature at least 30 feet ahead of the transmitter based on the second set of results.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the well has a dip of at least 45 degrees.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the well is a high angle well, a horizontal well, or a combination thereof.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein performing the one dimensional look around inversion of the data determines at least one boundary position.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein performing the one dimensional look around inversion of the data determines at least one formation dip.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein performing the one dimensional look around inversion of the data determines horizontal and vertical resistivity of all geological layers around the drill bit.

7 . A method for prediction ahead of a drill bit in a well, comprising:
disposing a drilling tool in a wellbore, the drilling tool comprising a transmitter, a receiver, and the drill bit; obtaining data related to geological properties; performing a one dimensional look around inversion of the data to achieve one dimensional results, wherein the inversion includes inverting for boundary positions, formation dip, horizontal resistivity of all layers near the drill bit, and vertical resistivity of all layers near the drill bit to generate results; performing a two dimensional look ahead pixel based inversion wherein the results for the one dimensional look around inversion are used as a starting model, wherein two dimensional pixel grids are constructed on one or more T-R spacings of the obtained data to obtain a second set of results, at least one of the one or more T-R spacings based on a distance between the transmitter and the receiver; displaying the second set of results; and predicting a geological feature at least 30 feet ahead of the transmitter based on the second set of results.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein after displaying the second set of results at a current depth location, the method further comprises obtaining newly added input measurements for a next depth location;
shifting a data window for analysis; performing a second two dimensional look ahead pixel based inversion using the newly added input measurements; generating an augmented second set of results; and displaying the augmented second set of results.

9 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having data stored therein representing software executable by a computer, the software including instructions performing steps of:
obtaining data related to geological properties by disposing a drilling tool in a wellbore, the drilling tool comprising a transmitter, a receiver, and a drill bit; performing a one dimensional look around inversion of the data to achieve one dimensional results; performing a pixel based two dimensional look around inversion of the data, wherein the inversion uses one or more T-R spacings, at least one of the one or more T-R spacings based on a distance between the transmitter and the receiver, and wherein the one dimensional results are used as a starting model for the two dimensional look around inversion, wherein horizontal and vertical resistivity of all look behind and look around pixels are inverted; displaying results of the pixel based two dimensional look around inversion; performing a two dimensional look ahead pixel based inversion wherein generated results for the two dimensional look around inversion are used as a starting model for the two dimensional look ahead pixel based inversion, wherein two dimensional pixel grids are constructed on one or more T-R spacings of the obtained data to obtain a second set of results; displaying the second set of results; and predicting a geological feature at least 30 feet ahead of the transmitter based on the second set of results.

10 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the wellbore has a dip of at least 45 degrees.

11 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the wellbore is a high angle well, a horizontal well, or a combination thereof.

12 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the one dimensional look around inversion of the data determines at least one boundary position.

13 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the one dimensional look around inversion of the data determines at least one formation dip.

14 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein after displaying the second set of results at a current depth location, the software further includes instructions performing steps of:
obtaining newly added input measurements for a next depth location; shifting a data window for analysis; performing a second two dimensional look ahead pixel based inversion using the newly added input measurements; generating an augmented second set of results; and displaying the augmented second set of results.

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Omar Saad
• Liu Jingxuan
• Liang Lin

Classifications

• G01V3/26 Primary

  operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified either by the surrounding earth formation or by the detecting device (with electromagnetic waves G01V3/30) · CPC title

• E21B49/00

  Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells · CPC title

• E21B47/013 Primary

  Devices specially adapted for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits · CPC title

• G01V3/38

  Processing data, e.g. for analysis, for interpretation, for correction · CPC title