Rotationally-independent wellbore ranging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9506326-B2
Application number	US-201314357738-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 11, 2013
Priority date	Jul 11, 2013
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

A rotationally independent wellbore ranging system includes a housing which is attached to a rotary component positioned in a first wellbore and remains substantially stationary relative to the first wellbore when the rotary component rotates in the first wellbore. Multiple sensors affixed to the housing are operable to receive multiple ranging signals from a second wellbore while the rotary component rotates in the first wellbore, and provide the multiple ranging signals to a processor to determine a position of the first wellbore relative to the second wellbore.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for ranging in wellbores, the system comprising:
a housing attached to a rotary component disposed in a first wellbore, wherein the housing is configured to rotate with or remain substantially stationary relative to the first wellbore when the rotary component rotates in the first wellbore; and
a plurality of sensors affixed to the housing, wherein the plurality of sensors are positioned with a radial separation to measure a magnetic field gradient used to determine the position of the first wellbore relative to the second wellbore, wherein the plurality of sensors are positioned at outermost edges of the housing to maximize the gradient measurement, the plurality of sensors operable to:
receive a plurality of ranging signals from a second wellbore while the rotary component rotates in the first wellbore, each sensor configured to receive at least a portion of the plurality of ranging signals based on a magnetic field generated in the second wellbore by transmitting current through a casing of the second wellbore, and
provide the plurality of ranging signals to a processor to determine a position of the first wellbore relative to the second wellbore,

wherein the housing rotates relative to the first wellbore until input to receive the plurality of ranging signals from the second wellbore is received, wherein the housing substantially ceases to rotate relative to the first wellbore in response to receiving the input to receive the plurality of ranging signals, and wherein the housing rotates relative to the first wellbore after the plurality of ranging signals are provided to the processor.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a contacting device configured to contact a portion of a wall of the first wellbore and maintain the housing substantially stationary with respect to the wall of the first wellbore.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a dampening device comprising at least one of the members of a group consisting of at least one bearing, a spring-based contact material, a compressible material, and a flexible material.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a counter-rotation motor affixed to the housing, a speed of rotation of the counter-rotation motor is substantially equal and opposite to a speed of rotation of the rotary component, the speed of rotation maintaining the housing substantially stationary with respect to the first wellbore.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the counter-rotation motor is configured to receive control signals to control the rotation and the speed of rotation of the counter-rotation motor.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the counter-rotation motor is electrically insulated.

7. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a control system connected to the counter-rotation motor and the plurality of sensors, the control system configured to automatically control the counter-rotation motor to rotate in an opposite direction to the rotary component in response to controlling the plurality of sensors to receive and provide the plurality of ranging signals.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a battery or a generator to power the counter-rotation motor or the control system or both.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the rotary component comprises a drill string, and wherein the generator is configured to be powered by flow of drilling fluid through the drill string.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises at least one of an accelerometer, an inclinometer, or a magnetometer to continuously measure position and orientation of the housing, each configured to receive respective control signals to control an orientation of the housing.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising feedback measurement devices to measure and provide an orientation of the housing, wherein the feedback measurement devices are disposed on either the housing or the rotary component.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the outer diameter of the housing is substantially equal to an inner diameter of the wellbore.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the outer diameter of the housing is adapted to be decreased to be less than the inner diameter of the wellbore, the system further comprising at least one of an electrical motor, a mechanical motor or electromagnets to move the housing within the wellbore after the outer diameter of the housing has been decreased to be less than the inner diameter of the wellbore.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the housing is included in a bottom hole assembly.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein each sensor is a multi-axial magnetic field sensor that measures an intensity and a phase in two or more orientations.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors are integral to the housing or affixed to an inside or an outside of the housing in package arrangements.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises non-magnetic material and is positioned to rotate about a load bearing part of the rotary component.

18. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
eccentricity correction devices configured to compensate for eccentricity effects coupled with rotation based on measurements received from the plurality of sensors; and
a feedback circuit configured to minimize variations in movement and orientation signals based on signals received from the eccentricity correction devices.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein a rotation angle of the housing is actively stabilized at an angle that optimizes magnetic field gradient.

20. A method for ranging in wellbores, the method comprising:
rotating, in a first wellbore, a rotary component having a housing movably attached to the rotating component, wherein the housing rotates with the rotary component relative to the first wellbore;
receiving input to receive a plurality of ranging signals at the rotary component in the first wellbore from the second wellbore;
in response to receiving the input, substantially stopping a rotation of the housing relative to a wall of the wellbore while the rotary component continues to rotate;
generating, in a second wellbore, a magnetic field by passing current through a casing of the second wellbore;
affixing, to the housing, a plurality of sensors with a radial separation to measure a magnetic field gradient used to determine the position of the first wellbore relative to the second wellbore, wherein the plurality of sensors are affixed to outermost edges of the housing to maximize the gradient measurement;
receiving, by the sensors attached to the housing, the plurality of ranging signals at the rotary component in the first wellbore from the second wellbore while the rotary component continues to rotate in the first wellbore, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of ranging signals is received based on the magnetic field generated in the second wellbore, wherein the housing rotates with the rotary component relative to the first wellbore after receiving the plurality of ranging signals at the rotary component in the first wellbore from the second wellbore;
determining a position of the second wellbore relative to the first wellbore based on and in response to receiving the plurality of ranging signals;
measuring a gradient of a magnetic field at a drill string in the first wellbore, the magnetic field originating from the second wellbore, the gradient measured while the drill string is rotating in the first wellbore; and
determining a distance between the first wellbore a

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Hay Richard Thomas
• Upshall Mac
• Golla Christopher A
• Donderici Burkay

Classifications

• E21B47/0228

  using electromagnetic energy or detectors therefor · CPC title

• E21B41/0035 Primary

  Apparatus or methods for multilateral well technology, e.g. for the completion of or workover on wells with one or more lateral branches · CPC title

• E21B17/1078

  Stabilisers or centralisers for casing, tubing or drill pipes (E21B17/1007 - E21B17/1064 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B44/005

  Below-ground automatic control systems · CPC title

• E21B47/022 Primary

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