Systems and methods for performing ranging measurements using third well referencing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9625605-B2
Application number	US-201214650238-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2012
Priority date	Dec 21, 2012
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

Systems and methods for obtaining ranging measurements are described herein. An example method includes injecting a current 115 into a formation from a first borehole 106 to induce an electromagnetic field 120 within the formation. The current 115 may be received at a second borehole 107 . The induced electromagnetic field 120 may be measured. The measurements may be taken, for example, from the first borehole 106 , the second borehole 107 , or another borehole 102 within the formation. The method may also include identifying the location of a third borehole 102 within the formation based, at least in part, on the measured electromagnetic field 120.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for obtaining ranging measurements, comprising:
injecting a current into a formation from a first borehole to induce an electromagnetic field in the formation;
receiving the current from the formation at a second borehole;
measuring the electromagnetic field with at least one antenna located in at least one of the first borehole and the second borehole;
identifying the location of a third borehole within the formation based, at least in part, on the measured electromagnetic field; and
based on the identified location of the third borehole, altering a drilling parameter of a drilling assembly positioned within the formation outside of the third borehole, wherein the drilling parameter is altered.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the drilling assembly is disposed in the first borehole;
the first borehole comprises a relief well; and
the third borehole comprises a target well.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
introducing at least one antenna and at least one electrode into the second borehole;
receiving the current at the at least one electrode; and
measuring the electromagnetic field with the at least one antenna.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the drilling assembly is disposed in the second borehole;
the second borehole comprises a relief well; and
the third borehole comprises a target well.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
introducing at least one antenna and at least one electrode into the first borehole;
injecting the current with the at least one electrode; and
measuring the electromagnetic field with the at least one antenna.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drilling assembly comprises the at least one electrode and at least one antenna, and wherein the electromagnetic field is measured using the at least one antenna.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the drilling assembly is disposed in the first borehole;
a second drilling assembly is disposed in the second borehole;
the first and second boreholes comprise first and second relief wells, respectively; and
the third borehole comprises a target well.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
altering a drilling parameter of the second drilling assembly based on the location of the third borehole.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising one of:
injecting a second current into a formation from the third borehole; and
receiving the current from the formation at the third borehole;
wherein the third borehole comprises a target well.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of identifying the location of a third borehole within the formation based, at least in part, on the measured electromagnetic field comprises:
identifying the location of the third borehole with respect to at least one of the first borehole and the second borehole.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drilling parameter comprises a trajectory of the drilling assembly.

12. A system for obtaining ranging measurements, comprising:
a first electrode disposed within a first borehole in a formation;
a second electrode disposed within a second borehole in the formation;
at least one antenna disposed within at least one of the first borehole and the second borehole;
a control unit in communication with the first electrode, the second electrode, and the at least one antenna, wherein the control unit:
causes the first electrode to inject a current into the formation;
causes the second electrode to receive the current from the formation;
causes the at least one antenna to measure an electromagnetic field induced by the current;
identifies the location of a third borehole within the formation based, at least in part, on the measured electromagnetic field; and
alters a drilling parameter of a drilling assembly positioned within the formation outside of the third borehole, wherein the drilling parameter is altered based on the location of the third borehole.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein:
the drilling assembly is disposed in the first borehole;
the first borehole comprises a relief well; and
the third borehole comprises a target well.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a downhole tool disposed in the second borehole, wherein the second electrode and the at least one antenna are coupled to the downhole tool.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein:
the drilling assembly is disposed in the second borehole;
the second borehole comprises a relief well; and
the third borehole comprises a target well.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a downhole tool disposed in the first borehole, wherein the first electrode and the at least one antenna are coupled to the downhole tool.

17. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a third electrode disposed in the third borehole, wherein the control unit causes the third electrode to inject a second current into the formation or receive the current from the formation.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the drilling assembly is disposed in the first borehole;
a second drilling assembly is disposed in the second borehole;
the first and second boreholes comprise first and second relief wells, respectively; and
the third borehole comprises a target well.

19. A method for obtaining ranging measurements, comprising:
injecting a current into a formation from a first borehole to induce an electromagnetic field in the formation;
receiving the current from the formation at a second borehole;
measuring the electromagnetic field at a drilling assembly disposed within the formation;
identifying the location of a third borehole within the formation based, at least in part, on the measured electromagnetic field; and
altering a drilling trajectory of the drilling assembly disposed to intersect with the third borehole.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein:
the drilling assembly is disposed in a fourth borehole;
the current is injected from a first electrode coupled to a first downhole tool that is disposed in the first borehole; and
the current is received at a second electrode coupled to a second downhole tool that is disposed in the second borehole.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• San Martin Luis
• Donderici Burkay
• Wu Hsu-Hsiang
• Simeonov Svetozar Dimitrov
• Upshall Malcolm

Classifications

• E21B47/0228

  using electromagnetic energy or detectors therefor · CPC title

• E21B47/022 Primary

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

• G01V3/20

  operating with propagation of electric current · CPC title

• 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

• G01V3/28 Primary

  using induction coils · CPC title