Das for well ranging

Abstract

Using distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) fiber optic cable for borehole surveying and/or well ranging.

Description

PRIOR RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a non-provisional application which claims benefit under 35 USC §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Applications Ser. No. 62 / 305,758 filed Mar. 9, 2016, entitled “LOW FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTED ACOUSTIC SENSING,” and Ser. No. 62 / 305,777 filed Mar. 9, 2016, entitled “PRODUCTION LOGS FROM DISTRIBUTED ACOUSTIC SENSORS,” each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH STATEMENT[0002]Not applicable.FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE[0003]The invention relates to drilling oil and gas wells, and in particular to methods of well ranging using distributed acoustic sensors.BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE[0004]In the oil and gas industry, “well ranging” or “wellbore surveying” or “borehole surveying” is the art of determining exactly where an underground well is so that the next well can either be intersected or avoided, as needed.[0005]Only under ideal conditions will the path of a drilled hole follow the original dip (or inclination)...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]Driven by the needs for ever-faster broadband transmission, optical fiber technology has improved dramatically and now approaches theoretical limits in terms of attenuation and precision manufacturing

Problems solved by technology

If the hole has deviated significantly, then that information cannot be properly assigned to a location in 3-dimensional space beneath the earth's surface.

This perpetuated state of ignorance lead to many unresolved lease disputes, where wells drilled and brought on stream, close to an adjacent lease, would often result in diminished production rates on the adjacent lease wells.

However, wells already in production were cased and the magnetic compass based survey instruments

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