Automatic Geosteering Wellbore Trajectory Planning Without Waypoints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wellbore drilling methods lack a systematic and automatic method for updating the well plan in response to deviations caused by subterranean conditions and drilling operations, relying heavily on human expertise and often failing to provide an optimal solution.
Innovation Solution
A programmed automatic wellbore target trajectory planning technique that uses geoscience and drilling operation data to adapt to real-time changes, optimizing the wellbore trajectory without the need for human intervention or predefined waypoints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional manual well plan updating methods are used, then human expertise can be applied to handle complex deviations, but the process requires significant time and lacks systematic automation
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic well plan updating through a computer-implemented method that self-adjusts the wellbore trajectory without requiring manual human intervention. The algorithm autonomously processes drilling data, calculates deviations, and generates corrected trajectories, making the system self-sufficient in handling well plan updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical processes with an automated computer-based system. Instead of human experts manually analyzing data and drawing trajectories, a computational algorithm processes drilling parameters, formation data, and deviation information to automatically generate optimized wellbore paths, substituting human mechanical work with computational automation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual well plan updates are performed, then flexibility in handling complex subterranean conditions is achieved, but the method lacks systematic approach and performance guarantee
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors drilling parameters, wellbore position, and formation characteristics, then feeds this information back into the trajectory calculation algorithm. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows the system to adapt to changing subterranean conditions in real-time, automatically adjusting the wellbore path based on actual drilling data and deviations from the planned trajectory.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in drilling parameters such as weight on bit, rotation speed, and directional measurements to detect deviations and adjust the wellbore trajectory. By monitoring and responding to parameter changes in real-time, the system adapts to varying subsurface conditions while maintaining a systematic approach through algorithmic processing of these parameters.
3Productivity
If automated trajectory planning is implemented, then time efficiency and consistency are improved, but the system requires sophisticated algorithms and data processing capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual analytical processes with a computer-implemented algorithm that automatically calculates optimal wellbore trajectories. The computational system processes drilling data, formation models, and constraint parameters through mathematical optimization routines, substituting human expert analysis with automated computational mechanics that deliver consistent results rapidly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital replica or model of the subsurface formation and wellbore trajectory, allowing virtual simulation and optimization before actual drilling. By working with a computational copy of the geological model and drilling parameters, the system can test multiple trajectory options and select the optimal path without affecting actual drilling operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprises retrieving geoscience data of a subsurface formation into which a wellbore is being drilled and retrieving drilling operation data for drilling the wellbore. The method includes determining at least one of an optimized target trajectory of a path of the wellbore to be drilled or a series of control operations for the drilling in order to follow the path of the wellbore to be drilled, independent of using waypoints as input and based the geoscience data and the drilling operation data. The method includes modifying geosteering of the drilling of the wellbore based on the at least one of the optimized target trajectory or the series of the control operations.