Borehole Array Magnetic Guidance for Parallel Well Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
In oil field operations, steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) techniques face inefficiencies due to short circuits between vertically-spaced horizontal wells, reducing heating efficiency and oil production, especially when precision drilling is lacking, leading to larger inter-well spacings and reduced pressure gradients.
Innovation Solution
A borehole array with electrically coupled reference nodes along a reference well generates magnetic fields to guide and communicate with bottomhole assemblies, enabling precise positioning and steering of multiple wells to maintain parallelism and prevent short circuits, using multiplexing techniques to distinguish magnetic fields and determine distances and directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If precision drilling techniques are not employed, then drilling operations are simpler and less costly, but inter-well spacing must be increased which reduces pressure gradient and heating efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical precision drilling systems with a magnetic guidance system. Reference nodes with solenoids generate magnetic fields that guide bottomhole assemblies through electromagnetic interaction, eliminating the need for complex mechanical precision drilling equipment while achieving accurate well placement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetic fields as an intermediary between the drilling system and the formation. Magnetic reference nodes serve as intermediaries to transmit positioning information to bottomhole assemblies, enabling precise well placement without direct mechanical measurement systems
2Reliability
If inter-well spacing is increased to reduce short circuit effects, then well placement precision is reduced, but short circuit vulnerability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical measurement and positioning systems with electromagnetic guidance. Magnetic fields from reference nodes provide continuous positioning feedback to bottomhole assemblies, enabling precise well placement that prevents short circuits while maintaining optimal inter-well spacing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback system where bottomhole assemblies continuously monitor magnetic field signals from reference nodes to determine their position and orientation. This feedback enables real-time adjustments to maintain precise well placement and prevent short circuits
3Measurement precision
If magnetic fields from multiple reference nodes are used for guidance, then positioning precision is improved, but field differentiation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs time-division multiplexing where reference nodes activate their magnetic fields in periodic sequences rather than simultaneously. This temporal separation allows bottomhole assemblies to distinguish between different reference nodes by detecting which node is currently active, simplifying field differentiation while maintaining positioning precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-assigns unique identification patterns or timing sequences to each reference node before drilling operations begin. This preliminary configuration enables bottomhole assemblies to differentiate between multiple reference nodes using simple signal recognition rather than complex field analysis
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The borehole array enhances precision in well placement, reduces short circuit vulnerabilities, and maintains efficient steam heating by allowing for precise parallel drilling of multiple wells, thereby improving hydrocarbon extraction efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Each reference node includes a solenoid that is operated by a control unit. The control unit employs the solenoid to generate a magnetic field for guiding a bottomhole assembly in a nearby well.
Implementation Method 2
using multiplexing techniques to distinguish magnetic fields and determine distances and directions
Data Source
AI summary
An example method includes polling a plurality of reference nodes distributed along one or more reference wells. The method also includes steering a bottomhole assembly in another well based at least in part on information obtained from said polling. A related system includes a plurality of reference nodes distributed along one or more reference wells. The system also includes a bottomhole assembly in another well. The system also includes a surface controller. The surface controller polls the plurality of reference nodes to obtain position information regarding the bottomhole assembly and directs a steering module of the bottomhole assembly based on the obtained position information.