Rotating BHA Magnetic Ranging While Drilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing magnetic ranging techniques for subterranean drilling require the drill string to be stationary, making them costly and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilizes a rotating bottomhole assembly equipped with triaxial accelerometers and magnetometers to make magnetic field measurements while drilling, processing these measurements to compute the distance and direction to a target well, allowing real-time control of the drilling direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If magnetic ranging measurements are made while drilling with a rotating bottomhole assembly, then measurement speed and productivity are improved, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate due to rotational motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static measurement approach into a dynamic one by making measurements during rotation. The system captures magnetic field data at multiple toolface angles throughout the rotation cycle, then uses dynamic processing to extract the target well signal from the rotating measurements, achieving both speed and accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement process exploits the periodic nature of rotation by taking measurements at multiple toolface angles during each rotation cycle. The periodic variation in magnetic field readings as the tool rotates allows separation of the target well signal from background fields through harmonic analysis, enabling accurate ranging while maintaining continuous drilling
2Measurement precision
If conventional static magnetic surveys are performed with stationary drill string, then measurement precision is improved, but rig time and operational cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates idle time by making magnetic ranging measurements continuous with the drilling operation. Instead of stopping drilling to take measurements, the system continuously collects magnetic field data during normal drilling operations, processing the data in real-time to provide continuous well position information without interrupting productive drilling time
3Loss of information
If magnetic field measurements are taken during rotation at multiple toolface angles, then measurement completeness is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the measured magnetic field variations at different toolface angles to iteratively refine the estimation of target well parameters. The processing algorithm analyzes the periodic variation patterns and uses this feedback to calculate distance and direction to the target well, transforming complex multi-angle data into actionable ranging information
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
Enables real-time magnetic ranging during drilling, increasing measurement density and reducing rig time, facilitating wellbore intercept, avoidance, and twinning operations.
Implementation Method 1
Magnetic field measurements in the drilling well. The measured magnetic field may be induced in part by ferromagnetic material or an electromagnetic source (or sources) in the target well
Implementation Method 2
a triaxial accelerometer set and a triaxial magnetometer set
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and related systems for drilling a subterranean wellbore includes rotating a bottomhole assembly (BHA) to drill the wellbore. The BHA includes a cutting tool and at least one sensor. The at least one sensor is configured to make measurements while drilling. These measurements are processed to compute a magnetic field profile, which is further processed to identify and characterize a signature or pattern in the magnetic field profile that is representative of a target well proximate to the wellbore being drilled. At least one of a distance or a direction to the target well can be computed based on characteristics of the signature or pattern in the magnetic field profile. The computed distance or direction to the target well can be used to control the direction of drilling of the wellbore.