Automated Reservoir Navigation for Wellbore Trajectory Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automated wellbore placement techniques often result in undulating trajectories that do not align with oil-water contacts, leading to early water breakthrough due to insufficient control over offset, relative dip, and drainage area metrics during downhole exploration and production.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system for automated reservoir navigation that determine discrepancies in offset, relative dip, and drainage area relative to predefined thresholds, causing the bottom hole assembly to navigate based on these metrics to maintain optimal hydrocarbon recovery by steering the wellbore relative to a reservoir architecture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automated wellbore placement techniques are used, then drilling automation and efficiency are improved, but trajectory control precision deteriorates resulting in undulating trajectories that do not align with oil-water contacts
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors offset, relative dip, and drainage area metrics during drilling and uses this feedback to automatically adjust wellbore trajectory. Real-time comparison of actual trajectory against target parameters enables dynamic corrections to maintain alignment with oil-water contacts and prevent undulating patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The wellbore placement system transitions from static pre-planned trajectories to dynamic real-time trajectory adjustment. The system adapts drilling direction and rate based on continuously changing subsurface conditions and measured metrics, enabling precise control that responds to actual reservoir geometry rather than following a fixed predetermined path.
2Ease of operation
If traditional wellbore placement is used, then trajectory follows pre-planned path, but offset, relative dip, and drainage area metrics are not controlled leading to early water breakthrough
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors and controls multiple trajectory parameters simultaneously (offset, relative dip, drainage area) rather than relying on a single pre-planned path. By maintaining these parameters within target ranges, the system ensures the wellbore stays optimally positioned relative to oil-water contacts, preventing early water breakthrough and maximizing hydrocarbon recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes target ranges for offset, relative dip, and drainage area parameters before drilling begins. These preliminary target parameters guide real-time drilling decisions and trajectory adjustments, ensuring the wellbore is steered toward optimal positions for hydrocarbon recovery before water breakthrough can occur.
3Productivity
If real-time trajectory adjustment is implemented, then hydrocarbon recovery is enhanced, but computational complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and monitors only the critical metrics necessary for optimal wellbore placement (offset, relative dip, drainage area) rather than processing all possible downhole data. This selective extraction of key parameters reduces computational complexity while maintaining effective real-time trajectory control for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples described herein provide a computer-implemented method for automated reservoir navigation that includes receiving a reference indicative of a reservoir architecture. The method further includes determining a discrepancy between a well plan and the reference. The method further includes evaluating the discrepancy relative to a discrepancy threshold. The method further includes, responsive to determining that the discrepancy fails to satisfy the discrepancy threshold, causing a bottom hole assembly to navigate based at least in part on the discrepancy.