Surface Coil Wellbore Positioning via Electromagnetic Field
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wellbore positioning methods, such as measurement while drilling (MWD) systems, often experience position drift during extended horizontal drilling, leading to inaccurate wellbore location determination.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a surface coil with a conductor loop to generate an electromagnetic field, detected by a sensor package within the wellbore, allowing for precise determination of the wellbore's position relative to a known surface location, combining with measurements of the Earth's magnetic and gravity fields.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If MWD systems with sensors are used for wellbore positioning, then position determination is enabled, but position drift occurs during extended horizontal drilling leading to inaccurate positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an electromagnetic field as an intermediary reference system between the wellbore and surface positioning infrastructure. The surface coil generates a known electromagnetic field pattern that serves as a stable reference, while downhole magnetometers detect this field to determine position. This intermediary field-based reference system corrects the drift inherent in direct sensor-based MWD positioning, providing reliable long-term position stability during extended horizontal drilling operations.
2Measurement precision
If electromagnetic field generation using surface coil is implemented, then accurate wellbore positioning is achieved, but additional equipment and operational complexity are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electromagnetic field generation function to a separate surface-based coil system, independent of the downhole drilling operations. The surface coil can be positioned and configured separately from the wellbore drilling process, and the downhole sensor package remains focused on detection rather than field generation. This separation simplifies the overall system architecture by dividing functionality between surface and subsurface components, reducing operational complexity despite adding equipment.
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
This approach provides accurate and stable wellbore positioning by correcting for position drift, ensuring precise alignment and spacing of wellbores during operations like hydraulic fracturing and SAGD, enhancing the effectiveness of these processes.
Implementation Method 1
The coil controller may be adapted to inject a current into the surface coil such that the surface coil generates an electromagnetic field
Implementation Method 2
measuring the electromagnetic field with the magnetometer package
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a surface coil positioned at a known surface position, the surface coil including at least one loop of a conductor. The system also includes a coil controller coupled to the surface coil and adapted to inject a current into the surface coil such that the surface coil generates an electromagnetic field. In addition, the system includes a sensor package positioned within a wellbore adapted to detect the electromagnetic field and determine the position of the wellbore relative to the surface coil.