Well Trajectory Optimization Using Weighted Geometrical and Anti-Collision Metrics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current well planning and directional drilling technologies face challenges in efficiently determining optimal well trajectories that avoid collisions and maximize reservoir contact while minimizing drilling costs and operational risks, particularly in complex geologic environments with varying properties and stresses.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize processors to receive well plan information, determine geometrical and weighted metrics based on subterranean environment characteristics, and output directional drilling information for well trajectories, incorporating anti-collision, torque, drag, geomechanics, and geometrical metrics to optimize well path planning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional well planning methods are used to determine optimal well trajectories, then drilling operations can be performed with existing technology, but the process is time-consuming and fails to efficiently maximize reservoir contact while avoiding collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/manual well planning methods with an automated computer-based system that uses processors to calculate well trajectory metrics. The system automatically determines geometrical metrics, anti-collision metrics, torque metrics, drag metrics, and geomechanical metrics, eliminating time-consuming manual calculations and enabling rapid optimization of well trajectories.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the well planning process by changing from qualitative/经验-based parameter assessment to quantitative metric evaluation. The system calculates specific parameters including geometrical metrics (well path geometry), anti-collision metrics (distance to adjacent wells), torque metrics (drilling torque requirements), drag metrics (frictional forces), and geomechanical metrics (formation stresses), enabling precise and efficient trajectory optimization.
2Productivity
If well trajectories are optimized to maximize reservoir contact, then drilling productivity increases, but the risk of collision with adjacent wells and operational risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously evaluates multiple metrics including anti-collision metrics that measure distance to adjacent wells. The processor assesses the weighted combination of all metrics and adjusts the well trajectory accordingly, providing real-time feedback to ensure collision avoidance while maintaining reservoir contact optimization. This closed-loop approach allows dynamic balancing of productivity and safety requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds multiple dimensional considerations to well trajectory planning by evaluating geometrical metrics (spatial positioning), anti-collision metrics (lateral distance to other wells), torque metrics (rotational forces), drag metrics (frictional resistance), and geomechanical metrics (formation stress states). This multi-dimensional assessment framework enables comprehensive optimization that simultaneously addresses reservoir contact and collision avoidance requirements.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex geologic environments with varying properties and stresses are considered in well planning, then drilling accuracy improves, but the computational complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex well planning problem into distinct calculable components: geometrical metrics calculation, anti-collision metrics assessment, torque metrics evaluation, drag metrics computation, and geomechanical metrics analysis. By dividing the overall optimization problem into these separate metric calculations, the system can process complex geologic environment data through modular computational steps, improving accuracy while managing computational complexity through structured segmentation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method can include receiving well plan information that includes a reservoir target associated with a reservoir of a subterranean environment; based at least in part on characteristics of the subterranean environment, determining well trajectory metrics that comprise a geometrical metric; determining a weighted metric based at least in part on weighting of the well trajectory metrics; and, based at least in part on an assessment of the weighted metric, outputting directional drilling information for a well trajectory to the reservoir target.