Wellbore Path Visualization for Collision Avoidance Planning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems for planning wellbores are ineffective in identifying pre-existing wellbore trajectories, leading to potential collisions and inefficient resource use, as they rely on costly and inaccurate external databases for collision avoidance.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilize an internal database to automatically generate a list of avoidance components, including pre-existing wellbores, endangered zones, and other restrictions, to visualize and adjust drilling paths, reducing the risk of collisions and improving planning efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional systems use external databases to identify avoidance components, then collision avoidance information can be obtained, but the process is costly, inefficient, and yields incomplete data with inaccuracies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of avoidance component identificationVSAvoidplanning efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a digital copy of avoidance component data by generating three-dimensional representations of wellbores and geological features from existing well log data and geological models. These digital copies enable accurate collision detection without requiring access to external databases, thereby improving both accuracy and efficiency simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If radial scans are performed to detect avoidance components, then some collision risks can be identified, but the system cannot completely identify trajectories of pre-existing wellbores

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of trajectory identificationVSAvoiddetection system capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from two-dimensional radial scan analysis to three-dimensional wellbore trajectory reconstruction. By creating 3D representations of wellbores and integrating them with geological models, the system achieves complete trajectory identification and reliable collision detection that was impossible with conventional radial scan methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Loss of information

If individual licenses and subscription fees are paid to search regional databases, then avoidance component data can be obtained, but the process is costly and yields incomplete data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of avoidance component dataVSAvoidcost of data acquisition
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically generating avoidance component information from existing well log data and geological models already available in the system. This eliminates the need to purchase data from external databases, reducing costs to zero while providing complete and accurate avoidance component identification through internal data processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3803024B1System and method to detect and avoid wellbore collision
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 CONOCOPHILLIPS CO
  • EP3803024B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3803024B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3803024B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system and method are provided to detect and avoid wellbore collision. The method may include receiving, by a processor, a path of a proposed wellbore. The processor then receives a boundary surrounding the path of the proposed wellbore. The processor then generates, automatically, a list of avoidance components within the boundary using an internal database. The proposed wellbore and avoidance components in the list are then displayed by a visualization system.