Patent · US Active

Methods of well trajectory and drilling optimized control for fracture-vuggy carbonate formation

US10408042B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
2References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 27, 2017
Grant dateSep 10, 2019
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 27, 2037

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F30/00
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

The invention discloses a series of methods to design drilling trajectory and control drilling operations in a optimized way in carbonate formation. The trajectory design method comprises: utilizing earthquake data to obtain contours of the carbonate rock fractures; determining a safe distance from each carbonate rock fracture; determining a segmented drilling trajectory for each fracture or vuggy structures in carbonate formation; and sequentially connecting the segmented drilling trajectories of neighboring fracture and vuggy to obtain a smooth horizontal drilling trajectory. The invention optimizes the carbonate rock reservoir drilling trajectory, thus improving connection between a horizontal well and the fractures. This reduces development costs, increases exploration and development efficiency and, at the same time, eliminates leaks resulting from the drilling process, thereby allowing for smooth drilling to a target well depth.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.