Method of conducting drilling operations using vertical seismic profiles
US5995446A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 21, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 30, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 21, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S367/911
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method is described for providing improved seismic data to a driller to indicate position and spatial extent of a drilling target which may be up to several hundreds of feet ahead of a drill bit. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of: survey design and data modeling, and definition of a drilling target point and a drilling interruption point; drilling down to a depth at which drilling will be interrupted; interruption of drilling; look-ahead borehole seismic survey (VSP); continuation of drilling; data processing and interpretation; coordinate update for optimum target intersection; and steering of drilling by borehole seismic data interpretation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.