Method of obtaining improved geophysical information about earth formations
US6065538A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 9, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 23, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 9, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B2200/02
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides a method for forming wellbores. In one method, one or more wellbores are drilled along preplanned paths based in part upon seismic surveys performed from the surface. An acoustic transmitter conveyed in such wellbores transmits acoustic signals at a one or more frequencies within a range of frequencies at a plurality of spaced locations. A plurality of substantially serially spaced receivers in the wellbores and/or at surface receive signals reflected by the subsurface formations. The sensors may be permanently installed in the boreholes and could be fiber optic devices. The receiver signals are processed by conventional geophysical processing methods to obtain information about the subsurface formations. This information is utilized to update any prior seismographs to obtain higher resolution seismographs. The improved seismographs are then used to determine the profiles of the production wellbores to be drilled. Borehole seismic imaging may then be used to further improve the seismographs and to plan future wellbores. Cross-well tomography may be utilized to further update the seismographs to manage the reservoirs. The permanently installed sensors …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.