Equi-pressure geosteering
US6464021B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 30, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 15, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 30, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B49/10
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method for determining a desirable depth for drilling a horizontal well within an oil reservoir includes the steps of deploying a plurality of data sensors at discrete depths in a subsurface formation penetrated by a wellbore, gathering formation pressure data for the discrete depths using the data sensors, and determining the depth of a reservoir using the gathered formation pressure data. The depth within the reservoir may be determined by identifying from the gathered formation pressure data at least one depth whose corresponding formation pressure is suggestive of a reservoir. Once such a depth is identified, the wellbore itself or a lateral drainhole depending from the wellbore may be steered into the reservoir by maintaining the trajectory of the wellbore or drainhole at a substantially constant distance from a fluid contact within the reservoir.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.