System and method for stress field based wellbore steering
US8190369B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 4, 2008 |
| Grant date | May 29, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 4, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V2210/66
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A system and method for the geomechanical steering of the orientation of a wellbore is disclosed. In one embodiment, any available a priori data regarding the stress characteristics of a region of interest are used to develop a preliminary stress model for the region. A geosteered drilling operation is thereafter commenced, with the trajectory being steered in a direction relative to the stress model of the region. While drilling, real-time data is obtained from conventional down-hole instrumentation. The real-time data is used to refine the stress model for the region, such that the trajectory can be guided on an ongoing basis to achieve an optimal relationship with the measured stress characteristics of the region.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.