TW202311618A - Bottom hole assembly mounted solenoid for magnetic ranging - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and system for ranging between two bottom hole assemblies (BHA). The method and system may include transmitting an electromagnetic field from a ranging device disposed on a first BHA, and measuring the electromagnetic field with a receiver disposed on a second BHA to form a measurement set. The method and system may further include an information handling system that may compare the measurement set to a decay rate of the electromagnetic field and identifying a distance between the ranging device and the receiver based at least in part on the decay rate.

Description

Bottomhole Assembly Mounted Solenoids for Magnetic Ranging

This case involves the installation of solenoids in the bottom-hole assembly for magnetic ranging.

Boreholes drilled into subterranean formations may enable recovery of desired fluids (eg, hydrocarbons, hot water/steam) using any number of different techniques. When developing and drilling a borehole, it is important to be able to position the active borehole where it is necessary to approach the surrounding geology of the subterranean formation and to approach adjacent boreholes. As the drilling operation proceeds, the location of the borehole may change over time relative to adjacent boreholes.

In general, a subterranean formation may have any number of boreholes drilled into it. Thus, during any given drilling operation, the drilling operation may have to locate previously drilled boreholes and/or concurrently drilled boreholes.

Current technology requires the deployment of sources and/or receivers into offset boreholes to aid in the identification of previously drilled wells or to aid in parallel drilling operations. In particular, wireline operations are currently performed in which a wireline source is deployed in an offset borehole and transmitted from a wireline tool. Since this scenario involves two systems, wireline and logging-while-drilling (LWD), it is expensive and labor intensive.

The present invention discloses a method and system for ranging between two bottom hole assemblies (BHA). The method and system may include: transmitting an electromagnetic field from a ranging device disposed on a first BHA; and measuring the electromagnetic field with a receiver disposed on a second BHA to form a measurement set. The method and system may further include an information handling system that compares the set of measurements to a decay rate of the electromagnetic field and identifies a distance between the ranging device and the receiver based at least in part on the decay rate distance.

Methods and systems for drilling multiple wells in close proximity without the need for specific offset wells in which transmitter devices and/or receiver devices are placed for tracking drilling are described below operate. Also the methods and systems described below are applicable to any form of drilling operations for hydrocarbon extraction from subterranean formations, geothermal operations, water extraction and/or any form of fluid extraction. Systems and methods can eliminate the need to deploy wireline sources and incorporate bottomhole assembly (BHA) mounted sources and (BHA) mounted receivers in target wells and offset "drilled" wells where the target well is actively Drill wells or cased or open hole wells.

FIG. 1 illustrates a drilling operation 100 according to an example embodiment. As shown, borehole 102 may extend from wellhead 104 from surface 108 into subterranean formation 106 . In general, boreholes 102 may include horizontal, vertical, inclined, curved, and other types of borehole geometries and orientations. Borehole 102 may be cased or uncased. In an example, borehole 102 may include metal components. As an example, the metal component may be a housing, bushing, conduit, or other elongated steel pipe disposed in the borehole 102 .

As depicted, borehole 102 may extend through subterranean formation 106 . As shown in FIG. 1 , the borehole 102 may extend generally vertically into the subterranean formation 106 , however, the borehole 102 may extend through the subterranean formation 106 at an angle, such as horizontal and inclined boreholes. For example, although Figure 1 depicts a vertical or low-inclination well, high-inclination or horizontal placement of wells and equipment may be possible. It should be further noted that while Figure 1 generally depicts land-based operations, those skilled in the art will recognize that the principles described herein are equally applicable to operations using floating or sea-based operations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Subsea operations for platforms and drilling rigs.

As shown, the drilling platform 110 may support a boom 112 having a traveling block 114 for raising and lowering a drill string 116 . Drill string 116 may include, but is not limited to, drill pipe and coiled conduit, as is generally known to those skilled in the art. Kelly 118 may support drill string 116 as it may be lowered via turntable 120 . Drill bit 122 may be attached to the distal end of drill string 116 and may be driven by a downhole motor and/or rotation from surface 108 via drill string 116 . Without limitation, drill bit 122 may include a roller cone bit, a PDC bit, a natural diamond bit, any reamer, reamer, coring bit, and the like. As drill bit 122 rotates, it may create and extend borehole 102 that penetrates various subterranean formations 106 . Pump 124 may circulate drilling fluid through kelly 118 through feed pipe 126, downhole through the interior of drill string 116, through apertures in drill bit 122, back to surface 108 via annulus 128 surrounding drill string 116, and Reach pit 132.

Continuing with FIG. 1 , drill string 116 may begin at wellhead 104 and may traverse borehole 102 . Drill bit 122 may be attached to the distal end of drill string 116 and may be driven, for example, by a downhole motor and/or rotation from surface 108 via drill string 116 . The drill bit 122 may be part of a rotary steerable system (RSS) 130 at the distal end of the drill string 116 . In other examples, drill bit 122 may be part of a mud motor discussed below. RSS 130 may further include tools for immediate health assessment of rotary steerable tools during drilling operations. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the RSS 130 can be a measurement-while drilling (MWD) or logging-while-drilling (LWD) system.

The RSS 130 may include any number of tools, such as sensors, transmitters, and/or receivers, to perform downhole surveying operations or perform instant health assessments of rotating steerable tools during drilling operations. For example, as shown in FIG. 1 , RSS 130 may be included on and/or with bottom hole assembly (BHA) 134 . It should be noted that BHA 134 may constitute at least a portion of RSS 130 . Without limitation, any number of different measurement assemblies, communication assemblies, battery assemblies, and/or the like may form RSS 130 with BHA 134 . Additionally, BHA 134 may form RSS 130 itself. In an example, BHA 134 may include one or more sensors 136 . The sensors 136 may be connected to an information handling system 138 discussed below, which may further control the operation of the sensors 136 . Sensors 136 may include (accelerometers, magnetometers, temperature sensors, speed sensors, position sensors, etc.). During operation, the sensors 136 can process real-time data from various sources, such as diagnostic data, sensor measurements, operational data, survey measurements, sensing status, drilling operation 100 status, BHA 134 status, RS 130 status and/or the like. The information and/or measurements may be further processed by the information handling system 138 to determine immediate healing assessment of the rotary steerable tool.

Without limitation, RSS 130 may be connected to and/or controlled by information handling system 138 , which may be disposed on surface 108 . Without limitation, information handling system 138 may be disposed downhole in RSS 130 . Processing of the recorded information may occur downhole and/or at the surface 108 . Processing performed downhole may be transmitted to the surface 108 for recording, observation, and/or further analysis. Additionally, information recorded on an information handling system 138 that can be placed downhole can be stored until the RSS 130 can be brought to the surface 108 . In an example, information handling system 138 may communicate with RSS 130 via communication lines (not shown) disposed in (or on) drill string 116 . In an example, wireless communication may be used to transfer information to and from the information handling system 138 and the RSS 130 . Information handling system 138 can transmit information to RSS 130 and can receive and process information recorded by RSS 130 . In an example, a downhole information handling system (not shown) may include, but is not limited to, a microprocessor or other suitable circuitry for evaluating, receiving, and processing signals from the RSS 130 . The downhole information handling system (not shown) may further include additional components such as memory, input/output devices, interfaces, and the like. In an example, although not shown, RSS 130 may include one or more additional components, such as analog-to-digital converters, filters and amplifiers, and other components, which may be used to increase the amount of power in RSS 130 The measurements can be processed before they can be transmitted to the surface 108. Alternatively, raw measurements from RSS 130 may be transmitted to surface 108 .

Any suitable technique may be used to transmit the signal from RSS 130 to surface 108, including but not limited to wireline telemetry, mud pulse telemetry, acoustic telemetry, and electromagnetic telemetry. Although not shown, RSS 130 may include a telemetry subassembly that may transmit telemetry data to surface 108 . At surface 108, a pressure transducer (not shown) may convert the pressure signal into an electrical signal for a digitizer (not shown). The digitizer may supply the telemetry signal in digital form to information handling system 138 via communication link 140, which may be a wired or wireless link. The telemetry data may be analyzed and processed by the information handling system 138 .

As shown, a communication link 140 (which may be, for example, wired or wireless) may be provided that may transmit data from RSS 130 to information handling system 138 at surface 108 . Information handling system 138 may include a personal computer 141, a video display 142, a keyboard 144 (i.e., other input devices), and/or a non-transitory computer-readable medium 146 (e.g., an optical disk, a magnetic disk), which may store information representing Code for the method described. In addition to or instead of processing at surface 108 , processing may also be performed downhole when information handling system 138 may be placed on RSS 130 . Likewise, information handling system 138 may automatically process measurements taken by one or more sensors 136 or send information from sensors 136 to the surface. As discussed above, the software, algorithms, and modeling are executed by the information handling system 138 . Information handling system 138 may perform steps, run software, perform calculations, and/or the like automatically, via automation, such as via artificial intelligence ("AI"), dynamically, in real time, and/or in substantially real time.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example information handling system 138 that may be used to perform the various steps, methods, and techniques disclosed herein. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that other system examples are possible. As depicted, information handling system 138 includes processing unit (CPU or processor) 202 and system bus 204 which will include, for example, read only memory (ROM) 208 and random access memory (RAM) 210 Various system components of a system memory 206 are coupled to the processor 202 . Processors disclosed herein may all be in the form of this processor 202 . Information handling system 138 may include high-speed memory 212 directly connected to processor 202 , in close proximity to processor 202 , or integrated as part of processor 202 . Information handling system 138 copies data from memory 206 and/or storage device 214 to cache memory 212 for fast access by processor 202 . In this way, cache memory 212 provides a performance boost that prevents processor 202 from being delayed while waiting for data. These and other modules may control or be configured to control the processor 202 to perform various operations or actions. Other system memory 206 is also available. Memory 206 may include a variety of different types of memory with different performance characteristics. It will be appreciated that the present disclosure may operate on an information handling system 138 having more than one processor 202 or on a group or cluster of computing devices networked together to provide greater processing capabilities. Processor 202 may include any general purpose processor and hardware or software modules, such as first module 216, second module 218, and third module 220 stored in storage device 214, which are assembled state to control the processor 202; and a special purpose processor in which software instructions are incorporated into the processor 202. Processor 202 may be a self-contained computing system that includes multiple cores or processors, a bus, memory controller, cache memory, and the like. Multi-core processors can be symmetric or asymmetric. Processor 202 may include multiple processors, such as a system with multiple physically separate processors in different sockets, or a system with multiple processor cores on a single physical die. Similarly, processor 202 may comprise multiple distributed processors located in multiple separate computing devices but working together, such as via a communications network. Multiple processors or processor cores may share resources such as memory 206 or cache 212, or may operate using independent resources. Processor 202 may include one or more state machines, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or programmable gate arrays (PGAs), including field PGAs (FPGAs).

Each of the individual components discussed above can be coupled to a system bus 204 which can connect each of the individual components to each other. The system bus 204 may be any of several types of bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. Basic input/output (BIOS) stored in ROM 208 or the like may provide the basic routines that facilitate the transfer of information between elements within information handling system 138 , such as during start-up. Information handling system 138 further includes a storage device 214 or computer readable storage medium such as a hard disk drive, magnetic disk drive, optical disk drive, tape drive, solid state drive, RAM drive, removable storage device, inexpensive magnetic disk Redundant array (RAID), hybrid storage or the like. The storage device 214 may include software modules 216 , 218 and 220 for controlling the processor 202 . The information handling system 138 may include other hardware or software modules. The storage device 214 is connected to the system bus 204 through a driver interface. Disk drives and associated computer-readable storage devices provide non-volatile storage of computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data for information handling system 138 . In one category, a hardware module performing a specific function includes software stored in a tangible computer readable storage device in combination with necessary hardware components such as the processor 202, system bus 204, etc., to perform the specific function components. In another category, a system may use a processor and a computer-readable storage device to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, methods, or other specific actions. Basic components and appropriate changes may be modified depending on the type of device, such as whether information handling system 138 is a small handheld computing device, a desktop computer, or a computer server. When processor 202 executes instructions to perform "operations," processor 202 may directly perform the operation and/or facilitate, instruct, or cooperate with another device or component to perform the operation.

As shown, information handling system 138 employs storage device 214, which may be a hard disk or other type of computer-readable storage device that can store data that can be accessed by a computer, such as a cassette tape, flash memory Cards, digital versatile disks (DVDs), cassettes, random access memory (RAM) 210, read only memory (ROM) 208, cables containing bit streams, and the like are also illustrative sexual operating environment. Tangible computer-readable storage media, computer-readable storage devices, or computer-readable memory devices expressly exclude media such as transient waves, energy, carrier signals, electromagnetic waves, and signals themselves.

To enable a user to interact with information handling system 138, input device 222 represents any number of input mechanisms, such as a microphone for speech, a touch-sensitive screen for gesture or graphical input, keyboard, mouse, motion input, Voice etc. Additionally, the input device 222 may obtain data from one or more of the sensors 136 discussed above. The output device 224 can also be one or more of several output mechanisms known to those skilled in the art. In some cases, a multimodal system enables a user to provide multiple types of input to communicate with information handling system 138 . Communication interface 226 generally controls and manages user input and system output. There is no limitation to operation on any particular hardware configuration, and thus the basic hardware depicted can be readily substituted by improved hardware or firmware configurations as they are developed.

As shown, each individual component described above is depicted and disclosed as a separate functional block. The functions represented by these blocks may be provided through the use of shared or dedicated hardware including, but not limited to, hardware capable of executing software and hardware, such as processor 202, which is purposefully built to operate as the equivalent of software executing on a general-purpose processor. For example, the functionality of one or more processors presented in FIG. 2 may be provided by a single shared processor or by multiple processors. Use of the term "processor" should not be construed as referring exclusively to hardware capable of executing software. The illustrative embodiments may include microprocessor and/or digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, read-only memory (ROM) 208 for storing software to perform the operations described below, and random access memory (ROM) for storing the results. Access memory (RAM) 210 . Very large scale integration (VLSI) hardware implementations are also available, as well as custom VLSI circuitry combined with general purpose DSP circuitry.

The logical operations of the various methods described below are implemented as: (1) a sequence of computer-implemented steps, operations, or procedures running on programmable circuits within a general-purpose computer; (2) on special-purpose programmable circuits A running computer implementing a sequence of steps, operations, or programs; and/or (3) interconnected machine modules or programming engines within programmable circuits. Information handling system 138 can practice all or part of the described methods, can be part of the described systems, and/or can operate in accordance with instructions in the described tangible computer readable storage devices. Such logical operations may be implemented as modules configured to control the processor 202 to perform specific functions according to the programming of the software modules 216 , 218 , and 220 .

In an example, one or more portions of the example information handling system 138 may be virtualized, up to and including the entire information handling system 138 . For example, a virtual processor may be a software object that executes according to a specific instruction set even when a physical processor of the same type as the virtual processor is not available. A virtualization layer or virtual "host" can enable virtualized components of one or more different computing devices or device types by translating virtualized operations into actual operations. Ultimately, however, each type of virtualized hardware is implemented or executed by some underlying physical hardware. Thus, the virtualized computing layer can operate on top of the physical computing layer. The virtualized computing layer may include one or more virtual machines, overlay networks, hypervisors, virtual switches, and any other virtualized applications.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example information handling system 138 having a chipset architecture that may be used to perform the described methods and generate and display a graphical user interface (GUI). Information handling system 138 is an example of computer hardware, software, and firmware that may be used to implement the disclosed techniques. Information handling system 138 may include processor 202, which represents any number of physically and/or logically distinct resources capable of executing software, firmware, and hardware configured to perform an identified computation. Processor 202 may be in communication with chipset 300 which may control input to and output from processor 202 . In this example, chipset 300 outputs information to output device 224, such as a display, and may read and write information to storage device 214, which may include, for example, magnetic and solid-state media. Chipset 300 can also read data from and write data to RAM 210 . A bridge 302 may be provided for interfacing with various user interface components 304 for interfacing with the chipset 300 . Such user interface components 304 may include a keyboard, a microphone, touch detection and processing circuitry, a pointing device such as a mouse, and the like. In general, input to information handling system 138 may come from any of a variety of machine-generated and/or human-generated sources.

Chipset 300 may also interface with one or more communication interfaces 226, which may have different physical interfaces. Such communication interfaces may include interfaces for wired and wireless area networks, for broadband wireless networks, and personal area networks. Some applications of the methods for generating, displaying, and using GUIs disclosed herein may include receiving an ordered set of data through a physical interface, or analyzing data stored in storage device 214 or RAM 210 by the processor 202 and generated by the machine. generate itself. Additionally, information handling system 138 receives input from a user via user interface component 304 and, by using processor 202 to interpret such input, performs appropriate functions, such as browsing functions.

In an example, information handling system 138 may also include tangible and/or non-transitory computer-readable storage devices for carrying or storing computer-executable instructions or data structures. Such tangible computer readable storage devices can be any available device that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer, including the functional design of any special purpose processor as described above. By way of example and not limitation, such tangible computer readable devices may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage devices, magnetic disk storage devices or other magnetic storage devices, or may be carried or stored as computer Any other device that can execute instructions, data structures, or desired code in the form of a processor chip design. When information or instructions are provided to a computer over a network or another communications connection (wired, wireless, or a combination thereof), the computer properly considers that connection to be a computer-readable medium. Thus, any such connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. Combinations of the above should also be included in the scope of computer-readable storage devices.

Computer-executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data that cause a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, or special-purpose processing device to execute a certain function or group of functions. Computer-executable instructions also include program modules that are executed by computers in stand-alone or networked environments. Generally, a program module includes routines, programs, components, data structures, objects, and functions inherent in the design of special purpose processors, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Computer-executable instructions, associated data structures, and program modules represent examples of code means for executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executable instructions or associated data structures represents examples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions described in such steps.

In additional examples, the methods can be practiced in networked computing environments having many types of computer system configurations, including personal computers, handheld devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or computer-based Stylized consumer electronic devices, network PCs, microcomputers, mainframe computers and the like. Examples may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by local and remote computers that are linked (either by fixed-wire link, wireless link, or by a combination thereof) through a communications network. The end processing device executes. In a distributed computing environment, program modules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

FIG. 1 further illustrates a second drilling operation 150 that may be adjacent to the drilling operation 100 . Although two drilling operations are shown, there may be any number of drilling operations in progress that may interfere with each other. Likewise, there may be one or more completed wells in the vicinity of the active drilling operation. The second drilling operation 150 may include all items identified for the drilling operation 100 . As shown, the second BHA 152 can operate and function adjacent to the BHA 134 . The ability of the second BHA 152 and BHA 134 to recognize each other within the formation 106 may prevent the second BHA 152 and BHA 134 from contacting each other during drilling operations. As shown, an electromagnetic field 154 may be emitted from the BHA 134 . This field can emanate from a solenoid source as discussed below. Electromagnetic field 154 may be sensed by one or more receivers disposed on BHA 152 as discussed below.

FIG. 4A shows a cross-sectional view of the BHA 134 and/or the second BHA 152 . BHA 134 may include ranging device 400 disposed in or around BHA 134 and/or BHA 152 . The ranging device 400 may include a solenoid 402 which may be powered by one or more batteries 404 , a turbine 406 and/or a capacitor 410 . In an example, the BHA 134 and/or the second BHA 152 may further include a secondary ranging device 408 that also includes a solenoid 402, one or more batteries 404, a turbine 406, and/or a capacitor 410. During operation, if ranging device 400 fails, secondary ranging device 408 may be utilized, or secondary ranging device 408 may be utilized in conjunction with ranging device 400 . Both ranging device 400 and secondary ranging device 408 may be used to identify and range between BHAs and completed wells. To perform ranging operations between BHAs, one or more receivers may be used on each BHA.

FIG. 4B illustrates one or more receivers 412 disposed at various locations within and/or along the BHA 134 and/or second BHA 152 . In examples, receiver 412 may be a single, dual and/or triple axis magnetometer. In an example, the receiver 412 may be automatically scaled up or down based on the scaling resolution for which measurements are sought. In general, scaling resolution may increase as source strength increases as the proximity between receiver 412 and ranging device 400 decreases. Scaling resolution may decrease as the source strength decreases and as the proximity between receiver 412 and ranging device 400 increases. Receiver 412 may be positioned on RSS 130 , drill bit 122 , MWD/LWD sub 414 , mud motor 416 , and/or collar 418 to one or more subs and/or devices of BHA 134 and/or second BHA 152 . The receiver is operable and functional to receive AC or DC based signals emanating from the ranging device 400 . During ranging operation, receiver 412 may measure the electromagnetic field emanating from solenoid 402 by measuring the amplitude between the peaks of the solenoid 402's polarity switch. These measurements may be sent to the information handling system 138, which may then compare the measurements collected downhole with previously collected downhole measurements (ie, stored in a database) and transmitted from the solenoid 402 The known decay rate of the magnetic field of . From this data set, calculations of the relative distances from the solenoid 402 and from the three components of the field (direction to the center of the magnetic source) to the receiver 412 can be determined.

FIG. 5A illustrates a solenoid 402 used in a distance measuring device 400 that may be disposed in a BHA 134 (see, eg, FIG. 1 ). The solenoid 402 may include a laminated iron core 500 which may have a variable length, wherein the length is not less than one meter. To provide the desired magnetic field, the solenoid may, for example, be magnetically saturated with sufficient power output to saturate the core, and this power output is provided by a polarity-reversing field-effect transistor connected across the solenoid winding 506. effect transistor; FET) switching circuit 504 is supplied by the downhole power supply 502. In addition, the FET switching circuit 504 can be further controlled by a downhole clock 508, which can further assist in generating the desired magnetic field. The downhole power supply 502 may be a battery, a turbine, a capacitor, and/or the like, as well as any combination thereof. In an example, the number of solenoid windings 506 surrounding the core 500 amplifies the electromagnetic field 154 emitted from the ranging device 400 (see, eg, FIG. 1 ). The solenoid 402 may contain multiple layers of solenoid windings 506 such that the magnetic field may be varied between each individual ranging device 400 . This may be accomplished by adding layers of solenoid winding 506 and thus increasing the number of turns per unit length and/or total length of solenoid 402 utilized at any given point in time. Additionally, information handling system 138 may select one or more layers to be energized using one or more FET switching circuits 504 at any given time. For example, as shown in FIG. 5B , one or more FET switching circuits 504 may control current flow through solenoid winding 506 , second solenoid winding 510 , and/or third solenoid winding 512 . Each additional winding may represent a new layer that may be above and/or below another layer. FIG. 5C shows another example of solenoid winding 506, second solenoid winding 510, and/or third solenoid winding 512, where FET switching circuit 504 controls the current flow through each layer. Likewise, the direction of current flow applied through each solenoid winding 506 layer may be controlled by information handling system 138 . For example, a user may adjust the amount of current passed through each solenoid winding 506 layer and/or the number of layers that are energized to control the magnitude of the electromagnetic field created by ranging device 400 .

During operation, the receiver 412 discussed above and below may be controlled by the information handling system 138 to sense the electromagnetic field 154 generated by the ranging device 400 . In general, the first BHA 134 may transmit an electromagnetic field 154, which may be sensed and/or measured by one or more receivers 412 on the BHA 152, or vice versa. Since energy is scarce in the downhole environment, the sensed field strength or field strength gradient measured across receiver 412 can be controlled by the user at the surface using information handling system 138 . For example, if the ranging device 400 is generating the electromagnetic field 154 and it is not being sensed by the one or more receivers 412 on the opposing BHA, the user may increase the electromagnetic field 154 . As discussed above, this may be accomplished by increasing the amount of current moved through the solenoid winding 506 layers or increasing the number of solenoid winding 506 layers available. Accordingly, the magnitude and intensity of the electromagnetic field 154 may increase until sensed by at least one receiver 412 on the opposing BHA. As the two BHAs move closer together, the amount and number of layers of solenoid winding 506 can be reduced. This prevents the receiver 412 from being saturated by the electromagnetic field 154 and may allow the user to determine the distance and direction between BHAs. The saturation of the receiver 412 can be reviewed by the user using the information handling system 138 .

FIG. 6 shows that current flow can be periodically reversed by a reference square wave having a precise cycle period of between 1 and 100 cycles per second derived from a clock signal 600 derived from Crystal oscillator generation with frequencies accurate to parts per million. The solenoid current versus time waveform depicted at 700 in FIG. 7 produces a magnetic dipole field of alternating polarity. Although the principle of physical control of the behavior of the magnetic field used in the analysis to be described is that of a time-independent magnetic field, it is necessary to repeatedly reverse the direction of current flow in the solenoid to allow the solenoid field to interact with the Earth's magnetic field and precise separation from instrument and magnetic field noise. It is also possible to simply switch the solenoid current on and off and record the field difference. In this case, the resulting magnetic dipole and the amplitude of the alternating polarity components of the field will be one-half the amplitude that would result if the current were reversed.

A schematic diagram of a downhole measurement apparatus 800 is shown in FIG. 8 as being connected via a borehole telemetry link 802 to an uphole drilling control room 804 within a drilling operation 100 on the earth's surface 108 (see, eg, FIG. 1 ). The control room 804 has an information handling system 138 for processing data received from downhole electronics and a controller for operating drilling operations.

The downhole tool package 800 may include a three-vector component magnetometer 808 and a three-vector component accelerometer 810, each of which produces an output signal with respect to an xyz axis. The z-axis of the downhole tool package 800 is aligned with the borehole 102 being drilled, and the vertical x- and y-axes have a known orientation aligned with the drilling face; i.e., with the drilling motor controlling the drilling direction Align the direction of the curved shell. The magnetometer AC output is passed through a bandpass amplifier 812 and multiplexed with the magnetometer DC output and the accelerometer output at a multiplexer 814, where the signal is converted from analog to digital form and finally placed into a circuit suitable for telemetry. to the surface form. Timing for digitization and telemetry is generated by a downhole clock 816 controlled by a quartz crystal with a frequency accurate to parts per million.

During the drilling operation, drilling may be paused from time to time at the survey station along the proposed borehole path to perform distance measurements with the distance measuring device 400 . The resulting reverse field with alternating polarity components is detected by the magnetometer housed with 412 and/or 800, the resulting output signal is transmitted uphole, data is recorded for several minutes, and a data file is generated. Downhole multiplexer circuitry 814 sequentially samples the output voltages of magnetometer 808 and accelerometer 810 at regular time intervals during each set of measurement operations and telemeters the results to information handling system 138 at surface 108 , the information processing system separates the gravity measurement at 818 from the earth field measurement at 820 and the AC field measurement at 822. The results are sent via telemetry circuitry 806 , which may connect information handling system 138 to downhole tool package 800 . The relative time at which each measurement was taken is precisely preserved by the position each measurement has in the serial data stream being telemetered, and the gravity data and AC field data are stored at data files 824 and 826, respectively. The information handling system 138 generates from the gravity data a single-column, three-row matrix gxyz having elements gx, gy, and gz, which are representations of the measured gravity g in the xyz coordinate system. From the magnetometer measurement data, two 3-row matrices h1 and h2 are generated. The first matrix h1 has three rows h1x, h1y and h1z, which is a list of time series of digitized magnetometer measurements from a first orientation of the solenoid. The second matrix h2 has three rows h2x, h2y, and h2z, which are a time-ordered list of magnetic field measurements from the second orientation of the solenoid.

In other examples, a magnetometer 808 or a gradiometer (magnetometer array) can be used as the receiver 412 to detect the signal from the ranging device 400 . The magnetometer 412 / 808 may be placed anywhere along the BHA 134 . For example, the magnetometer 808 may be placed in, on, or around the drill sub, RSS 130, in the drill bit 122, in a dumb iron such as a collar or sub, and/or integrated into the MWD/LWD tool middle.

Magnetometer 808 may have minimal single-axis capability and may be positioned along drill string 116 . The magnetometer 808 may be used for ranging measurements. The ranging measurements may not be associated with the survey measurements, but may be used to correct the survey measurements and correct the borehole azimuth relative to the reference borehole ranging data.

The solenoid 402 may be demagnetized prior to installation prior to drilling operations to remove or reduce residual magnetic fields along the core that affect other magnetometer readings. The solenoid 402 may be positioned at any suitable location along or within the one or more BHAs 134, within the RSS, mud motor, MWD/LWD assembly, and/or at the locations listed either above or below. Multiple solenoids, which may be of similar or different sizes, may be disposed within the BHA 134 . This may allow personnel to selectively select which solenoid to utilize at any time during drilling operations. As mentioned above, one or more BHAs 134 may function as both ranging device 400 and receiver 412 or as ranging device 400 and receiver 412 individually. For example, one or more BHAs 134 may have a solenoid 402 mounted on any of the BHAs 134 for transmission.

Downhole operations may also include a pair of or acoustic/sonic surveying tools, with one tool acting as a transmitter and the second tool acting as a receiver. This can also be achieved by utilizing a pair of long range induction based resistivity measurement tools that can be co-located with each other by transmitting and receiving frequency and phase emissions from the resistivity tool.

The improvement over the current technology is to complete the magnetic distance determination with smoother operation and lower total cost of ownership. A key improvement of this system over the prior art is that it does not require the routing of dedicated cables for ranging sources or receivers to one or more bottom hole assemblies. This proposed solution significantly reduces the total cost of ownership for drilling closely adjacent simultaneous boreholes where collisions need to be avoided or where simultaneous boreholes need to intersect, as determined by the borehole geometry and stipulated by the target. The methods and systems can include any of the various features disclosed herein, including one or more of the following statements.

Statement 1: A method may comprise: transmitting an electromagnetic field from a ranging device disposed on a first bottom hole assembly (BHA); measuring the electromagnetic field with a receiver disposed on a second BHA to form a a set of measurements; comparing the set of measurements to a decay rate of the electromagnetic field; and identifying a distance between the ranging device and the receiver based at least in part on the decay rate.

Statement 2. The method of Statement 1, wherein the ranging device is a solenoid.

Statement 3. The method of statement 2, wherein a plurality of solenoid windings are disposed over the solenoid.

Statement 4. The method of Statement 3, wherein the number of solenoid windings is directly related to a strength of the electromagnetic field.

Statement 5. The method of Statement 2, wherein a current is pumped through the plurality of solenoid windings in a first direction to form the electromagnetic field.

Statement 6. The method of Statement 5, wherein the current is pumped through the solenoid windings in a second direction opposite the first direction to form a second magnetic field.

Statement 7. The method of Statement 2, wherein the solenoid is powered by one or more batteries, a turbine or a capacitor.

Statement 8. The method of Statement 1 or 2, wherein the receiver is a single, dual or triple axis magnetometer configured to automatically increase or decrease a scaling resolution.

Statement 9. The method of Statement 1, 2 or 8, wherein the second BHA comprises a single or a plurality of receivers.

Statement 10. The method of Statement 1, 2, 8, or 9, further comprising utilizing a first rotationally coupled to the first BHA based at least in part on the distance between the ranging device and the receiver Steering System (RSS) to adjust the path of one of the first BHAs.

Statement 11 A system may comprise: a first bottom hole assembly (BHA) including a ranging device that transmits an electromagnetic field; and a second BHA including a receiving device that measures the electromagnetic field to form a measurement set device. The system may further include an information handling system that compares the set of measurements to a decay rate of the electromagnetic field and identifies a distance between the ranging device and the receiver based at least in part on the decay rate.

Statement 12. The system of Statement 11, wherein the ranging device is a solenoid.

Statement 13. The system of Statement 12, further comprising a plurality of solenoid windings disposed over the solenoid.

Statement 14. The system of Statement 13, wherein the number of solenoid windings is directly related to a strength of the electromagnetic field.

Statement 15. The system of Statement 12, wherein a current is pumped through the plurality of solenoid windings in a first direction to form the electromagnetic field.

Statement 16. The system of Statement 15, wherein the current is pumped through the solenoid windings in a second direction opposite the first direction to form a second magnetic field.

Statement 17. The system of Statement 12, further comprising one or more batteries, a turbine or a capacitor to power the solenoid.

Statement 18. The system of Statement 11 or 12, wherein the receiver is a three-axis magnetometer.

Statement 19. The system of Statement 11, 12 or 18, wherein the second BHA comprises a plurality of receivers.

Statement 20. The system of Statement 11, 12, 18, or 20, further comprising a first rotary steerable system (RSS) connected to the first BHA and based at least in part on the ranging device and The distance between the receivers alters a path of the first RSS.

The foregoing description provides various examples of the systems and methods of use disclosed herein, which examples can contain different method steps and alternate combinations of components. It should be understood that, although individual examples may be discussed herein, this disclosure encompasses all combinations of the disclosed examples, including, but not limited to, different combinations of components, method step combinations, and system properties. It should be understood that the compositions and methods are described in terms of "comprising", "containing" or "including" various components or steps, and that the compositions and methods may also "consist essentially of" or "comprise" these various components and steps These various components and steps are "composed of". Furthermore, the numeral "a (or an)" as used in the claims is defined herein to mean one or more than one of the elements it introduces.

For the sake of brevity, only certain ranges are explicitly disclosed herein. However, a range from any lower limit may be combined with any upper limit to recite a range not expressly recited, and a range from any lower limit may be combined with any other lower limit to recite a range not expressly recited, The stated ranges may be combined with any other upper limit to recite a range not expressly recited. Additionally, whenever a numerical range having a lower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and any included range falling within that range is specifically disclosed. In particular, every range of values disclosed herein (of the form "about a to about b" or equivalently "approximately a to b" or equivalently "approximately a to b") is to be understood Every number and range is intended to encompass a broad range of values even if not expressly recited. Thus, each point or individual value may serve as its own lower or upper limit, combined with any other point or individual value or any other lower or upper limit, to recite a range not expressly recited.

The present example is thus well adapted to achieve the objects and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent in the text. The specific examples disclosed above are illustrative only, and may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Although individual examples are discussed, this disclosure encompasses all combinations of all examples. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. Also, terms in the claims have their ordinary, ordinary meanings unless otherwise expressly and clearly defined by the patentee. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative examples disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of these examples. In the event of any conflict in the use of a word or term in this specification and one or more patent or other documents that may be incorporated herein by reference, the definition that governs this specification shall prevail.

100: Drilling operation 102: Drilling 104: well mouth 106: Underground strata 108: surface 110:Drilling platform 112: Boom 114: tour car 116: drill string 118:kelly 120: turntable 122: drill bit 124: pump 126: Feed pipe 128: ring belt 130:Rotary Steerable System (RSS) 132: Keep the pit 134: Bottom shaft assembly (BHA) 138: Information processing system 140: Communication link 141: personal computer 142: Video display 144: keyboard 146: Non-transitory computer-readable media 150: Second drilling operation 152: The second bottom shaft assembly (BHA) 154: Electromagnetic field 202: Processing unit/processor 204: System bus 206: System memory 208: Read-only memory (ROM) 210: random access memory (RAM) 212: cache memory 214: storage device 216: The first module/software module 218:Second module/software module 220: The third module/software module 222: input device 224: output device 226: communication interface 300: chipset 302: bridge 304: User Interface Components 400: distance measuring device 402: solenoid 404: battery 406: Turbine 408: Secondary distance measuring device 410: Capacitor 412: Receiver 414: Measurement While Drilling (MWD) / Logging While Drilling (LWD) Connectors 416: mud motor 418: Collar 500: laminated iron core 502: Downhole power supply 504: Polarity Reverse Field Effect Transistor Switching Circuit 506: Solenoid winding 508: underground clock 510: second solenoid winding 512: third solenoid winding 600: clock signal 700: Solenoid current versus time waveform 800: Downhole measurement equipment/downhole instrument packaging 802: Borehole Telemetry Link 804: Uphole Drilling Control Room 806: telemetry circuit 808: Three-vector component magnetometer 810: three-vector component accelerometer 812: Bandpass Amplifier 814: multiplexer/downhole multiplexer circuit system 816: underground clock 818: Gravity measurement 820: Earth field measurement 822: AC field measurement 824: data file 826: data file

These drawings illustrate certain areas of some examples of the present disclosure and should not be used to limit or define the present disclosure.

[Fig. 1] shows an example of two drilling operations performed in the same area;

[Figure 2] shows an example of an information processing system;

[Fig. 3] shows an example of a chipset used in an information processing system;

[Fig. 4A] shows an example of the distance measuring device installed on the bottom shaft assembly;

[FIG. 4B] depicts one or more receivers disposed on the bottom shaft assembly;

[ FIG. 5A ] to [ FIG. 5C ] illustrate different examples of one or more windings disposed around the solenoid;

[Figure 6] is a graph of the transmission of the distance measuring device;

[Fig. 7] is the graph of solenoid current versus time waveform; and

[FIG. 8] Illustrates the configuration of one or more components for powering and operating a ranging device.

100: Drilling operation

102: Drilling

104: well mouth

106: Underground strata

108: surface

110:Drilling platform

112: Boom

114: tour car

116: drill string

118:kelly

120: turntable

122: drill bit

124: pump

126: Feed pipe

128: ring belt

130: Rotary Steerable System (RSS)

132: Keep the pit

134: Bottom shaft assembly (BHA)

138: Information processing system

140: Communication link

141: personal computer

142: Video display

144: keyboard

146: Non-transitory computer-readable media

150: Second drilling operation

152: The second bottom shaft assembly (BHA)

154: Electromagnetic field

Claims (15)

A method comprising: transmitting an electromagnetic field from a ranging device disposed on a first bottom hole assembly (BHA); measuring the electromagnetic field using a receiver disposed on a second BHA to form a measurement set; comparing the set of measurements to a decay rate of the electromagnetic field; and A distance between the ranging device and the receiver is identified based at least in part on the decay rate. The method according to claim 1, wherein the distance measuring device is a solenoid. The method of claim 2, wherein a number of solenoid windings are disposed above the solenoid, and optionally, wherein the number of solenoid windings is directly related to a strength of the electromagnetic field. The method of claim 2, wherein a current is pumped through the plurality of solenoid windings in a first direction to form the electromagnetic field, and optionally, wherein the current is in a second direction opposite to the first direction direction is pumped through the plurality of solenoid windings to form a second magnetic field. The method of claim 2, wherein the solenoid is powered by one or more batteries, a turbine or a capacitor. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiver is a single, dual or triaxial magnetometer configured to automatically increase or decrease a scaling resolution, and optionally, wherein the second BHA comprises Single or multiple receivers. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the distance using a first rotary steerable system (RSS) coupled to the first BHA based at least in part on the distance between the ranging device and the receiver Path to one of the first BHAs. A system comprising: a first bottom hole assembly (BHA) including a distance measuring device transmitting an electromagnetic field; a second BHA including a receiver that measures the electromagnetic field to form a set of measurements; An information processing system, which: comparing the set of measurements to a decay rate of the electromagnetic field; and A distance between the ranging device and the receiver is identified based at least in part on the decay rate. The system according to claim 8, wherein the distance measuring device is a solenoid. The system of claim 9, further comprising a number of solenoid windings disposed above the solenoid, and optionally, wherein the number of solenoid windings is directly related to a strength of the electromagnetic field. The system of claim 9, wherein a current is pumped through the plurality of solenoid windings in a first direction to form the electromagnetic field, and optionally, wherein the current is in a second direction opposite to the first direction direction is pumped through the plurality of solenoid windings to form a second magnetic field. The system of claim 9, further comprising one or more batteries, a turbine or a capacitor powering the solenoid. The system according to claim 8, wherein the receiver is a three-axis magnetometer. The system of claim 8, wherein the second BHA includes a plurality of receivers. The system of claim 8, further comprising a first rotating steerable system (RSS) coupled to the first BHA and based at least in part on the distance between the ranging device and the receiver Change one of the paths of the first RSS.

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