Autonomous Downhole Survey Tool Provides Step Change -Improvement over Traditional Alternatives while Decreasing Non-Productive Time

摘要

In the drilling market, multi-well pad drilling is becoming an increasingly common practice in an effort to maximize the financial return on investment. With this increase in well proximity, there is a heightened need for accurate well path determination relative to the adjacent wells drilled on the same pad. Without this critical information, unfortunate occurrences such as well collisions can occur. These situations would drain needed resources away from more productive efforts and ultimately contribute to higher operational costs and non-productive time (NPT). The wellborn data provided in traditional approaches to well survey solutions is indeed usable, but these approaches contribute to the increase of NPT due to the necessity of stopping drilling operations to acquire the survey information. Alternative approaches to well surveys have also historically relied on wireline survey runs, but with similarly constraining variables of increased NPT and increased personnel safety concerns. Recognizing the challenges that traditional survey equipment poses, as well as the financial waste associated with these solutions, the autonomous downhole survey tool has been developed to provide drillers with increased survey information, while also de-creasingNPT. This innovative and robust solution is proven to reduce NPT, as well as reducing the collision potential of deviated wells. Through the use of this highly effective technology, survey information can be acquired and communicated to the rig floor on average in less than 60 seconds, increasing rig safety, saving rig time, and ultimately saving money. This new approach has shown significant positive results for drillers and operators alike. In one instance, the tool was able to provide consistent and accurate survey data at depths greater than 16,000 ft.