Survey Accuracy Extends Well Displacement at Minimum Cost (2007)

Survey Accuracy Extends Well Displacement at Minimum Cost M. Barton Landry; M. Barton Landry ConocoPhillips Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Benny Poedjono; Benny Poedjono Schlumberger Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Goke Akinniranye; Goke Akinniranye Schlumberger Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Michael Lance Hollis Michael Lance Hollis Chesapeake Operating Inc. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the SPE Middle East Oil and Gas Show and Conference, Manama, Bahrain, March 2007. Paper Number: SPE-105669-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/105669-MS Published: March 11 2007 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Landry, M. Barton, Poedjono, Benny, Akinniranye, Goke, and Michael Lance Hollis. "Survey Accuracy Extends Well Displacement at Minimum Cost." Paper presented at the SPE Middle East Oil and Gas Show and Conference, Manama, Bahrain, March 2007. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/105669-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search Dropdown Menu nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE Middle East Oil and Gas Show and Conference Search Advanced Search AbstractThe increased use of horizontal exploitation of formations for improved resource recovery has resulted in a trend towards denser well spacing and extended lateral lengths. The resulting reduction in distance between wellbores has intensified the need for accurate data on wellbore positions and trajectories. This paper explores the challenges of developing reliable positioning data and examines various mechanisms for ensuring optimum well separation distances essential to optimize waterflood sweep efficiency. Case histories from land drilling operations will be discussed to demonstrate the design and application of a well survey program that is both highly accurate and cost effective.Among the program components to be discussed are methods for determining the accuracy of existing wellbore data and statistical analysis to assess how closely predictive models match actual well placements. Support data for analysis was generated from existing reservoir models and statistical gyro surveys. Additional insights were gained by examining the causes of measurement-while-drilling (MWD) errors, and accuracy was increased by finding new ways to minimize magnetic errors induced by the bottom hole assembly (BHA). A database was compiled to compare raw MWD data with corrected survey data, with two goals in mind:Reduce the average level of destructive anomalies per well by investing in more accurate processing for each BHA.Increase the lengths of the lateral wells by 50% for more efficient resource recovery.By better understanding the extent and cause of existing survey inaccuracies, and developing improved methodologies for reliable data collection and analysis, this study has contributed to both the safety and the economic viability of today's increasingly complex drilling programs.IntroductionThe need for a comprehensive approach to measure and manage positional uncertainty has become more acute in recent years with the trend toward denser well spacing and the use of much longer lateral lengths for improved resource recovery. Elements of such an approach must include techniques to assess the accuracy of existing wellbore and formation data as well as methods to determine and mitigate positional error in the planning and execution of new wells. Using such an approach in this 2005–2006 study, the authors were able to demonstrate its benefits in terms of drilling costs and effective resource recovery.Field HistoryThis study took place in two unitized fields that straddle the Montana/North Dakota border (Fig. 1). The target formation for both units is a hydrodynamic oil accumulation on the basinside flank of the Cedar Creek Anticline---Red River B formation. The units cover a combined 114 sections. Keywords: data mining, drilling operation, drilling data acquisition, Directional Drilling, drilling measurement, measurement while drilling, bha-induced magnetic interference, lateral length, magnetic interference, MWD Subjects: Drilling Operations, Drilling Measurement, Data Acquisition and Automation, Directional drilling, Measurement while drilling This content is only available via PDF. 2007. Society of Petroleum Engineers You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.