Method for designing, monitoring, and updating trajectories with collision avoidance
A method for designing, monitoring, and updating a trajectory of a wellbore at a wellsite. The method includes receiving a plurality of inputs related to the trajectory for the wellbore. The inputs may include a starting point of the trajectory. A zone may be defined within a subsurface beneath the wellsite as safe. The method further includes defining a first set of control points within the zone of the subsurface, and generating a proposed path of the trajectory by connecting the starting point of the trajectory to a plurality of trajectory targets via the first set of control points. The method also includes validating that the proposed path of the trajectory is within the zone of the subsurface.
1 . A method for designing, monitoring, and updating a trajectory of a wellbore at a wellsite, the method comprising:
receiving a plurality of inputs related to the trajectory for the wellbore, wherein the plurality of inputs comprises a starting point of the trajectory;
defining a zone of a subsurface beneath the wellsite as safe;
defining a first set of control points within the zone of the subsurface;
generating a proposed path of the trajectory by connecting the starting point of the trajectory to a plurality of trajectory targets via the first set of control points, wherein each control point of the first set of control points is visually represented on a graphical user interface as a point on the proposed path within the zone of the subsurface;
drilling the wellbore along the proposed path of the trajectory;
monitoring a location of the wellbore as it progresses along the proposed path of the trajectory;
updating the proposed path of the trajectory in real-time with the drilling, wherein updating the proposed path of the trajectory comprises:
defining a second set of control points within the zone of the subsurface, the second set of control points comprising a movable joint point; and
displaying the movable joint point on the graphical user interface in a first position such that the movable joint point is outside the proposed path;
generating an updated proposed path of the trajectory by connecting the location of the wellbore to at least one of the plurality of trajectory targets via the second set of control points;
displaying the movable joint point on the graphical user interface in a second position such that the movable joint point is outside the proposed path and outside the updated proposed path;
drilling the wellbore along the updated proposed path of the trajectory; and
performing a site action based on the updated proposed path of the trajectory, wherein:
performing the site action comprises generating or transmitting a signal that instructs or causes an action to occur; and
the site action comprises a physical action, the physical action comprising at least one of:
the drilling the wellbore along the updated proposed path of the trajectory;
varying a weight or torque on a drill bit that is drilling the wellbore;
varying a rate or concentration of a fluid being pumped into the wellbore; or
stopping the drilling.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein defining the zone of the subsurface beneath the wellsite as safe comprises generating a tolerance tunnel surrounding the proposed path of the trajectory in 3D space.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inputs comprises:
a plurality of trajectory targets; and
a plurality of paths corresponding to a plurality offset wells, the plurality of offset wells comprising:
related positional uncertainties; and
geometric constraints.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the geometric constraints comprise formation information.
5 . A computing system, comprising:
one or more processors;
a memory system comprising one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform operations, the operations comprising:
receiving a plurality of inputs related to a trajectory for a wellbore, wherein the inputs comprise a starting point of the trajectory;
defining a zone of a subsurface beneath a wellsite as safe;
defining a first set of control points within the zone of the subsurface;
generating a proposed path of the trajectory by connecting the starting point of the trajectory to a plurality of trajectory targets via the first set of control points, wherein each control point of the first set of control points is visually represented on a graphical user interface as a point on the proposed path within the zone of the subsurface;
drilling the wellbore along the proposed path of the trajectory;
monitoring a location of the wellbore as it progresses along the proposed path of the trajectory;
updating the proposed path of the trajectory in real-time with the drilling, wherein updating the proposed path of the trajectory comprises:
defining a second set of control points within the zone of the subsurface, the second set of control points comprising a movable joint point; and
displaying the movable joint point on the graphical user interface in a first position such that the movable joint point is outside the proposed path;
generating an updated proposed path of the trajectory by connecting the location of the wellbore to at least one of the plurality of trajectory targets via the second set of control points;
displaying the movable joint point on the graphical user interface in a second position such that the movable joint point is outside the proposed path and outside the updated proposed path;
drilling the wellbore along the updated proposed path of the trajectory; and
performing a site action based on the updated proposed path of the trajectory, wherein performing the site action comprises generating or transmitting a signal that instructs or causes an action to occur, the action comprising at least one of:
the drilling the wellbore along the updated proposed path of the trajectory;
varying a weight or torque on a drill bit that is drilling the wellbore;
varying a rate or concentration of a fluid being pumped into the wellbore; or
stopping the drilling and pulling downhole equipment up before causing a collision with an offset well.
6 . The computing system of claim 5 , wherein defining the zone of the subsurface beneath the wellsite as safe comprises defining a tolerance line with a predetermined depth range related to the trajectory of the wellbore.
7 . The computing system of claim 6 , further comprising expanding the tolerance line to form a tolerance tunnel around the trajectory of the wellbore.
8 . The computing system of claim 7 , wherein defining the first set of control points within the zone of the subsurface comprises defining the first set of control points within the tolerance tunnel.
9 . The computing system of claim 5 , wherein the operations further comprise filtering out at least one of the first set of control points based on a set of constraints applied before generating the proposed path of the trajectory.
10 . The computing system of claim 9 , wherein the set of constraints comprises an inclination range corresponding to a predetermined depth of the proposed path of the trajectory, or a dogleg severity of the proposed path of the trajectory.
11 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations, the operations comprising:
receiving a plurality of inputs related to a trajectory for a wellbore at a wellsite, wherein:
the plurality of inputs comprises:
a starting point;
a plurality of trajectory targets; and
a plurality of paths corresponding to a plurality offset wells, the plurality of offset wells comprising:
related positional uncertainties; and
geometric constraints; and
the geometric constraints comprise formation information;
defining a zone of a subsurface beneath the wellsite as safe;
defining a first set of control points within the zone of the subsurface;
generating a proposed path of the trajectory by connecting the starting point to each of the plurality of trajectory targets via the first set of control points, wherein each control point of the first set of control points is visually represented on a graphical user interface as a point on the proposed path within the zone of the subsurface;
drilling the wellbore along the proposed path of the trajectory;
monitoring a location of the wellbore as it progresses along the proposed path of the trajectory;
updating the proposed path of the trajectory in real-time with the drilling wherein updating the proposed path of the trajectory comprises:
defining a second set of control points within the zone of the subsurface, the second set of control points comprising a movable joint point; and
displaying the movable joint point on the graphical user interface in a first position such that the movable joint point is outside the proposed path:
generating an updated proposed path of the trajectory by connecting the location of the wellbore to at least one of the plurality of trajectory targets via the second set of control points;
displaying the movable joint point on the graphical user interface in a second position such that the movable joint point is outside the proposed path and outside the updated proposed path;
drilling the wellbore along the updated proposed path of the trajectory; and
performing a site action based on the updated proposed path of the trajectory, wherein:
performing the site action comprises generating or transmitting a signal that instructs or causes an action to occur; and
the site action comprises a physical action, the physical action comprising at least one of:
the drilling the wellbore along the updated proposed path of the trajectory;
varying a weight or torque on a drill bit that is drilling the wellbore;
varying a rate or concentration of a fluid being pumped into the wellbore; or
stopping the drilling and pulling downhole equipment up before causing a collision with an offset well.