IP Library Granted Patent US 9,238,960
Granted Patent B2
US 9,238,960 · App. 14/627,794 · Granted Jan 19, 2016

System and method for formation detection and evaluation

Inventors: Todd W. Benson (Dallas, TX); Brian Eugene Stokeld (Lewisville, TX); Dwight A. Lockhart (Dallas, TX)
Assignee: Hunt Advanced Drilling Technologies, LLC
E21B47/04E21B7/00E21B7/04E21B41/0092E21B47/022E21B47/09E21B47/12E21B49/00G01B21/18G01V1/40G05B19/0426G05B2219/2616G06F17/40G06F19/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,238,960
App. No.
14/627,794
Granted
Jan 19, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for using markers with a drilling plan uses a first log file of a first well in order to identify and store one or more markers that have a name, a true vertical depth (TVD) and a waveform. Second well log data generated while a second well is being drilled is monitored in real time. The second well log data is compared to the one or more markers to located a match to at least one marker in a predetermined TVD range. An estimated TVD value and an uncertainty range value are assigned to each of the at least one planned marker. When a matching marker is located for one of the one or more markers in the predetermined TVD range a report is generated.

Claims (76)

1. A method for using markers with a drilling plan, comprising:

using, by a computer system, a first log file of a first well in order to identify and store one or more markers that have a name, a true vertical depth (TVD) and a waveform;

monitoring in real time, by the computer system, second well log data generated while a second well is being drilled;

comparing the second well log data to the one or more markers to locate a match to at least one marker in a predetermined TVD range;

creating, by the computer system, at least one planned marker for the second well corresponding to a located match within the one or more markers in the predetermined TVD range;

assigning, by the computer system, an estimated TVD value and an uncertainty range value to each of the at least one planned marker; and

reporting when a matching marker is located for one of the one or more markers in the predetermined TVD range.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of comparing further comprises correcting the second well log data to account for true vertical depth prior to comparison to the at least one marker of the first well log file.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprises the step of creating, by the computer system, each of the one or more planned markers with the assigned estimated TVD and the uncertainty range value.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of monitoring further comprises monitoring the second well log data from a gamma log file.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of monitoring further comprises monitoring the second well log data to detect at least one of information regarding resistivity, porosity, pressure, neutron density, rate of penetration and mechanical specific energy.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting, by the computer system, a dip angle of the drill plan between the first planned marker and a next sequential planned marker of the plurality of planned markers based on the report.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting, by the computer system, the estimated TVD of comparison for a next marker based on the report.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of reporting further comprises the step of generating an indication that the identified plan marker matches the corresponding identified and stored marker.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the indication that the identified plan marker matches the corresponding identified and stored marker is forwarded for corrective action in real time.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the comparing further comprises:

creating, by the computer system, at least one fingerprint of the at least one marker within the predetermined TVD range; and

determining, by the a computer system, whether the at least one fingerprint matches a waveform representation of the second well log data.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the determining further comprises:

comparing, by the computer system, a left side average of the fingerprint with a left side average of the waveform representation of the second well log data;

comparing, by the computer system, a right side average of the at least one fingerprint with a right side average of the waveform representation of the second well log data;

comparing, by the computer system, a peak height of the at least one fingerprint with a peak height of the waveform representation of the second well log data;

comparing, by the computer system, a peak location of the at least one fingerprint with a peak location of the waveform representation of the second well log data; and

calculating, by the computer system, a score based on the at least one comparisons of the left side averages, the right side averages, the peak heights, and the at least one peak locations.

12. A system, comprising:

a network interface;

a processor coupled to the network interface;

a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store a plurality of instructions executable by the processor, the instructions including instructions for:

using, by a computer system, a first log file of a first well in order to identify and store one or more markers that have a name, a true vertical depth (TVD) and a waveform;

monitoring in real time, by the computer system, second well log data generated while a second well is being drilled;

comparing the second well log data to the one or more markers to locate a match to at least one marker in a predetermined TVD range;

creating, by the computer system, at least one planned marker for the second well corresponding to a located match within the one or more markers in the predetermined TVD range;

assigning, by the computer system, an estimated TVD value and an uncertainty range value to each of the at least one planned marker; and

reporting when a matching marker is located for one of the one or more markers in the predetermined TVD range.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions for the step of comparing further comprises instructions for correcting the second well log data to account for true vertical depth prior to comparison to the at least one marker of the first well log file.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for storing, by the computer system, each of the one or more planned markers with the assigned estimated TVD and the uncertainty range value.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions for the step of monitoring further comprise instructions for monitoring the second well log data from a gamma log file.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the instructions for the step of monitoring further comprise instructions for monitoring the second well log data to detect at least one of information regarding resistivity, porosity, pressure, neutron density, rate of penetration and mechanical specific energy.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for adjusting, by the computer system, a dip angle of the drill plan between the first planned marker and a next sequential planned marker of the plurality of planned markers based on the report.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for adjusting, by the computer system, the estimated TVD of a next marker based on the report.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein the instructions for the step of reporting further comprise instructions for generating an indication that the identified plan marker matches the corresponding identified and stored marker.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the indication that the identified plan marker matches the corresponding identified and stored marker is forwarded for corrective action in real time.

21. The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions for scanning further comprise instructions for:

creating, by the computer system, at least one fingerprint of the at least one marker within the predetermined TVD range; and

determining, by the a computer system, whether the at least one fingerprint matches a waveform representation of the second well log data.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the instructions for determining further comprise instructions for:

comparing, by the computer system, a left side average of the fingerprint with a left side average of the waveform representation of the second well log data;

comparing, by the computer system, a right side average of the at least one fingerprint with a right side average of the waveform representation of the second well log data;

comparing, by the computer system, a peak height of the at least one fingerprint with a peak height of the waveform representation of the second well log data;

comparing, by the computer system, a peak location of the at least one fingerprint with a peak location of the waveform representation of the second well log data; and

calculating, by the computer system, a score based on the at least one comparisons of the left side averages, the right side averages, the peak heights, and the at least one peak locations.

23. A method for using one or more planned markers with a drilling plan, comprising:

using, by a computer system, a first log file of a first well in order to identify and store one or more markers that have a name, a true vertical depth (TVD) and a waveform;

monitoring in real time, by the computer system, second well log data generated while a second well is being drilled;

comparing the second well log data to the one or more markers to locate a match to at least one marker in a predetermined TVD range;

creating, by the computer system, at least one planned marker for the second well corresponding to a located match within the one or more markers in the predetermined TVD range;

assigning, by the computer system, an estimated TVD value and an uncertainty range value to each of the at least one planned marker;

generating an indication that the identified plan marker matches the corresponding identified and stored marker in the predetermined TVD range as the determination is completed; and

forwarding the indication for corrective action to the drilling plan responsive to the indication.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the step of monitoring further comprises monitoring the second well log data from a gamma log file.

25. The method of claim 23 , wherein the step of identifying further comprise identifying the planned marker from at least one of information regarding resistivity, porosity, pressure, neutron density, rate of penetration and mechanical specific energy.

26. The method of claim 23 , wherein the step of comparing further comprises correcting the second well log data to account for true vertical depth prior to comparison to the at least one marker of the first well log file.

27. A system, comprising:

a network interface;

a processor coupled to the network interface;

a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store a plurality of instructions executable by the processor, the instructions including instructions for:

using, by a computer system, a first log file of a first well in order to identify and store one or more markers that have a name, a true vertical depth (TVD) and a waveform;

monitoring in real time, by the computer system, second well log data generated while a second well is being drilled;

comparing the second well log data to the one or more markers to locate a match to at least one marker in a predetermined TVD range;

creating, by the computer system, at least one planned marker for the second well corresponding to a located match within the one or more markers in the predetermined TVD range;

assigning, by the computer system, an estimated TVD value and an uncertainty range value to each of the at least one planned marker;

generating an indication that the identified plan marker matches the corresponding identified and stored marker in the predetermined TVD range as the determination is completed; and

forwarding the indication for corrective action to the drilling plan responsive to the indication.

28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the instructions for the step of monitoring further comprise instructions for monitoring the second well log data from a gamma log file.

29. The system of claim 27 , wherein the instructions for the step of identifying further comprise instructions for identifying the planned marker from at least one of information regarding resistivity, porosity, pressure, neutron density, rate of penetration and mechanical specific energy.

30. The system of claim 27 , wherein the instructions for the step of comparing further comprises instructions for correcting the second well log data to account for true vertical depth prior to comparison to the at least one marker of the first well log file.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 30, 2016
From: HUNT ADVANCED DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
To: MOTIVE DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 038300/0839 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 10, 2015
From: BENSON, TODD W.; LOCKHART, DWIGHT A.; STOKELD, BRIAN E.
To: HUNT ADVANCED DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 035816/0697 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 14332531 · Jul 16, 2014
Continuation 14186470 · Feb 21, 2014
Provisional Application 61838689 · Jun 24, 2013
Related Publication 20150159479A1 · Jun 11, 2015