Downhole thermal anomaly detection for passive ranging to a target wellbore
A method can include measuring temperature along a relief wellbore, thereby detecting a temperature anomaly in an earth formation penetrated by the relief wellbore, and determining a location of an influx into a target wellbore, based on the temperature anomaly detecting. A thermal anomaly ranging system for use with a subterranean well can include a temperature sensor in a relief wellbore that penetrates an earth formation, the temperature sensor detecting a temperature anomaly in the formation, and the temperature anomaly being caused by an influx into a target wellbore. Another method can include measuring optical scattering in an optical waveguide positioned in a relief wellbore, thereby detecting a temperature anomaly in an earth formation penetrated by the relief wellbore, and determining a location of an influx into a target wellbore, based on the temperature anomaly detecting.
1. A method, comprising:
measuring temperature along a relief wellbore, thereby detecting a temperature anomaly in an earth formation penetrated by the relief wellbore; and
determining a location of an influx into a target wellbore, based on the temperature anomaly detecting.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the temperature anomaly is produced in response to the influx into the target wellbore.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a flow rate of the influx into the target wellbore, based on the temperature anomaly detecting.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a composition of the influx into the target wellbore, based on the temperature anomaly detecting.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the temperature anomaly comprises a deviation from a geothermal gradient in the formation.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measuring comprises detecting optical scattering in an optical waveguide positioned in the relief wellbore.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising establishing fluid communication between the relief and target wellbores after the determining.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location of the influx is at an open hole portion of the target wellbore.
9. A thermal anomaly ranging system for use with a subterranean well, comprising:
a temperature sensor in a relief wellbore that penetrates an earth formation, wherein the temperature sensor detects a temperature anomaly in the formation, the temperature anomaly being caused by an influx into a target wellbore.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises an optical waveguide.
11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising an optical interrogator that measures scattering in the optical waveguide.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the temperature anomaly comprises a deviation from a geothermal profile in the formation.
13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the influx is at an open hole portion of the target wellbore.
14. A method, comprising:
measuring optical scattering in an optical waveguide positioned in a relief wellbore, thereby detecting a temperature anomaly in an earth formation penetrated by the relief wellbore; and
determining a location of an influx into a target wellbore, based on the temperature anomaly detecting.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the temperature anomaly is produced in response to the influx into the target wellbore.
16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising determining a flow rate of the influx into the target wellbore, based on the temperature anomaly detecting.
17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising determining a composition of the influx into the target wellbore, based on the temperature anomaly detecting.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the temperature anomaly comprises a deviation from a geothermal gradient in the formation.
19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising establishing fluid communication between the relief and target wellbores after the determining.
20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the location of the influx is at an open hole portion of the target wellbore.