APPLICATION
/ Geosteering
/ Formation Evaluation
/ Wellbore Imaging
TECHNOLOGY
/ Logging While Drilling (LWD)
/ BitSub At-Bit Azimuthal Gamma Ray/Inclination sensor
/ Measurement While Drilling (MWD)
/ Falcon Electromagnetic (EM) MWD
LOCATION
/ Alberta Province, Canada
DOWNLOAD CASE HISTORY
/ PDF File
CUSTOMER CHALLENGE
An operator drilling in Southern Alberta identified an oil-rich target formation and planned a series of horizontal wells for their 2022 drilling campaign.
Offset vertical well logs revealed the sandstone formation less than 3m thick. Furthermore, this ultimately leads to difficulties imaging the formation through traditional vibration data purchasing methods. Not only were geologic structure variations expected in the formation dip along the 2000m of vertical section, but also the possibility of lateral stratigraphic variability in formation thickness. The goal was not hydraulically stimulating the traditional reservoir—the lateral wellbore exposure to the target formation directly correlated with the production efficiency.
SCIENTIFIC SOLUTION
The well’s production efficiency and economic success were heavily related to the percentage of geosteering target accuracy. Scientific Drilling’s advanced LWD sensors were critical in providing accurate and reliable data to the onsite geologists for log correlation purposes.
The operator could determine which direction to steer their lateral based on the azimuthal gamma ray and continuous inclination at the bottom of the mud motor—for instance, Scientific Drilling’s BitSub technology, an industry-leading LWD measurement sub at the bit.
Meanwhile, transmitting the at-bit data to the Falcon EM MWD system via Short Hop, the mud motor power section, was used to maximize drilling performance. For instance, optimal data density for real-time Total Gamma Ray, Up/Down Gamma Ray, Continuous at-bit inclination, Tri-axial vibration, and static borehole surveys achieved up to 60m/hr ROPs.
CUSTOMER VALUE
Scientific Drilling’s BitSub tool enabled the execution of proactive geosteering methods for the project. BitSub’s at-bit inclination reduced slide times and minimized unexpected doglegs in the lateral. Its azimuthal gamma ray measurements provided the geosteering team with easily identifiable indicators of the well. For example, cutting up or down stratigraphically allows course corrections to produce confidently and quickly. Because the BitSub’s placement is below the mud motor and above the bit, the tool is constantly rotating. Therefore, there is no need to go back and re-log azimuthal data over slide intervals. The Short Hop technology between the BitSub and MWD tool worked flawlessly in the oil-based mud system.
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