TARGET WELL RANGING METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM
Background
[0001] Currently, it is desirable to know the location of a target well in relation
to a ranging well that may be used for operations such as steam assisted gravity
drainage (SAGD).
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0002] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system for target well ranging.
[0003] FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of a system of target well
ranging.
[0004] FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a system of target well
ranging.
[0005] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a system of target well
ranging.
[0006] FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a circuit for generating a reference
signal in accordance with the systems of FIGs. 1-4.
[0007] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus for reconstructing a
received reference signal and detecting a magnetic or electric field in accordance
with the embodiments of FIGs. 1-4.
[0008] FIG. 7 illustrates a representative plot of lock-in amplifier output signals
in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 6.
[0009] FIG. 8 illustrates an enlarged view of the plot of signals presented in
FIG. 7.
[0010] FIG. 9 illustrates a representative plot of a ratio of the signal amplitudes
at the ranging tool in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 6.
[0011] FIG. 10 illustrates a plot of the ratio of the signal amplitudes at the
ranging tool having an increased ranging frequency in accordance with the
embodiment of FIG. 6.
[0012] FIG. 11 illustrates wireline and drilling embodiments of a system for
target well ranging.
Detailed Description
[0013] The various embodiments described herein operate to provide
information that assists in verifying of a well being drilled near at least one other
well. For example, determining a location of a target well in relation to a ranging
well.
[0014] For purposes of clarity, a "target well" will be defined as a well, the
location of which is to be used as a reference for the construction of another
well. The other well will be defined as a "ranging well." Other embodiments
may reverse this terminology since the embodiments are not limited to any one
well being the target well and any one well being the ranging well. In most
embodiments, the location of the ranging well is fairly well known, the location
of the target well is not as well known, and it is the distance from the ranging
well to the target well that is to be determined.
[0015] Several technologies for ranging from a ranging well to a remote casing
in a target well are based upon launching a current at a known frequency from
the earth's surface down the casing of the target well and receiving a signal
radiated from that casing in the ranging well. Due to propagation through
different geological formations, the received signals can be very weak,
especially considering that several technologies rely on measuring a magnetic
gradient across the relatively small diameter of a logging or drilling tool.
Subsequently described embodiments can operate to increase the signal-to-noise
ratio in a signal received by a magnetic ranging tool, resulting in increased
accuracy of determining a distance between the ranging well and the target well
as well as boosting the range at which target wells can be reliably detected in
order to plan well intersection or well collision avoidance.
[0016] At close range, the present embodiments can enable operation at higher
frequencies than were previously possible. Some embodiments can be easily
generalized to other ranging tools that make use of signals from a well to which
ranging occurs (e.g., a target well). Examples of such tools include those that
range using electric fields, or a combination of electric and magnetic fields. The
embodiments herein can be useful when ranging to wells through highly
conductive geological formations.
[0017] The embodiments for target well ranging, illustrated in FIGS. 1-4,
include some common characteristics. For example, the embodiments generate a
ranging signal directly from a clock signal, generated by a master oscillator, and
a reference signal based on the clock signal. The resulting reference signal is at a
significantly lower frequency than the ranging signal. An apparatus, coupled to a
downhole tool, includes reconstruction circuitry to reconstruct the reference
signal from a received signal that was propagated to the downhole tool.
[0018] Embodiments can include one or more magnetometers, magnetic
gradiometers, or electric field sensors to measure field values or changes in field
values induced by the target well based on the ranging signal being transmitted
down the target well. The relative location of the target well can then be
determined in relation to the ranging well based on a relationship between the
reconstructed reference signal and magnetic or electric field values or changes in
these fields, as discussed subsequently. The relative location of the target well
can include relative distance and angle from the ranging well.
[0019] The ranging signal that is transmitted on a casing of the target well can
be generated directly from a master oscillator. The reference signal is derived
from the same master oscillator. However, the frequency of the reference signal
is different from that of the ranging signal driving the casing. The reference
signal is obtained by using a frequency multiply and divide circuit (e.g.,
frequency altering circuit).
[0020] If the frequency of the reference signal was only an integral fraction of
the master oscillator frequency, harmonic distortion in this signal might easily be
confused with the ranging signal to be detected. That is, such a harmonic can
corrupt the received ranging signal. This can also corrupt the reference to a lockin
amplifier used in the system (to be described in more detail later). Hence, in
various embodiments, the reference signal is generated by dividing the frequency
of the master oscillator by an integer "n" and multiplying by a different integer
"m", where m/n < 1. For example, if the ranging signal has a frequency of 5 Hz,
a signal at 517 Hz can first be generated, and then a signal at 2*517 Hz can be
generated from that. The fundamental and first three harmonics of such a signal
are 1.4285 Hz, 2.8571 Hz, 4.28571 Hz, and 5.7143 Hz.
[0021] Signals at any of these frequencies can be easily separated from the 5 Hz
ranging signal emanating from the casing of the target well. The fundamental
(1.4285 Hz in this example) can propagate through the earth with considerably
less signal loss than the 5 Hz ranging signal.
[0022] Lock-in amplifiers, as described subsequently, can achieve a separation
of signals that are far closer in frequency than those of the example used above,
even if signal loss through the earth is severe. Thus, it may be possible to
provide a reference signal at an even lower frequency than this example without
causing signal corruption of the ranging signal. For example, using a ratio of
2/17 of the base frequency, the fundamental and first 8 harmonics of a 5 Hz
signal are 0.5882 Hz, 1.1765 Hz, 2.3529 Hz, 2.9412 Hz, 3.5294 Hz, 4.1177 Hz,
4.7059 Hz, and 5.2941 Hz.
[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system for target well ranging.
This system uses a transmitter circuit comprising a large area current loop 150
(e.g., loop antenna) to launch the reference signal into the geological formation
above the ranging well 10 1. The loop antenna 150 can be simply a large
conductor near or in contact with the surface of the geological formation.
[0024] The system comprises the master oscillator 120 which is a precision
clock. It is desirable that the frequency of this clock be relatively stable, as
defined subsequently. The ability of the subsequently described lock-in
amplifiers to discriminate against noise is a function of the stability of the
reference signal, generated from the master oscillator 120, and of the integration
time used in the lock-in amplifier. Thus, the more stable the clock, the better the
discrimination performance of the lock-in amplifiers.
[0025] The master oscillator 120 is coupled to a power amplifier 122 (e.g.,
balanced inputloutput amplifier) that has an output coupled to the casing 130 of
the target well 100 and an output coupled to a grounded electrode 124. The
power amplifier 122 provides the power necessary to launch the ranging signal
down the target well 100.
[0026] A frequency scaler circuit 121 (e.g., frequency divider and multiplier) is
coupled to the master oscillator 120. The frequency scaler circuit 12 1 provides
the down-converted reference signal for transmission. The frequency scaler
circuit 12 1 divides the frequency of the clock signal from the master oscillator
4
120 by the first integer "n" and multiplies the result by the second integer "m"
such that m/n < 1.
[0027] A power amplifier 123 (e.g., balanced inputloutput amplifier) is coupled
to the output of the frequency scaler circuit 12 1. The power amplifier 123
provides the power used to launch the reference signal into the geological
formation above the ranging and target wells 100, 101. An embodiment of the
reference signal generator and transmitter circuitry 120, 12 1, 123 is described
subsequently with reference to FIG. 5.
[0028] The system further comprises a ranging tool 103 in the ranging well
101. The ranging tool 103 can be a downhole tool that is part of the drill string in
the ranging well 10 1. The ranging tool 103 includes the apparatus for sensing the
magnetic or electric fields for determining a relative location of the target well
100 from the ranging well 101. The apparatus for sensing the magnetic or
electric fields is described subsequently in greater detail with reference to FIG.
6.
[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of a system for target well
ranging. This system uses a transmitter circuit comprising one or more ground
contacts (e.g., dipole transmitters) 250, 25 1 to launch the reference signal into
the geological formation above the target well 200 and the ranging well 20 1.
[0030] The system comprises the master oscillator 220 that is coupled to the
power amplifier 222 having an output coupled to the casing 230 of the target
well 200 and an output coupled to a grounded electrode 224. The power
amplifier 222 (e.g., balanced inputloutput amplifier) provides the power used to
launch the ranging signal down the target well 200.
[0031] The frequency scaler circuit 22 1 (e.g., frequency divider and multiplier)
is coupled to the master oscillator 220. The frequency scaler circuit 22 1 provides
the down-converted reference signal for transmission. The frequency scaler
circuit 22 1 provides a signal at a frequency that is obtained by dividing the
frequency of the clock signal from the master oscillator 220 by a first integer "n"
and multiplying the frequency of the result by a second integer "m" such that
mln < 1.
[0032] The power amplifier 223 (e.g., balanced inputloutput amplifier) is
coupled to the output of the frequency scaler circuit 22 1. The power amplifier
5
223 provides the power used to launch the reference signal, through the ground
contacts 250,25 1, into the geological formation above the ranging and target
wells 200,201. An embodiment of the reference signal generation circuitry 220,
22 1,223 is described subsequently with reference to FIG. 5.
[0033] The system further comprises the ranging tool 203 in the ranging well
201. The ranging tool 203 can be a downhole tool that is part of the drill string in
the ranging well 20 1. The ranging tool 203 includes the apparatus for sensing the
magnetic or electric fields for determining a relative location of the target well
200 from the ranging well 201. The apparatus for sensing the magnetic or
electric fields is described subsequently in greater detail with reference to FIG.
6.
[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a system for target well
ranging. This system uses an electrode 35 1 in the surface and an electrode 350
coupled to the casing 33 1 of the well containing the ranging tool 303 (e.g.,
ranging well) in order to launch the reference signal into the geological
formation above the target well 300 and the ranging well 301, as well as down
the length of the ranging well 301.
[0035] The system comprises the master oscillator 320 that is coupled to the
power amplifier 322 (e.g., balanced inputloutput amplifier) that has an output
coupled to the casing 330 of the target well 300 and an output coupled to a
grounded electrode 324. The power amplifier 322 provides the power used to
launch the ranging signal down the target well 300.
[0036] A frequency scaler circuit 321 (e.g., frequency divider and multiplier) is
coupled to the master oscillator 320. The frequency scaler circuit 32 1 provides
the down-converted reference signal for transmission. The frequency scaler
circuit 321 divides the clock signal from the master oscillator 320 by a first
integer "n" and multiplies the result by a second integer "m" such that m/n < 1.
[0037] The power amplifier 323 (e.g., balanced inputloutput amplifier) is
coupled to the output of the frequency scaler circuit 32 1. The power amplifier
323 provides the power used to launch the reference signal into the geological
formation above the ranging and target wells 300, 301 as well as down the
ranging well 30 1. The power amplifier 323 has an output coupled to an electrode
35 1 in the ground and an output coupled to an electrode 350 coupled to the well
6
casing of the ranging well 301. An embodiment of the reference signal
generation circuitry 320, 321, 323 is described subsequently with reference to
FIG. 5.
[0038] The system further comprises a ranging tool 303 in the ranging well
301. The ranging tool 303 can be a downhole tool that is part of the drill string in
the ranging well 301. The ranging tool 303 includes the apparatus for sensing the
magnetic or electric fields for determining a relative location of the target well
300 from the ranging well 301. The apparatus for sensing the magnetic or
electric fields is described subsequently in greater detail with reference to FIG.
6.
[0039] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a system for target well
ranging. This system uses a summing amplifier 424 to add the reference signal to
the ranging signal prior to coupling the resulting summed signal to the casing
430 of the target well 400.
[0040] The system comprises a master oscillator 420 that is coupled to the
summing amplifier 424, which in turn has an output coupled to a power
amplifier 422 (e.g., balanced inputloutput amplifier). An output of the power
amplifier 422 is coupled to the casing 430 of the target well 400 and another
output of the power amplifier 422 is coupled to a grounded electrode 425. The
power amplifier 422 provides the power used to launch the ranging signal down
the target well 400.
[0041] A frequency scaler circuit 421 (e.g., a frequency divider and multiplier)
is coupled to the master oscillator 420. The frequency scaler circuit 42 1 provides
the down-converted reference signal for transmission. The frequency scaler
circuit 421 divides the clock signal from the master oscillator 420 by a first
integer "n" and multiplies the result by a second integer "m" such that m/n < 1.
[0042] A first amplifier 423 (e.g., balanced inputloutput amplifier) is coupled to
the output of the frequency scaler circuit 42 1. An output of the amplifier 423 is
coupled to an input of the summing amplifier 424 so that the summing amplifier
424 can add the reference signal to the ranging signal prior to launching the
summed result down the target well 400. A power amplifier 426 has an input
coupled to an output of the amplifier 423, an output coupled to a grounded
electrode 427, and an output coupled to the well casing 450 of the ranging well
7
40 1. The power amplifier 426 provides the power used to launch the reference
signal down the ranging well 401. An embodiment of the reference signal
generation circuitry 420,42 1,423 is described subsequently with reference to
FIG. 5.
[0043] The system further comprises a ranging tool 403 in the ranging well
401. The ranging tool 403 can be a downhole tool that is part of the drill string in
the ranging well 401. The ranging tool 403 includes the apparatus for sensing the
magnetic or electric fields for determining a relative location of the target well
400 from the ranging well 401. The apparatus for sensing the magnetic or
electric fields is described subsequently in greater detail with reference to FIG.
6.
[0044] The embodiments of FIGS. 1-4 provide different ways for transmitting
the reference signal. For example, some embodiments might be appropriate
when safety requirements would preclude embodiments in which the transmitted
signal, often a high energy signal, might present a hazard to rig personnel or an
explosion hazard.
[0045] FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the reference signal generating
circuitry. The embodiment of FIG. 5 is for purposes of illustration only as the
reference signal can be generated in other ways. This circuit generates the
reference signal having a frequency of fo*m/n cycles per second, where fo is the
frequency of the master oscillator (e.g., precision clock).
[0046] The circuit is comprised of the master oscillator 520 that generates the
clock signal. A multiplying circuit 501 multiplies the frequencyfo by the integer
"m". The result, mfo, is then input to a dividing circuit 502 that divides the result
by the integer "n" to generate a reference signal having a frequency offo*m/n.
[0047] A conversion circuit 503 takes the clock signal from the dividing circuit
502 and converts it to a sine wave having a frequency off where f =fo*m/n. In
another embodiment, the conversion circuit 503 may be left out by simply
filtering the output of the dividing circuit 502. The sine wave from the
conversion circuit 503 is input to a filter (e.g., lowpass, bandpass) 504 that
eliminates unwanted frequencies proximate to the reference frequency. An
amplifier 505 provides the power necessary for transmission of the signal to a
load 506 according to one or more of the above-described embodiments. The
8
load 506 can be a transmitter 150, ground contacts 250,25 1, a casing connection
350 and ground connection 35 1, or a casing connection 450 and ground
connection 427.
[0048] In another embodiment, the reference signal can be generated in the
digital domain. In the case of a digital implementation, where the reference
signal exists in digital form, the digital form of the reference signal is converted
to an analog format using a digital-to-analog converter. The resulting reference
signal is bandpass-filtered in order to remove the effects of the discretization of
the signal. Generally, a bandpass or a lowpass filter may also be used with
analog implementations of multipliers and dividers since nonlinearities may exist
in these circuits.
[0049] FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of an apparatus for
reconstructing a received reference signal and detecting a magnetic or electric
field in accordance with the embodiments of FIGS. 1-4. The apparatus of FIG. 6
can be located in a ranging tool as part of the drill string in the ranging well.
FIG. 6 illustrates how a lock-in amplifier can be used with the reference and
ranging signals to improve the signal-to-noise ratio over that obtained with prior
art filtering techniques for ranging signals that do not make use of a reference
signal.
[0050] The bock diagram of FIG. 6 is for purposes of illustration only as the
reference signal can be reconstructed using other embodiments (e.g., digitally)
and the illustrated magnetometers can be replaced with gradiometers to detect an
electric field. Other embodiments can use different quantities of magnetometers
andlor gradiometers depending on the granularity desired for detecting the
reference signal.
[0051] The magnetic or electric fields detected by the apparatus arise from
fields induced in the target well as a result of the ranging signal being launched
down the target well. Thus, the signal received as detected magnetic or electric
fields can be considered to comprise the ranging signal in combination with
noise. This noise can be filtered using the reconstructed reference signal to
produce a filtered ranging signal, as described subsequently.
[0052] The apparatus of FIG. 6 comprises a solenoidal or toroidal antenna 600
in parallel with a capacitor 601 to form a filtering element 602 (e.g., resonant
9
circuit). The resonant frequency of this circuit is set to a frequencyfi (i.e., the
fundamental frequency) of the reference signal. In another embodiment, a
bandpass filter can be used as the filtering element 602. The intent is to avoid
corruption of the reference signal by the ranging signal. The filtering element
602 also serves to improve the detection of the reference signal by filtering out
noise near the reference frequency.
[0053] An amplifier 603 is coupled to the output of the filtering element 602,
which may comprise a resonant circuit or filter. The amplifier 603 outputs the
amplified received signal at a frequency offi to a frequency multiplier circuit
605 that outputs a signal having a frequency n*fi, where "n" is an integer as
defined earlier. The output of the multiplier circuit 605 is input to a frequency
divider circuit 607 that develops a signal at a frequency of n*film, where "m" is
an integer as defined earlier. Since n*film = fo, this creates a signal at precisely
the frequency of the signal that is launched onto the target well. Neglecting
propagation delay, which is small in comparison to signal acquisition time, this
signal will track slow drifts in the reference frequency fo.
[0054] Three signals are generated from this signal at frequencyfo. Two of
these signals 610, 61 1 are in quadrature. That is, one can be represented as an
amplitude times a sine wave at frequencyfo with a certain phase shift while the
other can be represented as an amplitude times a cosine wave at frequencyfo
with the same phase shift (or a sine wave with an additional phase shift of 90"
over that of the first sine wave). The third signal 612, shown as a rectangular
wave, is generated from an integrator period generator circuit 609 that generates
a rectangular wave having a period that is an integer multiple of 16. The output
signal 612 is used to set the time over which two integrator circuits 642, 643 in
each of a plurality of lock-in amplifiers 620-623 operate.
[0055] The two quadrature signals 610, 61 1 are coupled to the plurality of lockin
amplifiers 620-623 as reference signals. The rectangular wave output signal
from the integrator period generator circuit 609 is also coupled to each of the
lock-in amplifiers 620-623. Outputs of a 3-axis magnetometer 630-633 are
coupled to respective lock-in amplifiers 620-623.
[0056] The magnetometers 630-633 are used to detect the magnetic field. At
least one magnetometer is used to detect the reference signal while at least one
10
magnetometer (or at least one magnetic gradiometer) is used to detect the
ranging signal. The magnetometers 630-633 can be flux gate magnetometers,
magnetoresistive magnetometers, spin exchange relaxation-free (SERF) or
similar atomic magnetometers (or any other devices with a similar use) as well
as inductors or toroids when used to receive a time varying magnetic field. It is
possible to receive the reference and ranging signals with the same
magnetometer(s). The magnetometers can be vector magnetometers (i.e.,
magnetometers that have a preferred sense axis) or scalar magnetometers (i.e.,
magnetometers that measure the magnitude of the magnetic field). In some
ranging applications, multiple axis magnetometers can be used. The
magnetometers associated primarily with detection of the ranging signal are
generally vector type magnetometers.
[0057] The outputs of the lock-in amplifiers 620-623 are transmitted to one or
more signal processors 650-653 to monitor the detected signals in the ranging
well to determine a relative location of the ranging well in relation to the target
well based on the relationship between the detected magnetic fields (e.g., filtered
ranging signal) based on measurements made at a plurality of positions in the
ranging well. Another embodiment can use only a single signal processor with
multiple inputs for processing the signals. In another embodiment, an inference
can be made from a single measurement in the ranging well based on a magnetic
gradient. The reference signal can be used as a reference frequency for the lockin
amplifiers.
[0058] In operation, using magnetometer1 630 as an example, the output of a
first magnetometer 630 is amplified and possibly bandpass filtered and then fed
to a pair of mixers 640, 64 1. Each mixer 640, 641 has two inputs and multiplies
both of these inputs together to produce an output signal. The second input to
one of the mixers is the sine wave 610 at frequencyfo, while the second input to
the other mixer is the cosine wave 61 1 at frequencyfo. To better illustrate the
operation of the mixers 640, 641, and later of the integrators 642, 643, signal
terminology and equations will now be introduced.
[0059] Setting Sm as the output of a magnetometer that is used as one input to a
mixer:
[0060] Sm = Ar.sin(2.n.fo.t+ B)+Nr(t)+ N.(t),
11
[0061] where A, is the amplitude of the ranging signal received at the ranging
tool and may include a gain factor;
[0062] fo is the frequency in Hz of the ranging signal;
[0063] t is the time in seconds;
[0064] 8 is a phase factor related to the time reference and the propagation
delay of the signal from the casing of the target well to the ranging tool;
[0065] N,(Q is the received noise at the magnetometer; and
[0066] Ni(Q is the instrumentation noise added by the electronics at the
magnetometer input to the mixer.
[0067] The sinusoidal input to the mixer, R, is given by:
[0069] where B is the amplitude of the sinusoidal output of the circuit that
regenerated the signal at frequencyfo from the received signal atfi;
[0070] cp is a phase factor, similar to 8. Note that cp and 8 will vary slowly with
time as the ranging tool is moved in the borehole; and
[0071] N(Q is the electronic noise from the circuit that regenerated the signal at
frequency fo.
[0072] Using the above equations for S, and Rs, the output of the first mixer is
given by:
[0074] By a simple trigonometric identity, the product of the two components
at frequencyfo is a constant + a component at frequency fo + a component at a
12
frequency of 2*fo. The individual noise terms are multiplied by sine and cosine
terms at frequency fo or by each other. The output of the second mixer 641 is
calculated in an analogous fashion.
[0075] The outputs of the two mixers 640, 641 are then sent to integrators 642,
643 and integrated over N cycles with period llfo, that is for a time of Nlfo
seconds. In integrating over an integer number of cycles at frequency fo, the
terms at a frequenciesfo and 2*fo become 0. If the noises are truly random
noises, only the component that is coherent with frequencyfo makes any
contribution to the integral and, so, the noise component from these terms is
greatly reduced. Likewise, assuming that the noise terms are not correlated, the
first term, a product of noise terms, will be greatly reduced upon integration.
This leaves only the term i A,B cos(8 - cp) from the result in the above
1 equation and a similar term ; A,B sin(8 - cp) from the integrator 643.
[0076] The outputs of the integrators 642,643 are sensed by electronics after
the period of Nlfo, the integrators 642, 643 are reset and another integration
period of Nlfo seconds commences (there are ways of dealing with these outputs
as analog signals; in some embodiments, an analog to digital converter would be
used along with signal processing hardware and software to accomplish this
task).
[0077] The resulting sampled data streams have random noise reduced by the
square root of N with respect to the noise at the inputs to the integrators 642,
643. The root mean square of the sum of the outputs from the two integrators
642, 643 will be proportional to the output of the magnetometer 1 630, but with
significantly reduced noise. The ratio of the amplitudes of the two signals from
the integrators 642, 643 provides some information about the propagation of the
signals through the earth, but are not usually of interest for ranging. In some
embodiments, a sudden change in this ratio (which is the tangent of the phase of
the ranging signal with respect to that of the recovered signal at frequencyfo
used for the reference) provides an indication of a significant change at the target
well or a significant change in the relation between the target well and the
ranging tool, so the phase or ratio of phases may be monitored.
[0078] In some embodiments, all or part of the lock-in amplifiers 620-623 can
be implemented using AID converters and digital signal processing. In that case,
the digital samples should be made at some high multiple of the reference
frequencyfo that can be generated with another frequency multiplier.
[0079] Criteria for specifying the frequency separation between the ranging and
reference signals, and for specifying the stability of the master oscillator, can be
determined as described subsequently.
[0080] The selectivity of the lock-in amplifier can be examined by calculating
its output when the reconstructed reference frequency differs from the frequency
of the signal at the other input to the lock-in amplifiers 620-623 (in the
illustrated example, this is the output of one of the other magnetometers 63 1-
633).
[0081] The output of the lock-in amplifier for two such signals is shown in
Figure 7 for integration times of llfo, lOlf0, 100lfo and 1,000lf0. To make the
comparisons easier to understand, each output has been divided by the output of
the lock-in amplifier when there is no difference between the signals. The
abscissa of Figure 7 is the fractional difference in frequency between the two
signals. For example, at an abscissa value of 0.1, the signal input from the
ranging magnetometer is 1.1 *fo, and an abscissa value of -. 1 corresponds to a
signal from the ranging magnetometer of 0.9*fo. As can be seen in the figure, the
selectivity of the lock-in amplifier increases dramatically as the integration time
is increased.
[0082] The same curves are presented in Figure 8, but the range of frequencies
is reduced, covering only 0.01 times (normalized tofo) that which is shown in
Figure 7. Even over the greatly reduced range of Figure 8, the curve
corresponding to integration over 1,000 cycles can be difficult to interpret. A
local maximum of 0.0 1 occurs near a frequency offset of 0.00 1 (i.e. 1.001 * fo).
That is, a signal at frequency 1.001*fo is reduced to 0.01 of the amplitude
obtained with the same signal but with a frequency offo. This is a rejection of 40
dB. At a frequency offset of 0.01 (i.e. l.Ol*fo), it is reduced by 60 dB. For most
ranging applications, it is reasonable to use an integration time of 1,000 cycles of
the ranging signal. For example, with a 5 Hz ranging signal, the integration time
over 1,000 cycles is 3 minutes, 20 seconds. Shorter integration times can be
used.
[0083] In a typical embodiment, the frequency of the reference oscillator is
sufficiently stable that the amplitude output of the lock-in amplifier of the
ranging signal does not drift to less than 0.99 of its optimal value. This
corresponds to a frequency offset of *.0000391*f0. A typical ranging signal has a
frequency of around 5 Hz. It takes 200 seconds to produce 1,000 cycles at 5 Hz.
Therefore, a clock would have to drift by as much as 1 part in a million/second
in order to produce such a frequency shift. Clocks of this quality or better are
readily available.
[0084] Several embodiments also take into account the effect of receiving the
frequency downshifted reference signal with the ranging signal in a
magnetometer set up to receive the ranging signal. That is, the reference signal
may be received at one or more of the ranging magnetometers and may be
stronger than the ranging signal at these magnetometers. Since the frequency
downshifted reference signal is not an integral sub-harmonic of the ranging
signal, this should not create a problem as long as care is taken to properly
separate its frequency (and that of any of its harmonics) from fo. In an
embodiment, a bandpass filter can be inserted between each ranging
magnetometer and the input to the mixers in the lock-in amplifier.
[0085] Several embodiments also deal with preventing components of the
ranging signal, received at the magnetometer used to receive the frequency
downshifted signal, from corrupting the reconstructed signal at frequency fo.
This is important since an error may otherwise be introduced in re-creating a
signal at frequency fo. It is thus recommended that the antenna for receiving the
frequency downshifted reference signal be put in resonance with a capacitor or
that the output of the antenna be bandpass filtered. Even though the frequency
downshifted signal may be stronger than the ranging signal, the frequency
downshifted and ranging signals should be separated, in some embodiments, at
the input to that part of the system which reconstructs a reference signal at
frequency fo.
[0086] In addition to, or as an alternative to using a resonant circuit or a filter, if
the frequency downshifted signal is launched down the casing of the borehole
15
that contains the ranging tool, it will hop to the drill pipe in the borehole, and can
be detected with a toroidal antenna or as a voltage across a resistive gap. The
toroid or resistive gap may not be sensitive to many forms of ranging signals. In
particular, it may not be sensitive to a signal generated by launching current
down the casing of the target well when the ranging and target wells are
approximately parallel.
[0087] Considerations of propagation through the geological formation or the
well casings can have an effect on the appropriate frequency of the reference
signal and of the ranging signal to be used in a given application. Since fi << fo,
the attenuation of the reference signal at frequency fl will be less than that at
frequency fo. The degree of difference will depend on the specific
implementation, well profile, formation resistivities, and frequencies. For the
following examples, consider a system wherein the reference signal is generated
at 0.5882 Hz, the frequency of the ranging signal on the target well is 5 Hz, and
both signals are launched onto the target well, while the return for the signal at
frequency fl is attached to a remote grounding point.
[0088] The ratio of the signal amplitudes at the ranging tool is shown in Figure
9 for geological formation resistivities of 1 and 0.2 ohm meters as a function of
distance from the ranging tool to the target well. In this figure, it is assumed that
both signals have the same current in the target well. In this case, at a range of
about 90 meters, and with a resistivity of 0.2 ohm meter, the signal at 0.5882 Hz
is a factor of 1.8 times stronger than the signal at 5 Hz. In a 1 ohm meter
formation, it is about 1.7 times stronger than the ranging signal at a range of 200
meters. As the range is decreased, the signal strength ratio decreases. However,
the signal strength ratio is an increasing function of the ratio of fo/fl. Hence, it is
possible to increase the frequency of the oscillator as the range is decreased and
thus provide better resolution than would otherwise be possible.
[0089] The effect of increasing the ranging frequency to 25 Hz is shown in
Figure 10. In the past, it has not been desirable to increase the frequency of the
ranging frequency because of attenuation, even though resolution is improved
with frequency. In the illustrated embodiment, at a range of 90 meters, the ratio
of the amplitude of the reference signal to the ranging signal is 5.5, or 14.8 dB
which, with other filters in the circuit as described earlier, may be sufficient to
provide improved performance when a lock-in amplifier is used.
[0090] If the signal is launched as illustrated in the embodiments shown in
FIGS. 3 or 4, the analysis is analogous to that used for an electromagnetic (EM)
telemetry downlink, and the ratio of the signal received as the low frequency
reference signal to the ranging signal can be considerably improved over
embodiments where both signals are only launched on to the target well. EM
downlink signals can typically be received at depths of 10,000 feet. Downlinks
are typically strongest when the return leg of the downlink is the casing of a
second well, as illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 4.
[0091] In other embodiments, the downhole ranging tool can be designed to
receive commands from the earth's surface and select different filters so as to
make operation at different frequencies possible. The reference signal can be
modulated, included in a separate mud pulse, or EM downlinks may be used to
accomplish such an embodiment.
[0092] There may be situations where the reference signal is no stronger than
the ranging signal. In this case, and where it may be determined that the lock-in
amplifier may actually be adding noise to the system, intelligence can be added
to detect such a condition, so that the lock-in amplifiers are bypassed.
[0093] Launching a signal into a casing is an operation that is known by one of
ordinary skill in the art. For example, a target well may have a casing. The target
well may be an abandoned or a producing oil or gas well which exists in a field
and is to be avoided by a later well being drilled, or may be an existing well that
has blown out, and is to be intercepted at a selected depth below the surface of
the earth by a relief borehole. Alternatively, the well may represent some other
anomaly located in the earth, such as an electrically conductive geological
formation, a drill string in an uncased well, or some other electrically conductive
material which may be a target for interception or avoidance. For purposes of
this disclosure, such material will be referred to as the target well.
[0094] While above embodiments discuss launching the ranging signal on the
target well casing, other embodiments are not limited to this method of
launching the ranging signal. For example, the ranging signal may be launched
using a wireline or using an electromagnet.
17
[0095] The bottom-most drill string subsection carries the drill bit in many
cases. The drill bit subsection may comprise a bent sub which angles the drill bit
with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drill string to permit changes in the
direction of drilling, or may be a straight section for straight-ahead drilling. With
the use of a bent sub, the direction of drilling may be controlled by rotating the
entire drill string from the wellhead, thereby turning the bent sub.
[0096] As is known, the drill bit may be driven by a motor which in turn is
driven by the flow of drilling mud down the drill string bore. The mud flows out
of the drill string at the bent sub and around the location of the drill bit and flows
up and out of the well through the annular space around the outside of the string,
carrying the material loosened by the drill up and out of the well through an
outlet fitting.
[0097] Located within the drill string bore may be an alternating magnetic field
detector, or magnetometer. The detector may be adapted to detect alternating
magnetic fields produced in the earth surrounding the target by alternating
current flow induced in the conductive material (such as a well casing) of the
target well. This current may be induced by way of an electrode located at the
surface of the earth very close to, or, electrically connected to, the casing. The
electrode induces a current flow I in the electrically conductive target casing, and
this vertically flowing current produces a magnetic field surrounding the casing.
The magnetic field lines are perpendicular to the direction of current flow I, and
thus are generally horizontal when the well is vertical. The field extends
outwardly from the target well casing to a distance dependent upon the
magnitude of the current flow and upon the nature of the strata surrounding the
target well and the relief borehole.
[0098] The electrode, which may be a conductive rod located in the earth near
the wellhead or may be a connector for securing a cable to the metal casing, is
connected by way of a cable to a source of alternating current (AC). The other
side of the AC source is connected to a ground point at a location spaced away
from the target well by a distance sufficient to ensure that the current will flow
primarily in the casing. As the current flows downwardly in the casing, it will
gradually be dissipated outwardly into the surrounding earth, and will return to
the ground electrode, but since the current flow in the casing is highly
18
concentrated, as compared to the current flow through the earth, the magnetic
field produced by the casing current will predominate and will be detectable by
the magnetometer.
[0099] A magnet gradiometer, which may be a highly sensitive magnetic field
detector, includes a pair of field sensors each having two spaced, parallel legs.
The legs may be ferrite rods, each several inches long and surrounded by
corresponding solenoidal windings. The magnetic gradiometer may be located in
a suitable housing within the central opening of the drill string but alternatively
may be mounted on the exterior thereof, as in reduced areas or notches formed
on the outer surface of the drill string. In this latter configuration, the two legs of
each sensor are mounted on diametrically opposite sides of the drill string so that
they are spaced apart by a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the
drill string. In either arrangement, the two legs of each sensor have their axes of
maximum sensitivity parallel to each other, and perpendicular to the axis of the
drill string, while the axes of maximum sensitivity of the two sensors are
perpendicular to each other.
[00100] When a relief borehole is being drilled, the borehole is initially directed
toward the target well through the use of conventional methods. The
magnetometer can be located within the drill string or on its surface, and is
operable during the actual drilling, although for greatest accuracy the drilling
operation would normally be momentarily halted while measurements are made.
The information obtained from the magnetometer may be used to control the
directional drilling of the relief borehole (as a ranging well), among other uses,
as described herein.
[00101] FIG. 11 illustrates a drilling rig system 1164 embodiment that can
incorporate the above-described embodiments. Thus, system 1 164 may comprise
portions of a downhole tool 1124 as part of a downhole drilling operation.
[00102] Drilling of oil and gas wells is commonly carried out using a string of
drill pipes connected together so as to form a drilling string that is lowered
through a rotary table 1 1 10 into a wellbore or borehole 11 12. A system 1 164
may form a portion of a drilling rig 1102 located at the surface 1104 of a well
1106. The drilling rig 1102 may provide support for a drill string 1108. The drill
string 1108 may operate to penetrate a rotary table 11 10 for drilling a borehole
19
1 1 12 through subsurface geological formations 1 1 14. The drill string 1 108 may
include a Kelly 11 16, drill pipe 11 18, and a bottom hole assembly 1120, perhaps
located at the lower portion of the drill pipe 1 11 8. In some embodiments,
ranging tool apparatus 103, 203, 303,403 of FIGS. 1, 2, 3,4, respectively, may
be carried as part of the drill string 1108 or the downhole tool 1124.
[00103] The bottom hole assembly 1120 may include drill collars 1122, a
downhole tool 1124, and a drill bit 1126. The drill bit 1126 may operate to create
a borehole 1 112 by penetrating the surface 1 104 and subsurface geological
formations 11 14. The downhole tool 1124 may comprise any of a number of
different types of tools including MWD (measurement while drilling) tools,
LWD tools, and others.
[00104] During drilling operations, the drill string 1108 (perhaps including the
Kelly 11 16, the drill pipe 1 11 8, and the bottom hole assembly 1120) may be
rotated by the rotary table 11 10. In addition to, or alternatively, the bottom hole
assembly 1120 may also be rotated by a motor (e.g., a mud motor) that is located
downhole. The drill collars 1122 may be used to add weight to the drill bit 1 126.
The drill collars 1122 may also operate to stiffen the bottom hole assembly 1120,
allowing the bottom hole assembly 1120 to transfer the added weight to the drill
bit 1126, and in turn, to assist the drill bit 1126 in penetrating the surface 1104
and subsurface formations 1 1 14.
[00105] During drilling operations, a mud pump 1 132 may pump drilling fluid
(sometimes known by those of skill in the art as "drilling mud") from a mud pit
1 134 through a hose 1136 into the drill pipe 11 18 and down to the drill bit 1 126.
The drilling fluid can flow out from the drill bit 1126 and be returned to the
surface 1 104 through an annular area 1 140 between the drill pipe 11 18 and the
sides of the borehole 1 1 12. The drilling fluid may then be returned to the mud pit
1134, where such fluid is filtered. In some embodiments, the drilling fluid can be
used to cool the drill bit 1126, as well as to provide lubrication for the drill bit
1126 during drilling operations. Additionally, the drilling fluid may be used to
remove subsurface formation 11 14 cuttings created by operating the drill bit
1126.
[00106] The accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, show by way of
illustration, and not of limitation, specific embodiments in which the subject
20
matter may be practiced. The embodiments illustrated are described in sufficient
detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed herein.
Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural
and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the
scope of this disclosure. This Detailed Description, therefore, is not to be taken
in a limiting sense, and the scope of various embodiments is defined only by the
appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims
are entitled.

CLAIMS
What is claimed is:
1. A method for ranging between a target well and a ranging well, the
method comprising:
generating a clock signal;
generating a ranging signal from the clock signal;
generating a reference signal from the clock signal;
launching the ranging signal from the target well;
transmitting the reference signal;
receiving the reference signal with a first receiver in the ranging well;
reconstructing the clock signal as a reconstructed clock signal;
using one of the first receiver or a second receiver in the ranging well,
receiving a signal that is a combination of noise and of the ranging signal
launched from the target well;
producing a filtered ranging signal using the reconstructed clock signal in
combination with the received signal; and
determining a relative location of the target well in relation to the ranging
well based on the filtered ranging signal.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein reconstructing the clock signal
comprises:
receiving a propagated reference signal;
generating a pair of quadrature signals from the received propagated
reference signal; and
generating a rectangular signal from the received propagated reference
signal.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising integrating the magnetic field
over a time period determined by the rectangular signal.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the time period comprises an integer
multiple of an inverse of a fundamental frequency of the clock signal.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising steering a drill bit while
drilling the ranging well in response to the relative location.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the reference signal
comprises:
multiplying a frequency of the clock signal by an integer "m" to produce
a result; and
dividing the result by an integer "n" to produce the reference signal
wherein m/n < 1.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring a magnetic field
generated by the target well in response to the ranging signal using one of a
magnetometer or a gradiometer in the ranging well.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting the reference signal
comprises launching the reference signal into a surface of a geological formation
that includes the target well and the ranging well.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein launching the reference signal into the
surface comprises launching the reference signal with a loop antenna coupled to
the surface.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein launching the reference signal into the
surface comprises launching the reference signal with a plurality of ground
contacts coupled to the surface.
1 1. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
launching the reference signal to a well head of a well casing of the
ranging well;
creating a signal that contains the reference signal and the ranging signal
by summing the reference signal and the clock signal; and
launching the signal that contains the reference signal and the ranging
signal down a well head of a casing of the target well.
12. A system, comprising:
a signal generator circuit to generate both a ranging signal and a
reference signal based on a clock signal, wherein the ranging signal has a first
frequency, and the reference signal has a second frequency, wherein the ranging
signal is coupled to a target well, and wherein the second frequency is less than
the first frequency;
a downhole tool;
at least one of a magnetometer or a gradiometer attached to the downhole
tool, the at least one of the magnetometer or the gradiometer to provide detected
signals in the form of magnetic or electric field values or changes in the
magnetic or electric fields that, in combination with a reconstructed reference
signal, produce a filtered ranging signal in response to the ranging signal being
launched down the target; and
a signal processor to monitor the detected signals in a ranging well to
determine a relative location of the ranging well in relation to the target well
based on the filtered ranging signal.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the signal generator comprises an
oscillator to generate the clock signal.
14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a frequency scaling circuit
coupled to the oscillator to generate the reference signal by multiplying the clock
signal by an integer "m" and dividing by an integer "n" to produce the reference
signal wherein m/n < 1.
15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a transmitter of the reference
signal coupled to the frequency scaling circuit.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the transmitter of the reference signal
comprises at least one of: a loop antenna, a plurality of dipole antennas, a power
amplifier that can be used to couple the frequency scaling circuit to a casing of
the ranging well, or a summing amplifier coupled to the clock circuit and the
frequency altering circuit to generate a signal that contains the reference signal
and the ranging signal by summing the reference signal and the clock signal.
17. An apparatus comprising:
a reconstruction circuit to receive a signal and generate a reconstructed
reference signal from the received signal, the reconstructed reference signal
based on a clock signal;
at least one of a magnetometer or a gradiometer to couple to the
reconstruction circuit, the at least one of the magnetometer or the gradiometer to
provide detected signals in the form of magnetic or electric field values or
changes in the magnetic or electric fields that, in combination with a
reconstructed reference signal to produce a filtered ranging signal in response to
the ranging signal being launched down a target well; and
a signal processor, coupled to the at least one magnetometer or the
gradiometer, to monitor the detected signals in a ranging well to determine a
location of the ranging well in relation to the target well based on the filtered
ranging signal.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the circuit to receive the signal and
generate the reconstructed reference signal comprises one of a resonant circuit or
a bandpass filter to filter out noise from the reference signal.
19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the circuit to receive the signal and
generate the reconstructed reference signal comprises a resonant circuit having a
capacitor coupled in parallel to filter out noise from the reference signal.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the circuit to receive the signal and
generate the reconstructed reference signal comprises:
a frequency multiplier circuit, coupled to one of the resonant circuit or
the bandpass filter, to multiply the frequency of the received signal by an integer
"n" to produce a result; and
a frequency divider circuit to divide the resulting frequency by an integer
"m" wherein m/n < 1.
2 1. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising an integrator period
generator, coupled to the frequency divider circuit, to generate an integrated
signal wherein the integrated signal is derived from the reconstructed reference
signal over a time period of 1 6 whereinfo is a fundamental frequency of the
reference signal.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a lock-in amplifier, coupled
to the at least one magnetometer or the gradiometer and the reconstruction
circuit, to generate the filtered ranging signal based on the detected signals,
representing the magnetic or electric field values or changes in the magnetic or
electric fields or the gradiometer, generated in response to the ranging signal
being launched down the target well.
23. The apparatus of claim 2 1 further comprising:
at least one analog-to-digital converter coupled to the at least one
magnetometer or the gradiometer and the reconstruction circuit; and
a digital signal processor coupled to the at least one AID converter to
generate the filtered ranging signal based on the detected signals representing the
magnetic or electric field values or changes in the magnetic or electric fields.
24. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a bandpass filter coupled to
an output of the at least one magnetometer or the gradiometer to remove effects
of the reference signal from detected signals.
25. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the apparatus is coupled to a wireline
tool body.