Optimizing Drilling Operations Using Petrotechnical Data

Abstract

A method for optimizing drilling operations. The method includes providing an earth model of a volume having a well, obtaining petrotechnical data about the volume while drilling the well, comparing the petrotechnical data with the earth model, updating the earth model with the petrotechnical data based on the comparison, and modifying a drilling plan of the well using the updated earth model.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A method for providing a set of actions for modifying a drilling plan of a well, comprising:
 comparing a subsurface image, property volume or interpretation of an earth model of the well with a subsurface image, property volume or interpretation of an updated earth model;   generating a set of three dimensional (3D) coordinates for a well trajectory based on the comparison; and   modifying the drilling plan based on the well trajectory.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the set of three dimensional (3D) coordinates is generated using geosteering. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein modifying the drilling plan comprises providing a design of the well trajectory, performing an economic and technical analysis of the well trajectory, changing an existing casing plan, defining a well construction based on the well trajectory, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the earth model is updated by creating a three dimensional (3D) anisotropic depth model, merging the 3D anisotropic depth model in depth sections, performing a prestack depth migration, performing tomographic anisotropic properties update, performing interpretation, performing inversion for pore pressure or lithology properties of the earth model, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         40 . A method for updating an earth model of a volume having a well, comprising:
 creating a three dimensional anisotropic depth model;   comparing the three dimensional anisotropic depth model with petrotechnical data obtained while drilling the well;   determining whether a deviation between the three dimensional anisotropic depth model and the petrotechnical data is greater than a first predetermined amount; and   if the deviation exceeds the first predetermined amount, then updating the three dimensional anisotropic depth model.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising merging the three dimensional anisotropic depth model in depth sections. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising performing a prestack depth migration using the updated three dimensional anisotropic depth model. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising:
 determining whether a quality of an output of the prestack depth migration falls below a second predetermined value; and   if the output of the prestack depth migration falls below the second predetermined value, then performing a tomographic anisotropic properties update.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein determining whether the quality of the output of the prestack depth migration falls below the second predetermined value comprises evaluating a flatness of one or more prestack depth gathers. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein determining whether the quality of the output of the prestack depth migration falls below the second predetermined value comprises comparing a prestack depth stack against the petrotechnical data obtained during drilling. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein determining whether the quality of the output of the prestack depth migration falls below the second predetermined value comprises evaluating errors of a residual moveout cube. 
     
     
         47 - 51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . A computer system, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory comprising program instructions executable by the processor to:
 compare a subsurface image, property volume or interpretation of an earth model of a well with a subsurface image, property volume or interpretation of an updated earth model; 
 generate a set of three dimensional (3D) coordinates for a well trajectory based on the comparison; and 
 modify a drilling plan based on the well trajectory. 
   
     
     
         53 . The computer system of  claim 52 , wherein the set of three dimensional (3D) coordinates is generated using geosteering. 
     
     
         54 . The computer system of  claim 52 , wherein the memory comprising program instructions executable by the processor to modify the drilling plan comprises program instructions executable by the processor to provide a design of the well trajectory, performing an economic and technical analysis of the well trajectory, changing an existing casing plan, defining a well construction based on the well trajectory, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         55 . A computer system, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory comprising program instructions executable by the processor to:
 create a three dimensional anisotropic depth model of a volume having a well; 
 compare the three dimensional anisotropic depth model with petrotechnical data obtained while drilling the well; 
 determine whether a deviation between the three dimensional anisotropic depth model and the petrotechnical data is greater than a first predetermined amount; and 
 if the deviation exceeds the first predetermined amount, then update the three dimensional anisotropic depth model. 
   
     
     
         56 . The computer system of  claim 55 , wherein the memory further comprises program instructions executable by the processor to:
 determine whether a quality of an output of the prestack depth migration falls below a second predetermined value; and   if the output of the prestack depth migration falls below the second predetermined value, then performing a tomographic anisotropic properties update.   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising creating the earth model based on a full aperture, prestack, three dimensional depth imaging function and petrotechnical data obtained while drilling the well before updating the earth model. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the three dimensional anisotropic depth model is created based on a full aperture, prestack, three dimensional depth imaging function and petrotechnical data obtained while drilling the well. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the earth model is updated by performing a full aperture, prestack tomography inversion to solve for variations in depth velocity properties of the earth model. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the three dimensional anisotropic depth model is updated by performing a full aperture, prestack tomography inversion. 
     
     
         61 . The computer system of  claim 52 , wherein the memory further comprises program instructions executable by the processor to update the earth model by performing a full aperture, prestack tomography inversion to solve for variations in depth velocity properties of the earth model. 
     
     
         62 . The computer system of  claim 55 , wherein the memory further comprises program instructions executable by the processor to:
 update the three dimensional anisotropic depth model by performing a full aperture, prestack tomography inversion; and   perform a prestack depth migration using the updated three dimensional anisotropic depth model.