Integrated well survey management and planning tool

Abstract

In one example, an integrated well survey management and planning tool is implemented by a computer system. The tool can receive a trajectory of a proposed well from a surface to a subterranean geological target to be reached by drilling the well, and a survey plan indicating the number, position and survey type of surveys to be performed on the well while drilling the well. The tool can apply multiple error models based on the survey type for drilling the well. Each error model defines a respective uncertainty in reaching the subterranean geological target by drilling the well along the received trajectory. The tool can display, in a user interface, the received trajectory of the well and an uncertainty indicator determined by applying the multiple error models. The uncertainty indicator represents a combination of respective uncertainties defined by the multiple error models and indicates an uncertainty in drilling the well on the received trajectory.

1 . A computer-implemented well survey method comprising:
 receiving a trajectory of a proposed well from a surface to a subterranean geological target to be reached by drilling the well;   receiving a survey plan indicating the number, position and survey type of surveys to be performed on the well while drilling the well;   displaying, in a user interface, a plurality of error models including at least one of an interpolation in-field referencing (IIFR) model, an in-field referencing (IFR) model, a measurement while drilling (MWD) model, or a sag correction model;   applying the plurality of error models based on the survey type for drilling the well, each error model defining a respective uncertainty in reaching the subterranean geological target by drilling the well along the received trajectory; and   displaying, in the user interface, the received trajectory of the well and an uncertainty indicator determined by applying the plurality of error models, the uncertainty indicator representing a combination of respective uncertainties defined by the plurality of error models, the uncertainty indicator indicating an uncertainty in drilling the well on the received trajectory.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the uncertainty indicator includes a plurality of ellipses, each occupying a different area, each ellipse associated with a respective depth of the well from the surface to the subterranean geological target, the method further comprising displaying the plurality of ellipses at a plurality of respective depths in the user interface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining that a first ellipse does not satisfy an uncertainty threshold at a respective depth; and   displaying the first ellipse in the user interface in a manner that is visually distinguishable from a second ellipse that satisfies the uncertainty threshold at a respective depth.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a selection of a survey tool from among a plurality of survey tools, the survey tool to be implemented to survey the well to be drilled along the received trajectory. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving the trajectory of the well, receiving the survey plan, and applying the plurality of error models before drilling the well along the received trajectory. 
     
     
         6 . A computer-implemented well survey comprising:
 receiving a trajectory of a proposed well from a surface to a subterranean geological target to be reached by drilling the well;   receiving a survey plan indicating the number, position and survey type of surveys to be performed on the well while drilling the well;   applying a plurality of error models based on the survey type for drilling the well, each error model defining a respective uncertainty in reaching the subterranean geological target by drilling the well along the received trajectory;   displaying, in a user interface, the received trajectory of the well and an uncertainty indicator determined by applying the plurality of error models, the uncertainty indicator representing a combination of respective uncertainties defined by the plurality of error models, the uncertainty indicator indicating an uncertainty in drilling the well on the received trajectory; and   receiving a plurality of parameters that describe a location and a shape of the well, wherein the plurality of parameters describing the well that are displayed in the user interface include a length of a non-magnetic drill collar (NMDC) to be positioned in the well, a sensor position in the NMDC at which a survey tool is to be positioned, and casing information describing at least one of a casing size, distance, or direction from the sensor position.   
     
     
         7 . A computer-implemented well survey method comprising:
 receiving a trajectory of a proposed well from a surface to a subterranean geological target to be reached by drilling the well;   receiving a survey plan indicating the number, position and survey type of surveys to be performed on the well while drilling the well;   applying a plurality of error models based on the survey type for drilling the well, each error model defining a respective uncertainty in reaching the subterranean geological target by drilling the well along the received trajectory;   displaying, in a user interface, the received trajectory of the well and an uncertainty indicator determined by applying the plurality of error models, the uncertainty indicator representing a combination of respective uncertainties defined by the plurality of error models, the uncertainty indicator indicating an uncertainty in drilling the well on the received trajectory;   receiving an earth's gravitational field and magnetic field strength at a geographic location at which the well is to be drilled at a drilling time determined based on a geodetic model used to determine the earth's gravitational field, and magnetic dipping; and   displaying, in the user interface, an identifier identifying the geodetic model, the earth's gravitational field strength and magnetic field strength, and a dip angle of the magnetic field.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising receiving magnetics representing variations in the earth's magnetic field due to solar effects during the drilling time, the method further comprising displaying, in the user interface, the magnetics during the drilling time. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein displaying, in the user interface, the magnetics during the drilling time comprises:
 displaying a plot of the magnetics over time that comprises the drilling time;   comparing the magnetics with a threshold magnetics for drilling the well;   displaying the magnetics that satisfy the threshold magnetics in a first color and the magnetics that do not satisfy the threshold magnetics in a second color that is different from the first color.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying, in the user interface, an image of a sag correction for the well. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying, in the user interface, axial and cross-axial interference representing a disturbance in a magnetic field due to low magnetic permeability components in the well. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a change to an uncertainty defined by a first error model of the plurality of error models, the change resulting in a change to an uncertainty defined by a second error model of the plurality of error models;   in response to receiving the change, automatically and without user intervention:
 updating the uncertainty indicator determined by applying the plurality of error models including the first error model and the second error model; and 
 displaying the updated uncertainty indicator in the user interface. 
   
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a trajectory of a proposed well from a surface to a subterranean geological target to be reached by drilling the well;   receiving a survey plan indicating the number, position and survey type of surveys to be performed on the well while drilling the well;   displaying, in a user interface, a plurality of error models including at least one of an interpolation in-field referencing (IIFR) model, an in-field referencing (IFR) model, a measurement while drilling (MWD) model, or a sag correction model;   applying the plurality of error models based on the survey type for drilling the well, each error model defining a respective uncertainty in reaching the subterranean geological target by drilling the well along the received trajectory; and   displaying, in the user interface, the received trajectory of the well and an uncertainty indicator determined by applying the plurality of error models, the uncertainty indicator representing a combination of respective uncertainties defined by the plurality of error the uncertainty indicator indicating an uncertainty in drilling the well on the received trajectory.   
     
     
         14 . The medium of  claim 13 , wherein the uncertainty indicator includes a plurality of ellipses, each occupying a different area, each ellipse associated with a respective depth of the well from the surface to the subterranean geological target, the operations further comprising displaying the plurality of ellipses at a plurality of respective depths in the user interface. 
     
     
         15 . The medium of  claim 14 , the operations further comprising:
 determining that a first ellipse does not satisfy an uncertainty threshold at a respective depth; and   displaying the first ellipse in the user interface in a color that is different from a color of a second ellipse that satisfies the uncertainty threshold at a respective depth.   
     
     
         16 . The medium of  claim 13 , the operations further comprising receiving the trajectory of the well, receiving the survey plan, and applying the plurality of error models before drilling the well along the received trajectory. 
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 data processing apparatus; and   a computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a trajectory of a proposed well from a surface to a subterranean geological target to be reached by drilling the well; 
 receiving a survey plan indicating the number, position and survey type of surveys to be performed on the well while drilling the well; 
 displaying, in a user interface, a plurality of error models including at least one of an interpolation in-field referencing (IIFR) model, an in-field referencing (IFR) model, a measurement while drilling (MWD) model, or a sag correction model; 
 applying the plurality of error models based on the survey type for drilling the well, each error model defining a respective uncertainty in reaching the subterranean geological target by drilling the well along the received trajectory; and 
 displaying, in the user interface, the received trajectory of the well and an uncertainty indicator determined by applying the plurality of error models, the uncertainty indicator representing a combination of respective uncertainties defined by the plurality of error the uncertainty indicator indicating an uncertainty in drilling the well on the received trajectory. 
   
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 data processing apparatus; and   a computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a trajectory of a proposed well from a surface to a subterranean geological target to be reached by drilling the well; 
 receiving a survey plan indicating the number, position and survey type of surveys to be performed on the well while drilling the well; 
 applying a plurality of error models based on the survey type for drilling the well, each error model defining a respective uncertainty in reaching the subterranean geological target by drilling the well along the received trajectory; 
 displaying, in a user interface, the received trajectory of the well and an uncertainty indicator determined by applying the plurality of error models, the uncertainty indicator representing a combination of respective uncertainties defined by the plurality of error the uncertainty indicator indicating an uncertainty in drilling the well on the received trajectory; 
 receiving a geographic location at which the well is to be drilled, a drilling time, and magnetics representing variations in the earth's magnetic field due to solar effects during the drilling time; 
 receiving an earth's gravitational field and magnetic field strength at the geographic location at the drilling time determined based on a geodetic model used to determine the earth's gravitational field, and magnetic dipping; and 
 displaying, in the user interface, an identifier identifying the geodetic model, the earth's gravitational field strength and magnetic field strength, a dip angle of the magnetic field, and the magnetics during the drilling time. 
   
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 data processing apparatus; and   a computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a trajectory of a proposed well from a surface to a subterranean geological target to be reached by drilling the well; 
 receiving a survey plan indicating the number, position and survey type of surveys to be performed on the well while drilling the well; 
 applying a plurality of error models based on the survey type for drilling the well, each error model defining a respective uncertainty in reaching the subterranean geological target by drilling the well along the received trajectory; 
 displaying, in a user interface, the received trajectory of the well and an uncertainty indicator determined by applying the plurality of error models, the uncertainty indicator representing a combination of respective uncertainties defined by the plurality of error the uncertainty indicator indicating an uncertainty in drilling the well on the received trajectory; and 
   displaying, in the user interface, a plurality of parameters including a length of a non-magnetic drill collar (NMDC) to be positioned in the well, a sensor position in the NMDC at which a survey tool is to be positioned, and casing information describing at least one of a casing size, distance, or direction from the sensor position.