Guided oscillatory well path drilling by seismic imaging

摘要

Real-time monitoring of a target production zone is followed by an oscillatory drilling path to create a borehole having improved zone drainage capability. Real-time monitoring uses geophones placed in adjacent wells or the well being drilled. The drilling process itself generates the seismic signals. When the geophones are located in the well being drilled, the seismic signals are transmitted from downhole to surface through intermittent pressurization of drilling mud. Once drilling penetrates the zone, the oscillatory path is followed by fracturing to improve fluid drainage paths and minimize additional drilling.