The crucial initial phase in the drilling of a relief well is the development of an extensive relief well plan. The planning requires geoscientists, drilling engineers, and well planners to have detailed information on the subsurface geology and its attributes as well as precise knowledge on existing infrastructures and their geospatial positioning. Technologies with advanced 3D visualization can provide quick analysis of the existing data to ensure the accuracy of the plan to allow for precise and risk-free drilling.
Relief Well Planning
Although the design of relief wells may be similar to any other wells, planning for a relief well requires many parameters to be taken into consideration:
- The geological characteristics of the subsurface can vary with depth. Having this information from geologic models, log data, or seismic survey is important for downhole drilling and trajectory changes.
- Having the knowledge of the exact location of the blowout and relief wells allows calculation to intercept the blowout well at the appropriate interception point.
- It is also important to know the location of existing wells in order to avoid collision risk while drilling the relief well.
The ability to accurately geospatially locate these parameters allows planners to design with a flexible plan that provides options in the event of a blowout.
Visualizing Ensures Accuracy in Relief Well Planning
The comprehensive knowledge of all subsurface features, seismic attributes, and data interrelationships is crucial in developing an accurate relief well plan. Advanced visualization tools enable the import and integration of a wide range of data and facilitate the formation of a 3D model. In relief well planning, the 3D visualization ability provides the following advantages:
- Easily identify the point of interception.
- Locate the proximity to faults or horizons.
- Determine the accurate well spacing and placement.
- Avoid well collisions in existing or planned wellpath.
- Eliminate positional uncertainties in well trajectory planning.
With the wide range of data and the geospatial accuracy of the 3D visualization technology on hand, fewer iterations are required to analyze the relief well plan, facilitating quick response in case of a blowout.
Leveraging 3D Visualizing Technology for Fast and Effective Response
Engineers and geoscientists trust the accurate data analysis and visualization ability of CoViz 4D and WellArchitect for extensive relief well planning. CoViz 4D integrates a wide range of data to visualize in a 3D geospatial environment to facilitate a high degree of accuracy in well planning. With WellArchitect, it is possible to visualize the relief well drilling plan and validate it with the existing well plan to analyze the accuracy of target and potential collision risks.
The unique ability of WellArchitect allows asset teams to collaborate to identify the interception point and back-calculate to find the surface hole location. This is a massive advantage as identifying a surface hole location is extremely difficult, thus, involves a higher risk in drilling. The real-time monitoring ability of the software enables drilling engineers to monitor the progress of the relief well and help ensure the interception with the blowout well.
With accuracy in the relief well positioning, planning, and design, blowout events can be addressed much easier and faster.
CoViz 4D and WellArchitect from Dynamic Graphics, Inc. give oil and gas professionals the ability to easily access, combine, and visualize all the relevant data essential in relief well planning and design. Powerful visualization capabilities provide accuracy in target identification and minimized positional uncertainties, allowing asset teams to confidently make decisions that reduce the risk of well collision and ensures accurate and quick drilling of a relief well in the event of an emergency. To learn more about CoViz 4D and WellArchitect contact our team.
