Advances in Geosteering Technology: From Simple to Complex Solutions

Abstract

Abstract The industry today is challenged to maximize recovery from existing assets, requiring increasingly complex and challenging reservoirs to be drilled and geosteered. Consequently, reservoir management efforts aimed at maximizing production through optimal wellbore placement require increasingly sophisticated geosteering capabilities. In geologically simple reservoirs, conventional geosteering techniques use simple logging-while-drilling (LWD) sensors to help wellsite geologists place wells in the optimal productive zones. As geological complexity increases, more sophisticated techniques and tools are required to assist a team effort in placing the well. These tools and techniques require the integration of structure maps, LWD measurements and interpretation, and wellbore survey information to determine the location of the wellbore within the reservoir and the structure of the reservoir. This analysis then leads to the decision process about where to steer the well to meet the required objectives. This paper discusses the use of an advanced geosteering system that uses all available geosteering technology, from the simple systems to the advanced sensors, in complex reservoir situations. The planning and execution of well placement jobs performed with this technology in several diverse reservoirs are explained. This paper also provides details about simple geosteering systems through advanced well placement techniques, based on the latest LWD technology, as well as lessons learned, pitfalls to avoid, and best practices and challenges in using these systems. Field examples are included to demonstrate the application of this technology for well placement.