Real-time advanced survey corrections reduces well time
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Maintain well plan trajectory with real-time advanced survey corrections and LWD
Athabasca Oil Sands, Canada
A SAGD operator challenged Halliburton Sperry Drilling to maintain well plan trajectory during whipstock re-entry drill out. After drilling approximately 50m outside of whipstock re-entry well, increased solar activity caused background magnetics to become unstable, resulting in total field shifts of over 400nT.
Halliburton Sperry Drilling survey solutions was applying Interpolated In Field Referencing (IFR2) services via its Fort McMurray, Alberta observatory. Solar activity was corrected with IFR2, preventing suspect surveys that otherwise would fail quality control and raise concern being so close to the whipstock / sidetrack wellbore.
The MaxSurvey® software, with a direct link to the observatory data and its proprietary correction algorithms, was able to identify and quantify this shift in the geomagnetic reference field. Instead of waiting for the solar storm to pass, or drill and risk collision with the paired wellbore, the operator confidentially drilled ahead.
By utilizing real-time advanced survey corrections, Halliburton Sperry Drilling helped reduce well time, maximizing asset value for the operator.
MaxSurvey® is a unique software platform that identifies and applies corrections to errors and biases that are internal and external to directional survey tools. When applied, the corrections reduce wellbore positional uncertainty and improves wellbore placement while drilling.