Systems and methods of forming subsurface wellbores

• US 9,129,728 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Edbury, David Alston, MacDonald, Duncan Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): KRECK, JOHN J
• Application Number:
  US12/576,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20100108379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,160 Days
• Field of Search: 175/24, 175/27
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/24 using heat, e.g. steam injection
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2401 by means of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2405 in association with fracturing or crevice forming processes E21B43/247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/02 Automatic control of the tool feed E21B44/005, E21B44/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 3/00 Non-adjustable metal resistors made of wire or ribbon, e.g. coiled, woven or formed as grids
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2214/03 Heating of hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/48 heating conductor embedded in insulating material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49083 Heater type

Abstract

A system for forming a subsurface wellbore includes a rack and pinion system including a chuck drive system. The chuck drive system operates a drilling string. An automatic position control system includes at least one measurement sensor coupled to the rack and pinion system. The automatic position control system controls the rack and pinion system to determine a position of the drilling string.

Claims

1. A system for forming a subsurface wellbore, comprising:

at least one existing tubular coupled to a drill bit in the subsurface wellbore;

a rack and pinion system comprising a chuck drive system;

a second tubular coupled to the chuck drive system and configured to be coupled to the at least one existing tubular; and

an automatic position control system comprising at least one measurement sensor attached to the rack and pinion system, wherein the automatic position control system is configured to continuously assess relative rotation of the second tubular and the at least one existing tubular while drilling and control a position of the second tubular using the rack and pinion system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the chuck drive system holds the at least one existing tubular.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one existing tubular comprises one or more heaters.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one measurement sensor comprises one or more magnetic ranging sensors.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one measurement sensor comprises one or more non-rotating sensors.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the automatic position control system is configured to be continuously or semi-continuously calibrated during drilling.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the automatic position control system comprises one or more rotary steerable systems, wherein at least one of the rotary steerable systems is configured to provide continuous rotation of the at least one existing tubular during use.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the automatic position control system comprises one or more dual motor rotary steerable systems, wherein at least one of the dual motor rotary steerable systems is configured to provide continuous rotation of the at least one existing tubular during use.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one measurement sensor comprises one or more canted accelerometers.

10. A method for forming a subsurface wellbore, comprising:

forming a wellbore in a subsurface formation using a drill bit coupled to at least one existing tubular in the subsurface wellbore;

continuously receiving, while drilling, position data about a second tubular from at least one measurement sensor attached to a rack and pinion system and coupled to an automatic position control system, wherein the position data comprises relative rotation of the second tubular and at least one existing tubular; and

controlling a direction of the second tubular in the subsurface formation using the rack and pinion system coupled to the second tubular based on the position data from the measurement sensor.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the measurement sensor comprises one or more canted accelerometers.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the position data is obtainable in the presence of magnetic interference sources.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the measurement sensor comprises one or more magnetic ranging sensors.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the measurement sensor comprises one or more non-rotating sensors.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising continuously rotating the drill bit while controlling the direction of the at least one existing tubular.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving position data about the at least one existing tubular from the at least one measurement sensor further comprises assessing the relative rotation of the second tubular as added to the at least one existing tubular.