Automated reservoir navigation

Abstract

Examples described herein provide a computer-implemented method for automated reservoir navigation that includes receiving a reference indicative of a reservoir architecture. The method further includes determining a discrepancy between a well plan and the reference. The method further includes evaluating the discrepancy relative to a discrepancy threshold. The method further includes, responsive to determining that the discrepancy fails to satisfy the discrepancy threshold, causing a bottom hole assembly to navigate based at least in part on the discrepancy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for automated reservoir navigation, the method comprising:
 receiving a reference indicative of a reservoir architecture;   determining a first distance between a well path and the reference and a second distance between the well path and the reference;   determining a discrepancy based on the first distance and the second distance; and   causing a bottom hole assembly to navigate based at least in part on the discrepancy.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the discrepancy is indicative of at least one of an offset between the well path and the reference, a relative dip between the well path and the reference, or a drainage area between the well path and the reference. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the well path is based on extrapolated points. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reference is based at least in part on at least one of data selected from the group consisting of lithology data, acoustic data, rheological data, electromagnetic data, and resistivity data. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the offset is determined relative to a measurement point of the bottom hole assembly, at a drill bit of the bottom hole assembly, or a defined distance ahead of the drill bit. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein determining the offset relative to the defined distance ahead of the drill bit is based at least in part on an extrapolation technique. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the relative dip is determined from an orientation, a direction, or a slope of the well path and the reference over an interval of the well path. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drainage area is determined by summing a plurality of drainage area portions over an interval of the well path wherein the drainage portions are calculated by multiplying a distance between the well path and the reference with a distance along the well path. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the interval is set based on how undulating or constant the reference is. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing an interface, wherein the interface presents the offset, the relative dip, and the drainage area and a control mechanism to enable controlling the bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         11 . A system for automated reservoir navigation, the system comprising:
 a bottom hole assembly disposed in a wellbore; and   a processing system for executing computer readable instructions, the computer readable instructions controlling the processing system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a reference indicative of a reservoir architecture; 
 determining at least one of a relative dip between the well path and the reference and a drainage area between the well path and the reference; and 
 causing the bottom hole assembly to navigate based at least in part on at least one of the relative dip, or the drainage area. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the well path is based on extrapolated points. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the reference is based at least in part on at least one of data selected from the group consisting of lithology data, acoustic data, rheological data, and resistivity data. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the offset is determined relative to a measurement point of the bottom hole assembly, at a drill bit of the bottom hole assembly, or a defined distance ahead of the drill bit. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein determining the offset relative to the defined distance ahead of the drill bit is based at least in part on an extrapolation technique. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the relative dip is determined from an orientation, a direction, or a slope of the well path and the reference over an interval. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the drainage area is determined by summing a plurality of drainage area portions over an interval of the well path wherein the drainage portions are calculated by multiplying a distance between the well path and the reference with a distance along the well path. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the interval is set based on how undulating or constant the reference is. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise providing an interface, wherein the interface presents at least one of the relative dip, and the drainage area and a control mechanism to enable controlling the bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processing system comprises a controller that controls the relative dip or the drainage area.