Computing Optimum Wellbore Paths - 2D Cross Section Outpu

RockWorks | Borehole Manager | Striplogs | Compute Horizontal Borehole Path | Plot 2D Well Path

This program is used to compute the optimum path for a wellbore, given a starting XYZ point, an ending XY location, upper and lower payzone grid models, and borehole curvature, smoothing, and depth increment settings.

Once the optimum path is computed, the program will create a 2-dimensional cross section diagram, parallel to the well bearing, showing the well axis and payzone thickness.

! Assumptions:

• The wellbore starts out vertically.
• True depth within the XYZ report is relative to the initial point – not the ground surface.
• There are no null nodes within the grids along the course of the wellbore.
• The grid models (RwGrd files) for the top and base of the payzone already exist in the project. These can be imported, or created in RockWorks using its stratigraphy modeling or other grid-based tools.

A video that demonstrates these capabilities can be viewed at: http://youtu.be/gLRuNCKhkUc

See also:

• XYZ Points to get a list of the downhole points, true depths, and formation thickness, along with the survey values
• Downhole Survey to get a list of the depth/bearing/inclination survey values
• Plot 3D Path to display the intercept points, boring path, and payzone thickness in 3D

Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary

Menu Options

• Initial Point: Use these settings to define the location of the start of the wellbore. These must match the coordinate system and units currently established for the other holes in the borehole database.
  • X (Easting): Click to the right to type in the X coordinate for the top of the well.
    
  • Y (Northing): Click to the right to type in the Y-coordinate for the top of the well.
  • Z (Elevation): Click to the right to type in the Z (elevation) coordinate for the top of the hole.
    
    
• Final (TD) Point: Use these settings to define the map location for the end of the wellbore. Note that the final elevation will be determined by the payzone grid models and borehole properties defined below.
  • X (Easting): Click to the right to type in the X coordinate for the end of the well.
    
  • Y (Northing): Click to the right to type in the Y-coordinate for the end of the well.
     
• Borehole Properties:  Use these settings to define the angularity of the hole.
  • Radius of Curvature: Click to the right to type in the radius of the circle that will best fit the optimal well path. The greater the value you enter, the larger the circle, and the more gradual the well curve to horizontal. Some examples are shown below.

• • Depth Increment: Click to the right to type in the depth or distance increment at which the path is to be computed. The smaller the increment, the smoother the path.
  • Smoothing Factor: Click to the right to type in the number of smoothing passes to run on the path.
    
    
• Pay-Zone: Use these settings to define the top and base surfaces for the formation of interest, into which the wellbore will be projected.
• • Superface (Top) Grid Model: Click to the right to browse for the name of the existing grid model (.RwGrd file) that represents the surface at the top of the formation of interest. This could be a surface generated using the Stratigraphy modeling tools in RockWorks, or a grid that you've imported from another source.
  • Subface (Base) Grid Model: Click to the right to browse for name of the existing grid model that represents the surface at the base of the formation of interest.
    
    
• Diagram Options:
  • Border: Expand this heading to access the Border Options for the diagram. You may need to modify the axis titles from the generic map labels ("Easting" and "Northing") to "Distance" for the horizontal axis and "Elevation" for the vertical.
     
    

Step-by-Step Summary

1. Access the Borehole Manager program tab.
2. Select the StripLogs | Compute Horizontal Borehole Path | Plot 2D Well Path menu command. 
3. Enter the requested menu options, described above.
4. Click the Process button at the bottom of the window to continue.

   The program will compute the optimum borehole path between the starting and ending point within the specified payzone surfaces, given the borehole parameters and depth increment you specified.
   
   The resulting wellbore will be displayed in a 2D cross section diagram, illustrating the well path and the payzone thickness. The thickness polygons will be plotted at the Depth Increment you declared above. The completed diagram will be displayed in a RockPlot2D tab in the Options window.

5. You can adjust any of the options in the pane to the left and then click the Process button again to regenerate the cross section.

   ! Each time you click the Process button, the existing display will be replaced.  
   ! Tip: You can undock the plot window using the button.
   ! Tip: Use the Stretch button in RockPlot2D to fill the window with the section.  This is helpful if the section is long and shallow.

6. View / save / manipulate / print / export the section diagram in the RockPlot2D window.

Back to StripLogs Menu Summary

RockWare home page