Baker Hughes announced the commercial release of its VisiTrak geospatial navigation and analysis LWD service. This LWD service combines advanced pre-well modeling, deep-reading LWD sensors, proprietary visualization software and precise reservoir navigation to improve efficiency in well construction and facilitate optimal well placement for increased hydrocarbon recovery.
The VisiTrak LWD service simplifies pre-well planning and logistics with interpretation capabilities for complex geological scenarios, facilitating accurate pre-well models and well designs without the need to drill costly pilot holes. While drilling, extended-depth LWD readings determine the distance to, and angle of, adjacent bed boundaries to visualize complex reservoir architecture in real time, up to 100 ft from the wellbore in every direction. In comparison, conventional LWD tools are typically limited to less than 20 ft. The combination of early detection and advanced visualization allows operators to precisely and efficiently navigate to and through the reservoir’s most productive zones to improve ultimate recovery.
“Most of today’s wellbore placement strategies rely on surface and downhole seismic measurements, and drilling time-consuming pilot holes to confirm the top and base depth of the reservoir,” said Tom Thissen, President, Drilling Services at Baker Hughes. “Because the VisiTrak LWD service can identify multiple bed boundaries at up to five times the distance of conventional services in real time, operators can make faster drilling decisions to navigate to the most productive zones, while eliminating unnecessary rig time.”
Baker Hughes recently deployed the VisiTrak LWD service offshore Brazil while drilling a 3,340 ft horizontal section through a series of poorly identified sand channels. Using the VisiTrak LWD service, the wellbore was placed accurately in and navigated through the single productive sand channel. The well exposed a total net sand length of 2,838 ft, equating to a 75% net-to-gross ratio of landed payzone.
The VisiTrak geospatial navigation and analysis LWD service is the latest example of Baker Hughes’ strategy to improve well efficiency, optimize production and increase ultimate recovery.