Ranging technologies are solutions that enable to detect nearby offset wellbores for the purpose of collision avoidance, twinning, and/or intersecting.

However, every project is specific and may require the need for a different technology, or a combination of multiple ranging technologies available in the industry, amongst which:

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1. Magnetic Ranging: uses a source in the offset well, such as a solenoid, that generates an induced field which is analysed to determine a distance and direction to the target. The solenoid could also be placed in the drilling well, with the sensors in the target well.
2. Passive Magnetic Ranging: uses existing MWD or magnetometers sensors to measure the magnetic signature of the remnant magnetic field on the target well to determine distance and direction to the target.
3. Active Magnetic Ranging: generates its own alternating magnetic field on the target well which is distinct from both the earth’s and target pipe magnetic field. The induced field is analysed to determine a distance and direction to the target.
4. Acoustic Ranging: this technology relies on analysing sound waves traveling through the formation from a transmitter being measured at the receivers. The sound waves traveling through the formation are reflected by the target well and then bounce back to the receivers. The sound waves are analysed to determine a distance and direction to the target.
5. Active Resistivity Ranging: This technology uses directional second order propagation measurements from deep directional resistivity tools to detect and estimate the position and direction of conductive objects.

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Passive Magnetic Ranging in real-time is mainly used as a prevention and mitigation action in case of risks of collision, or when drilling in close vicinity to offset wells. Our ranging experts will monitor and analyse 24/7 in real-time the magnetic field and regularly inform the operator and the directional driller in case of the presence of offset wells nearby and if these are closing to us or diverging.

PCTrack® ranging is the main mitigation actions that can be put in place in case standard company collision avoidance rule is broken, i.e having a separation factor lower than 1.5. PCTrack® Passive Magnetic Ranging technology reduces risk of collision and enables the drilling to resume.

Well intercepts are becoming a more common technology in the oil and gas industry. This may be required when drilling a relief well or when a well needs to be Plug & Abandon but access to the well has been compromised due to casing corrosion or has collapsed. Intercept can also be required for deep geothermal project, river crossing or even re-entering an open-hole under an abandoned fish.

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Improved wellbore survey accuracy combined with ranging technology is the key to intercept after being well aligned to guarantee the success of the operations.

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PCTrack® solution can be used, alone or combined with other ranging techniques to align the drilling well with the nearby well to properly intercept it prior to perforating or milling.

In salt or resistive formations, the use of active ranging techniques is very challenging as the electrical current struggles to propagate. Thus, PCTrack® solution becomes the ranging technique solution !