Abstract: A drilling system may include a steering tool configured to engage a wellbore wall to direct an orientation of a toolface, the steering tool being rotatable about a rotational axis. A drilling system may include an azimuth sensor package, the azimuth sensor package including at least one of a multi-axis gyroscopic azimuth sensor rotatable about the rotational axis of the steering tool, a multi-axis magnetic azimuth sensor rotatable about the rotational axis of the steering tool, or an accelerometer azimuth sensor rotatable about the rotational axis of the steering tool.

Abstract: Wellbore operations include rotating a drill string in a wellbore. The drill string includes a rotary steerable system having at least three pads configured to contact the wellbore wall to steer a direction of drilling. These are simultaneously actuated while rotating the drill string to mitigate stick slip, harmonic stick slip, or backward whirl oscillations.

Abstract: Wellbore operations include rotating a drill string in a wellbore. The drill string includes a rotary steerable system having at least three pads configured to contact the wellbore wall to steer a direction of drilling. The pads are simultaneously actuated while rotating the drill string to mitigate high frequency torsional oscillations.

Abstract: Methods are provided that detect and locate multiple target wells that extend through a subterranean formation in a region surrounding a new well being drilled. The methods deploy a downhole tool in the new well while drilling the new well and configuring the downhole tool to acquire ultradeep azimuthal resistivity measurements while drilling the new well. The ultradeep azimuthal resistivity measurements are processed to detect and locate multiple target wells that extend through the subterranean formation in the region surrounding the new well.

Abstract: A method for drilling a subterranean wellbore includes rotating a bottom hole assembly (BHA) in the subterranean wellbore to drill the wellbore, the BHA including a drill collar, a drill bit, and a triaxial accelerometer set and a triaxial magnetometer set in or coupled to the drill collar. The triaxial accelerometer set and the triaxial magnetometer set make a plurality of sets of synchronized accelerometer measurements and magnetometer measurements while drilling. These synchronized measurements are processed to compute an interference magnetic field which is in turn processed to compute at least one of a distance or a direction to a magnetic target located external to the wellbore.

Abstract: A closed well loop is provided for a geothermal system. The closed well loop includes at least one well having at least one lateral section the traverses a subterranean formation. Fluid flow in the at least one lateral section extracts thermal energy from the subterranean formation. The fluid flow in the at least one lateral section is driven by convection where hotter fluid convects upward along the top part of the lateral section and colder fluid convects downward along the bottom part of the lateral section.

Abstract: A drilling system may include a steering tool configured to engage a wellbore wall to direct an orientation of a toolface, the steering tool being rotatable about a rotational axis. A drilling system may include an azimuth sensor package, the azimuth sensor package including at least one of a multi-axis gyroscopic azimuth sensor rotatable about the rotational axis of the steering tool, a multi-axis magnetic azimuth sensor rotatable about the rotational axis of the steering tool, or an accelerometer azimuth sensor rotatable about the rotational axis of the steering tool.

Abstract: A method for drilling a subterranean wellbore includes rotating a bottom hole assembly (BHA) in the subterranean wellbore to drill the wellbore, the BHA including a drill collar, a drill bit, and a triaxial accelerometer set and a triaxial magnetometer set in or coupled to the drill collar. The triaxial accelerometer set and the triaxial magnetometer set make a plurality of sets of synchronized accelerometer measurements and magnetometer measurements while drilling. These synchronized measurements are processed to compute an interference magnetic field which is in turn processed to compute at least one of a distance or a direction to a magnetic target located external to the wellbore.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for drilling a secondary wellbore relative to a target wellbore, which involve drilling the secondary wellbore with a bottomhole assembly (BHA) that extends from a drill string. The BHA includes a magnetic field detector, a steering component, a drill bit, and at least one processor. The magnetic field detector is configured to detect a time- varying magnetic field generated from a rotating magnetic source of a drilling tool disposed in the target wellbore. The at least one processor is configured to i) use data output by the magnetic field detector to continually determine distance and direction or azimuth of the magnetic source relative to the BHA while drilling, and ii) use the distance and direction or azimuth of the magnetic source relative to the BHA while drilling to adjust the steering of the drilling performed by the BHA as controlled by the steering component of the BHA.

Abstract: A downhole communication device includes a downhole tool implemented in a wellbore. A magnetic component is connected to the downhole tool and configured to generate a polarized magnetic field. The downhole communication device includes a means for modulating the polarized magnetic field of the magnetic component to encode a bit sequence into the polarized magnetic field.

Abstract: Methods and related systems for drilling a subterranean wellbore includes rotating a bottomhole assembly (BHA) to drill the wellbore. The BHA includes a cutting tool and at least one sensor. The at least one sensor is configured to make measurements while drilling. These measurements are processed to compute a magnetic field profile, which is further processed to identify and characterize a signature or pattern in the magnetic field profile that is representative of a target well proximate to the wellbore being drilled. At least one of a distance or a direction to the target well can be computed based on characteristics of the signature or pattern in the magnetic field profile. The computed distance or direction to the target well can be used to control the direction of drilling of the wellbore.

Abstract: A method of quantifying tortuosity of a wellbore includes receiving survey data for the wellbore indicating an azimuth and an inclination for the wellbore at one or more measurement depths of the wellbore. The method further includes receiving wellbore diameter data for the wellbore indicating the diameter of the wellbore at one or more measurement depths of the wellbore. The method further includes, based on the survey data and the wellbore data and for each measurement depth, selecting a reference diameter and determining a tortuosity length corresponding to a maximum length that a straight tubular having the reference diameter can extend from the measurement depth and down through the wellbore without bending.

Abstract: A closed well loop is provided for a geothermal system. The closed well loop includes at least one well having at least one lateral section the traverses a subterranean formation. Fluid flow in the at least one lateral section extracts thermal energy from the subterranean formation. The fluid flow in the at least one lateral section is driven by convection where hotter fluid convects upward along the top part of the lateral section and colder fluid convects downward along the bottom part of the lateral section.

Abstract: A method for drilling a subterranean wellbore includes rotating a drill string in the subterranean wellbore. The drill string includes a drill collar, a drill bit, and survey sensors (e.g., a triaxial accelerometer set and a triaxial magnetometer set) deployed therein. The triaxial accelerometer set and the triaxial magnetometer set make corresponding accelerometer and magnetometer measurements while drilling (rotating). These measurements are synchronized to obtain synchronized accelerometer and magnetometer measurements and then further processed to compute at least an inclination and an azimuth of the subterranean wellbore while drilling. The method may further optionally include changing a direction of drilling the subterranean wellbore in response to the computed inclination and azimuth.

Abstract: A method for drilling a subterranean wellbore includes rotating a drill string in the subterranean wellbore. The drill string includes a drill collar, a drill bit, and survey sensors (e.g., a triaxial accelerometer set and a triaxial magnetometer set) deployed therein. The triaxial accelerometer set and the triaxial magnetometer set make corresponding accelerometer and magnetometer measurements while drilling (rotating). These measurements are synchronized to obtain synchronized accelerometer and magnetometer measurements and then further processed to compute at least an inclination and an azimuth of the subterranean wellbore while drilling. The method may further optionally include changing a direction of drilling the subterranean wellbore in response to the computed inclination and azimuth.

Abstract: A method for automatically evaluating a survey of a subterranean wellbore includes receiving downhole navigation sensor measurements and automatically evaluating surface sensor data obtained at substantially the same time as the navigation sensor measurements to determine whether or not the navigation sensor measurements were obtained during satisfactory wellbore survey conditions. The navigation sensor measurements are evaluated to determine whether or not they meet certain predetermined conditions necessary for obtaining a satisfactory survey. A survey recommendation is automatically generating based on the automatic evaluations performed.

Abstract: A collision avoidance system including a plurality of inclinometers in offset wellbores and a processing unit for receiving a vibration signal from the inclinometers and determining a distance between the offset wellbore and a central wellbore based on the vibration signal. Also, a method of avoiding wellbore collisions by determining relative movement of a drill bit within a central wellbore including the steps of determining an original distance between the central wellbore and an offset wellbore, drilling in the central wellbore so that the drill bit moves a known distance with respect to the offset wellbore, capturing vibration readings during the drilling step, characterizing movement of the drill bit based on the drilling step, and calculating drill bit movement during drilling with respect to the offset wellbore based upon the characterizing step.

Abstract: A collision avoidance system including a plurality of inclinometers in offset wellbores and a processing unit for receiving a vibration signal from the inclinometers and determining a distance between the offset wellbore and a central wellbore based on the vibration signal. Also, a method of avoiding wellbore collisions by determining relative movement of a drill bit within a central wellbore including the steps of determining an original distance between the central wellbore and an offset wellbore, drilling in the central wellbore so that the drill bit moves a known distance with respect to the offset wellbore, capturing vibration readings during the drilling step, characterizing movement of the drill bit based on the drilling step, and calculating drill bit movement during drilling with respect to the offset wellbore based upon the characterizing step.