The challenge
- →Connect long horizontal wells to an existing cased vertical well at a closed-loop geothermal project.
- →16" vertical target casing and 4.75" horizontal hole, extreme extended-reach geometry, approaching ~29,500 ft (≈5.6 miles) per well.
- →Conventional wireline ranging is far too slow for a multi-well commercial program at this reach.
Our solution
A custom-built rotary-magnet ranging system, engineered in-house around Gunnar's Torped™ rotating-magnet method specifically for this extended-reach intercept, run on a coiled-tubing while-drilling unit with a motorized BHA. A near-bit magnet sub in the drilling well pairs with a ranging sensor in the cased vertical target; high-density surveys stream to surface in real time via wired coiled tubing.
World record: >11 miles (>17.7 km) of combined continuous wellbore, intercepted at TD · >80% faster than conventional wireline ranging
The result
11+ miles
world-record combined wellbore, two ~29,500 ft wells intercepted at TD
- ·World record: two ~29,500 ft (≈5.6-mile) wells intercepted at total depth, >11 miles of combined continuous wellbore
- ·Custom rotary-magnet ranging tool, purpose-built around the Torped™ method for the extended-reach geometry
- ·Ranging / intersection time reduced >80% vs. conventional wireline
- ·Downhole camera confirmed the completed junction, no downhole tool failures
Ranging
Custom rotating magnet (Torped™-class)
Deployment
Coiled tubing While Drilling
Re-entry
Yes
Location
Bavaria, Germany
Year
2024 – ongoing