DeadAhead™ is the most technologically capable and economically superior solution for wellbore intercept. DeadAhead™ is a combination of Ranging-While-Drilling technology, enabled by 10X higher generated ranging signals—which enables applications not achievable with legacy wireline ranging technology, and Gyro-While-Drilling, which enables accurate surveys amid strong magnetic field disturbances when in proximity to the target well tubulars.
DeadAhead™ enables active magnetic ranging measurements to be made without retrieving the drilling BHA out of the hole.
DeadAhead™ eliminates non-productive time from roundtripping the drilling and wireline BHAs for measurements, while also mitigates wellbore stability issues, well control risks, and HSE concerns.
This technology integrates Active Magnetic Ranging (AMR) with Magnetostatic Measurements and Gyro-While-Drilling (GWD), delivering precise and reliable information for relative wellbore placement—all achievable while drilling ahead. By using wired drill pipe, DeadAhead™ induces electric current in target well tubulars, detects magnetic field disturbances, and provides real-time data without BHA trips, enhancing safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in challenging environments.
Applications
Benefits
Uses
Applications
- Relief well drilling in well control incidents, enabling precise location and interception of target wells.
- Plug and Abandonment (P&A) via intercept for CCS projects, restoring cap rock integrity in depleted oil and gas fields.
- Wellbore interception for remediating legacy wells with compromised access, such as casings cut below the seafloor or obstructed by damage, fish, or cement plugs.
- Operations in high-resistivity formations, salt layers, or oil-based mud environments where legacy wireline tools are ineffective.
Benefits
- Eliminates wireline runs, reducing tripping time, wellbore stability risks, well control issues, and HSE exposures.
- Provides 10X higher electrical current injection, resulting in stronger signals, increased detection range, and improved accuracy.
- Enables deeper re-entries without dedicated BHA trips, significantly lowering operational time and costs compared to conventional methods.
- Maintains full well control and circulation during operations, minimizing personnel exposure and enhancing safety.
- Delivers high-density, real-time ranging and survey data for confident trajectory adjustments and successful intercepts.
Uses
- Complex plug and abandonment
- Relief Well
- Carbon Capture, Use and Sequestration (CCUS)
- Collision avoidance
- Open hole re-entry below a fish
- Complex completions