Revolutionizing Wellbore Intersections: Advancements in Coiled Tubing Ranging While Drilling Technology for Access-Independent Wellbore Intersects

Wellbore intersections are typically achieved using a conventional rotary drilling rig and wireline deployed magnetic ranging tools. Separate trips are made for each system in order to intersect a target wellbore. While this approach is often successful, it is time-consuming, resulting in more time spent on tripping than drilling. The extended trip times and the potential for well control vulnerabilities are issues that require attention. This paper introduces a novel solution to address these concerns. The primary objective is to expedite wellbore intersections while improving process safety. The field-tested solution presented here involves the implementation of a coiled tubing ranging while drilling system, integrating electric current injection and sensor assembly into a single BHA with a live data connection to the surface. By eliminating separate wireline runs and reducing jointed pipe trip times, operations are significantly accelerated while dramatically improving key performance metrics. A high density of ranging data sets, averaging 3,800 samples per minute, was maintained during drilling. This method offers an efficient and safe alternative by combining multiple independent services at the wellsite into an end-to-end solution. Furthermore, the technology provides additional safety barriers that are not feasible with conventional methods. The commercial demonstration results describe the successful deployment of the novel system, potentially yielding up to five-fold efficiency improvement compared to legacy techniques widely accepted in the industry. This new approach enables a significant advancement in wellbore intercept techniques, paving the way for enhanced operational efficiency, safety, and success in challenging wellbore environments.