Automatic triggering and conducting of sweeps

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10100614-B2
Application number	US-201615135833-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2016
Priority date	Apr 22, 2016
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

Methods and systems for automatically performing a sweep operation in a borehole penetrating an earth formation including conveying a drillstring through a borehole, the drillstring having one or more sensors located thereon, determining that a sweep operation should be performed based on information obtained from the one or more sensors, determining characteristics of a pill to be used for a sweep operation based on information obtained from the one or more sensors, preparing a pill in accordance with the determined characteristics, deploying the pill into the drillstring and conveying the pill through the drillstring, and monitoring the sweep operation while the pill is within the drillstring and verifying the sweep operation. At least one of the determination that a sweep operation should be performed, the determination of the pill characteristics, or the preparation of the pill is performed automatically.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for automatically performing a sweep operation in a borehole penetrating an earth formation, the method comprising:
conveying a drillstring through a borehole, the drillstring having one or more sensors located thereon;
determining that the sweep operation should be performed based on information obtained from the one or more sensors;
determining characteristics of a pill to be used for the sweep operation based on information obtained from the one or more sensors;
preparing a pill in accordance with the determined characteristics;
deploying the pill into the drillstring and conveying the pill into the drillstring, while performing the sweep operation; and
monitoring the sweep operation while the pill is within the drillstring and verifying the sweep operation,
wherein the determination that the sweep operation should be performed, the determination of the pill characteristics, and the preparation of the pill are performed automatically without direct human control.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the characteristics of the pill include at least one of a viscosity, a density, or a size of the pill.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining when the sweep operation can be performed based on information from at least one of (i) the one or more sensors, (ii) a comparison of measurements from the sensors with models, or (iii) a model.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling at least one of pump rates, revolutions per minute, axial movement of the drillstring, drilling dysfunctions, or annular backpressure when the pill is deployed into the drillstring.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the position of the pill within the drillstring with the one or more sensors.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising adjusting at least one of at least one of pump rates, revolutions per minute, axial movement of the drillstring, drilling dysfunctions, annular backpressure, or drilling fluid flow path based on the position of the pill, the adjustment configured to at least one of keep within a given ECD pressure window, maintain a minimum hole cleaning effectiveness, or prevent damage to or non-function of downhole tools.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a notification when it is determined that the sweep operation should be performed.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of pulling out of hole, reaming, modifying drilling mud, restricting drilling parameters, preparing and deploying another pill, or change shaker screens based on the verification of the sweep operation.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising conveying the pill through the borehole and monitoring the sweep operation while the pill is within the borehole.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein deploying the pill into the drill string comprises deploying the pill at a stationary position within one of the drillstring or the borehole.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising automatically triggering surface or near surface decisions for action, including at least one of timing of shaker screen change-out, choice of shaker screen mesh, turning on or off a booster pump, and connect to mud disposal logistics.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein verification comprises using at least one sensor to monitor a downhole pressure, temperature, torque, or cuttings volume change to verify the sweep operation.

13. A system for automatically performing a sweep operation in a borehole penetrating an earth formation, the system comprising:
a drillstring configured to be conveyed through a borehole;
at least one sensor located on the drillstring configured to monitor a characteristic of a fluid within the drillstring; and
a processor configured to perform the sweep operation, the system configured to:
determine that the sweep operation should be performed based on information obtained from the one or more sensors;
determine characteristics of a pill to be used for the sweep operation based on information obtained from the one or more sensors;
prepare a pill in accordance with the determined characteristics;
deploy the pill into the drillstring and conveying the pill into the drillstring, while performing the sweep operation; and
monitor the sweep operation while the pill is within the drillstring and verifying the sweep operation,

wherein the determination that the sweep operation should be performed, the determination of the pill characteristics, and the preparation of the pill are performed automatically without direct human control.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the characteristics of the pill include at least one of a viscosity, a density, or a size of the pill.

15. The system of claim 13 , the processor further configured to determine when the sweep operation can be performed based on information from the one or more sensors.

16. The system of claim 13 , the processor further configured to control at least one of pump rates, revolutions per minute, axial movement of the drillstring, drilling dysfunctions, or annular back pressure when the pill is deployed into the drillstring.

17. The system of claim 13 , the processor further configured to monitor the position of the pill within the drillstring with the one or more sensors.

18. The system of claim 13 , the processor further configured to provide a notification when it is determined that the sweep operation should be performed.

19. The system of claim 13 , the processor further configured to convey the pill through the borehole and monitor the sweep operation while the pill is within the borehole.

20. The system of claim 13 , the processor further configured to deploy the pill at a stationary position within one of the drillstring or the borehole.

Assignees

• Forstner Ingo
• Macpherson John D
• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• Forstner Ingo
• Macpherson John D

Classifications

• E21B37/00 Primary

  Methods or apparatus for cleaning boreholes or wells (E21B21/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B47/06

  Measuring temperature or pressure · CPC title

• E21B21/14

  using liquids and gases, e.g. foams · CPC title

• E21B21/08

  Controlling or monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid, e.g. automatic filling of boreholes, automatic control of bottom pressure (valve arrangements therefor E21B21/10) · CPC title