Employing a target risk attribute predictor while drilling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10280732-B2
Application number	US-201415313502-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 21, 2014
Priority date	Jun 9, 2014
Publication date	May 7, 2019
Grant date	May 7, 2019

Abstract

A method including obtaining input attribute values and a target risk attribute value associated with a first borehole segment. The method also includes training a prediction model for the target risk attribute using the input attribute values and the target risk attribute value. The method also includes acquiring subsequent input attribute values. The method also includes using the trained prediction model and the subsequent input attribute values to predict a target risk attribute value for a second borehole segment. The method also includes storing or displaying information based on the predicted target risk attribute value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for preventing damage to a downhole borehole assembly (BHA) portion of a drilling system being used to drill a second borehole segment after a first borehole segment has been drilled that comprises:
obtaining input attribute values and a target risk attribute value associated with a first borehole segment, wherein:
the input attribute values are data from sensors in a drilling system used to drill the first borehole segment,
the input attribute values are correlated with the target risk attribute value, and
the target risk attribute value is a value of a downhole attribute that is correlated with an increased risk of downhole sensor degradation or failure;

training a prediction model for the target risk attribute using the input attribute values and the target risk attribute value by identifying correlations between the input attribute values and the target risk attributes and embodying the correlations in the prediction model that extrapolates from new input attribute values to predict target risk attribute values;
acquiring subsequent input attribute values from the drilling system being used to drill the second borehole segment;
using the trained prediction model and the subsequent input attribute values to predict a target risk attribute value for a second borehole segment, wherein:
the predicted target risk attribute value is a value of a downhole attribute that is correlated with an increased risk of degradation or failure of a sensor in the BHA being used to drill the second borehole segment; and

determining based on the predicted target risk attribute value that the sensor in the BHA being used to drill the second borehole segment is at risk of degradation or failure and removing the BHA from the borehole and evaluating the sensor in the BHA for degradation or failure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target risk attribute corresponds to temperature variation.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input attribute comprises a drilling fluid temperature at earth's surface.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input attribute comprises a downhole drilling fluid temperature.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input attribute comprises a standpipe pressure or drilling fluid flow rate.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input attribute comprises measured formation parameters.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input attribute comprises a drilling friction estimate calculated as a function of one or more drilling parameters selected from the list consisting of weight-on-bit, torque, rotation speed, and rate of penetration.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising comparing the predicted target risk attribute value to a predetermined threshold, and displaying a sensor risk warning based on the comparison.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising comparing the predicted target risk attribute value to a predetermined threshold, and displaying a drilling risk warning based on the comparison.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a drilling direction based on the predicted target risk attribute value.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a drilling operational parameter based on the predicted target risk attribute value.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first borehole segment corresponds to a different borehole, and wherein the second borehole segment corresponds to a current borehole segment or ahead-of-bit segment of a borehole being drilled.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first borehole segment corresponds a previous borehole segment of a borehole being drilled and the second borehole segment corresponds to a current borehole segment or ahead-of-bit segment of the borehole being drilled.

14. A system that comprises:
at least one processor;
a memory in communication with the at least one processor processing and storing instructions that, when executed, causes the at least one processor to:
obtain input attribute values and a target risk attribute value associated with a first borehole segment, wherein:
the input attribute values are data from sensors in a drilling system used to drill the first borehole segment,
the input attribute values are correlated with the target risk attribute value, and
the target risk attribute value is a value of a downhole attribute that is correlated with an increased risk of downhole sensor degradation or failure;

train a prediction model for the target risk attribute using the first set of input attributes and the target risk attribute value by identifying correlations between the input attribute values and the target risk attributes and embodying the correlations in the prediction model that extrapolates from new input attribute values to predict target risk attribute values;
acquire subsequent input attribute values from a drilling system being used to drill a second borehole segment;
use the trained prediction model and the subsequent input attribute values to predict a target risk attribute value for a second borehole segment, wherein:
the predicted target risk attribute value is a value of a downhole attribute that is correlated with an increased risk of degradation or failure of a sensor in the BHA being used to drill the second borehole segment; and

determine based on the predicted target risk attribute value that the sensor in the BHA being used to drill the second borehole segment is at risk of degradation or failure and cause the BHA to be removed from the borehole and cause the sensor in the BHA to be evaluated for degradation or failure.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the target risk attribute is temperature variation.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the input attribute comprises a measurable parameter sensed by at least one sensor associated with a borehole being drilled.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to identify when a predicted downhole target attribute value exceeds a predetermined threshold and to display a related message on a monitor.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor outputs a control signal to adjust a drilling direction or drilling parameter based on the predicted target risk attribute value.

19. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a bottom-hole assembly (BHA) with a drill bit and at least one BHA sensor, wherein the at least one BHA sensor obtains at least some of the subsequent input attribute values while a borehole is being drilled by the drill bit.

20. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a bottom-hole assembly (BHA) with a drill bit and at least one BHA sensor, wherein the at least one BHA sensor obtains the target risk attribute value while a borehole is being drilled by the drill bit.

Assignees

• Landmark Graphics Corp

Inventors

• Dursun Serkan
• Samuel Robello
• Aniket

Classifications

• E21B7/04

  Directional drilling · CPC title

• E21B44/06 Primary

  in response to the flow or pressure of the motive fluid of the drive · CPC title

• E21B45/00

  Measuring the drilling time or rate of penetration · 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

• E21B49/003

  by analysing drilling variables or conditions (E21B49/005 takes precedence; systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions E21B44/00) · CPC title