Apparatus and methods for automated slide drilling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10584574-B2
Application number	US-201816101161-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2018
Priority date	Aug 10, 2017
Publication date	Mar 10, 2020
Grant date	Mar 10, 2020

Abstract

An automated slide drilling system (ASDS) may be used with a drilling rig system to control slide drilling. The ASDS may autonomously control slide drilling without user input during the slide drilling. The ASDS may further support a transition from rotary drilling to slide drilling to rotary drilling without user input during the transitions. The ASDS may also support user input and user notifications for various steps to enable manual or semi-manual control of slide drilling by a driller or an operator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drilling rig system, comprising:
a drilling rig further comprising at least one control system;
a drill string coupled to the drilling rig;
a drill bit coupled to a first end of the drill string; and
a computer system in communication with and operable to control the at least one control system of the drilling rig, wherein the computer system further comprises a processor, a memory, and instructions stored in the memory that are capable of execution by the processor, wherein the computer system is adapted to receive at least one input during operation of the drilling rig and the instructions are adapted to perform the following operations:
(i) determine that the drilling rig is to enter a slide drilling mode to perform a slide drilling operation of a wellbore;
(ii) begin the slide drilling operation either from a rotary drilling mode or after a connection of a pipe to the drill string has been made;
(iii) establish a torque value in the drill string;
(iv) engage a bottom of the wellbore with the drill bit;
(v) determine a target tool face for the slide drilling operation;
(vi) maintain the target tool face within predetermined limits during the slide drilling operation, further comprising adjusting angular displacement of a top drive by an amount determined to offset a change in a rate of penetration, and further comprising modifying at least one of weight on bit and differential pressure after a predetermined time interval has elapsed after the change in angular displacement occurs;
(vii) control the slide drilling mode until the computer system determines that the slide drilling operation is complete;
(viii) resume rotary drilling mode or prepare for a survey at an upcoming end of a current drill pipe stand; and
(ix) set at least one parameter associated with at least one of: an equipment parameter, a drilling parameter, and a formation parameter.

2. The drilling rig system according to claim 1 , wherein the computer system is adapted to perform any one or more of the operations (i)-(ix) after first obtaining a user input to proceed.

3. The drilling rig system according to claim 1 , wherein the computer system is adapted to perform any one or more of the operations (i)-(ix) after first providing a display of the operation or operations to be performed.

4. The drilling rig system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one input comprises at least one of: input from a surface sensor, input from a downhole sensor, and a user input.

5. The drilling rig system according to claim 4 , wherein the user input is associated with at least one of: the equipment parameter, the drilling parameter, and the formation parameter.

6. The drilling rig system according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one equipment parameter comprises information relating to at least one of: a type of drill bit, and a type of bottom hole assembly.

7. The drilling rig system according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one drilling parameter comprises at least one of: weight on bit, rate of penetration, motor torque, motor speed, and pressure differential.

8. The drilling rig system according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one formation parameter comprises at least one of: a formation hardness, a formation structure, inclination, a current wellbore zone, a measured depth, a vertical section, and a formation identity.

9. The drilling rig system according to claim 1 , wherein the instructions adapted to perform (iii) further comprise instructions for:
determining the torque value for the drill string for the slide drilling operation; and
outputting a first control signal to the at least one control system to establish the torque value.

10. The drilling rig system according to claim 1 , wherein the instructions adapted to perform (v) further comprise instructions for:
determining a target tool face for the slide drilling operation; and
outputting a second control signal to the at least one control system to establish the target tool face.

11. An automated slide drilling system for drilling a well borehole, comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor and storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, wherein the instructions comprise instructions for:
receiving information from a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) system, at least one sensor, and at least one rig control system during drilling of a well borehole by a drilling rig, the drilling rig further comprising a drill string having a bottom hole assembly attached thereto at one end thereof;
determining, responsive to the information received, whether a slide is to be performed and, when the slide is to be performed, determining a length and a direction of the slide;
determining a current tool face;
determining when a tool face adjustment is indicated for the slide and, when the tool face adjustment is indicated, determining an amount of the tool face adjustment, and sending a first control signal to the at least one drilling rig control system to adjust the tool face by the amount of the tool face adjustment;
determining if oscillation of the drill string will assist the slide and, when the oscillation will assist the slide, identifying a magnitude and a frequency of the oscillation, and sending a second control signal to the at least one drilling rig control system to implement the magnitude and the frequency of the oscillation;
sending a third control signal to the at least one drilling rig control system to rotate the drill bit;
maintaining the tool face within a target range during the slide, further comprising adjusting angular rotation of a top drive by an amount determined to offset a modified rate of penetration, and modifying at least one of weight on bit and differential pressure after a predetermined time interval has elapsed after adjusting of the angular rotation of the top drive; and
determining if the slide is complete and, when the slide is complete, sending a fourth control signal to the at least one drilling rig control system to stop the slide.

12. The automated slide drilling system according to claim 11 , further comprising instructions for establishing a desired torque in the drill string.

13. The automated slide drilling system according to claim 11 , further comprising instructions for engaging a bottom of the well borehole with the drill bit.

14. The automated slide drilling system according to claim 11 , further comprising instructions for resuming rotary drilling after the slide is complete.

15. The automated slide drilling system according to claim 11 , further comprising instructions for returning control of drilling to another drilling control system or to an operator after the slide is complete.

16. The automated slide drilling system according to claim 11 , further comprising instructions for displaying a status of the slide during the slide.

17. The automated slide drilling system according to claim 11 , further comprising instructions for:
receiving updated information from the MWD system, the at least one sensor, and the at least one rig control systems during the slide; and
determining whether at least one drilling parameter should be adjusted for the slide, and, when the at least one drilling parameter is to be adjusted, sending a fifth control signal to adjust the one or more drilling parameters.

18. The automated slide drilling system according to claim 11 , further comprising instructions for:
receiving updated information from the MWD system, the at least one sensor,

Assignees

• Motive Drilling Tech Inc

Inventors

• Benson Todd
• Chen Teddy
• Brinkley Joshua Miles
• Cantwell John Jeremy
• Nolte Eric Alan
• Quarles Robert Tyler
• Bhaduri Sashmit
• Bizaca Zarko
• Mims Kevin
• Stokeld Brian

Classifications

• E21B45/00

  Measuring the drilling time or rate of penetration · CPC title

• G01V2200/16

  Measure-while-drilling or logging-while-drilling · CPC title

• E21B19/008

  Winding units, specially adapted for drilling operations · 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

• E21B44/04 Primary

  in response to the torque of the drive {; Measuring drilling torque (E21B44/06 takes precedence; measuring stresses in a well bore pipe E21B47/007)} · CPC title