Apparatus and methods for automated slide drilling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10954773-B2
Application number	US-202016774528-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2020
Priority date	Aug 10, 2017
Publication date	Mar 23, 2021
Grant date	Mar 23, 2021

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. An automated slide drilling system, comprising:
a computer system in communication with and operable to control at least one control system of a 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 data during drilling and the instructions are adapted to perform the following operations:
(i) begin a slide drilling operation either from a rotary drilling mode or from a cessation of drilling;
(ii) determine a target tool face for the slide drilling operation;
(iii) receive a current toolface reading from a decoder;
(iv) determine a confidence level value for the current toolface reading, wherein the confidence level value represents a likelihood that the current toolface reading is correct;
(v) maintain a toolface within predetermined limits during the slide drilling operation by at least one of: adjusting an angular displacement of a top drive, adjusting weight on a drill bit, and adjusting differential pressure;
(vi) control the slide drilling operation until the computer system determines that the slide drilling operation is complete; and
(vii) resume rotary drilling mode or prepare for a survey upon completion of the slide drilling operation.

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

3. The automated slide drilling system according to claim 2 , wherein the user input is associated with at least one of: an equipment parameter, a drilling parameter, and a formation parameter.

4. The automated slide drilling system according to claim 3 , wherein the equipment parameter comprises information relating to at least one of: a type of drill bit, and a type of bottom hole assembly.

5. The automated slide drilling system according to claim 3 , wherein the drilling parameter comprises at least one of: weight on the drill bit, rate of penetration, motor torque, motor speed, and pressure differential.

6. The automated slide drilling system according to claim 3 , wherein the 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.

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

8. The automated slide drilling system according to claim 1 , wherein the data comprises at least one of: input from a surface sensor, and input from a downhole sensor.

9. The automated slide drilling system according to claim 1 , wherein the instructions to perform step (i) further comprise instructions for:
determining a torque value for a drill string for the slide drilling operation; and
outputting a first control signal to the control system to establish the torque value.

10. The automated slide drilling system according to claim 1 , wherein the instructions to perform step (ii) further comprise instructions for:
determining a target tool face for the slide drilling operation; and
outputting a second control signal to the 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 a 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 toolface reading;
determining a confidence level value for the current toolface reading, wherein the confidence level value represents a likelihood that the current toolface reading is correct;
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 based at least in part on the current toolface reading and the confidence level value, and sending a first control signal to the rig control system to adjust a toolface by the amount of the tool face adjustment;
sending a second control signal to the rig control system to begin the slide;
maintaining the toolface 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
determining if the slide is complete and, when the slide is complete, sending a fourth control signal to the 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 a drill string.

13. The automated slide drilling system according to claim 11 , further comprising instructions for engaging a bottom of the well borehole with a 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 rig control system 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, and the rig control system during the slide; and
responsive to at least some of the updated information, displaying an updated status of the slide during the slide.

19. The automated slide drilling system according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of: a downhole sensor and a surface sensor.

20. The automated slide drilling system according to claim 11 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for providing a graphical user interface further comprising at least one of:
a plot of current toolface versus a target toolface;
a plot of toolface limits; and
an indication of a confidence level of at least one toolface reading.

21. The automated slide drilling system according to claim 11 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for o

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

• E21B44/00

  Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions · CPC title

• E21B7/24

  Drilling using vibrating or oscillating means, e.g. out-of-balance masses (percussion drilling E21B1/00) · CPC title

• E21B7/068

  drilled by a down-hole drilling motor (down-hole drives per se E21B4/00, E21B7/067 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B7/04 Primary

  Directional drilling · CPC title

• G01V2200/16

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