System and method for drilling a borehole

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10995602-B2
Application number	US-201816002851-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2018
Priority date	Dec 22, 2011
Publication date	May 4, 2021
Grant date	May 4, 2021

Abstract

A system and apparatus for displaying toolface orientation data including a surface steerable system for controlling drilling direction of a bottom hole assembly (BHA). The surface steerable system configured to receive toolface orientation data from the BHA and generate display data responsive thereto. A circular chart display is generated responsive to the display data responsive to the display data from the surface steerable system, the circular chart display representing current and historical toolface orientation data. The current and historical toolface orientation data is represented as an arc indicator defined on the circular chart illustrating a range in degrees of the current and historical toolface orientations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for drilling a borehole, the system comprising:
a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor;
computer software instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor, the computer software instructions comprising instructions for:
receiving information regarding one or more bottom hole assembly (BHA) characteristics in a borehole of a well;
receiving information regarding one or more characteristics of one or more geological formations;
determining an estimated position of a drill bit in the borehole;
determining a projected build rate for the borehole yet to be drilled, wherein the projected build rate is determined responsive to the one or more BHA characteristics and the one or more characteristics of the one or more geological formations;
determining whether the estimated position of the drill bit is further from a target position for the drill bit than a predetermined amount;
determining a convergence plan for drilling the borehole so that the drill bit will converge with a target point of a planned path for the borehole in response to the estimated position of the drill bit being further from the target position than the predetermined amount, wherein the convergence plan is determined responsive to the projected build rate; and
controlling one or more drilling parameters to drill the borehole in accordance with the convergence plan.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the convergence plan being determined responsive to the projected build rate comprises determining at least one of a toolface orientation, a differential pressure, or a mud flow rate for the BHA.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the information regarding one or more BHA characteristics comprise at least one of bit characteristics associated with a bit of the BHA, mud motor bend setting for a mud motor of the BHA, stability of the BHA, and a distance from a bit of the mud motor to a bend of the BHA.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the information regarding one or more characteristics of the one or more geological formations comprise at least one of compressive strength, thicknesses, and depths for formations encountered in the borehole.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the computer software instructions further comprise instructions for receiving information regarding an inclination of the BHA relative to the one or more geological formations, and the projected build rate is determined responsive to the one or more BHA characteristics, the one or more characteristics of the one or more geological formations, and an inclination of the borehole relative to the one or more geological formations.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for producing the one or more BHA characteristics for drilling operations by a drilling rig in accordance with the convergence plan, and wherein controlling the one or more drilling parameters comprises providing the one or more BHA characteristics to one or more control systems of the drilling rig.

7. The system according to claim 6 wherein the one or more BHA characteristics comprise at least one of weight on bit, flow rate of mud for a mud motor of the BHA, and toolface orientation.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the computer software instructions comprising instructions for determining the convergence plan comprise:
determining a plurality of possible convergence plans, wherein each of the plurality of possible convergence plans extends from the estimated position of the drill bit to a point on a target path for the borehole; and
selecting the convergence plan from the plurality of possible convergence plans based on a maximum directional change for the BHA, a convergence delay, a convergence cost, the characteristics of the one or more geological formations, and reliability of the BHA.

9. A surface steerable system for use with a drilling rig drilling a borehole, the surface steerable system comprising:
a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor;
computer software instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor, the computer software instructions comprising instructions for:
receiving information regarding one or more bottom hole assembly (BHA) characteristics in a borehole of a well;
receiving information regarding one or more characteristics of one or more geological formations;
determining an estimated position of a drill bit in the borehole;
determining a projected build rate for the borehole yet to be drilled, wherein the projected build rate is determined responsive to the one or more BHA characteristics and the characteristics of the one or more geological formations;
determining whether the estimated position of the drill bit is further from a target position for the drill bit than a predetermined amount;
determining a convergence plan for drilling the borehole so that the drill bit will converge with a target point of a planned path for the borehole in response to the estimated position of the drill bit being further from the target position than the predetermined amount, wherein the convergence plan is determined responsive to the projected build rate;
producing one or more BHA parameters for drilling operations; and
providing the one or more BHA parameters to one or more control systems of a drilling rig, wherein the one or more BHA parameters enable the drilling rig to drill the borehole in accordance with the convergence plan.

10. The surface steerable system according to claim 9 , wherein the convergence plan being determined responsive to the projected build rate comprises determining at least one of a toolface orientation, a differential pressure, or a mud flow rate for the BHA.

11. The surface steerable system according to claim 9 , wherein the information regarding one or more BHA characteristics comprise at least one of bit characteristics associated with a bit of the BHA, mud motor bend setting for a mud motor of the BHA, stability of the BHA, and a distance from a bit of the mud motor to a bend of the BHA.

12. The surface steerable system according to claim 11 , wherein the information regarding one or more characteristics of the one or more geological formations comprise at least one of compressive strength, thicknesses, and depths for formations encountered in the borehole.

13. The surface steerable system according to claim 12 , wherein the computer software instructions further comprise instructions for receiving information regarding an inclination of the BHA relative to the one or more geological formations, and the projected build rate is based on the one or more BHA characteristics, the one or more characteristics of the one or more geological formations, and an inclination of the borehole relative to the one or more geological formations.

14. The surface steerable system according to claim 13 wherein the one or more BHA parameters comprise at least one of weight on bit, flow rate of mud, and toolface orientation.

15. The surface steerable system according to claim 9 , wherein the computer software instructions comprising instructions for determining the convergence plan for drilling the borehole comprise:
determining a plurality of possible convergence plans, wherein each of the plurality of possible convergence plans extends from the estimated position of the drill bit to a point on a target path for the borehole; and
selecting the convergence plan from the plurality of possible convergence plans based on a maximum directional change for the BHA, a convergence delay, a convergence cost,

Assignees

• Motive Drilling Tech Inc

Inventors

• Benson Todd W
• Chen Teddy C

Classifications

• E21B19/165

  Control or monitoring arrangements therefor · CPC title

• E21B47/09

  Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells {, e.g. the position of an extending arm}; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes · CPC title

• E21B47/12

  Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling · CPC title

• E21B47/00

  Survey of boreholes or wells (monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08) · CPC title

• E21B47/02

  Determining slope or direction · CPC title