Method and apparatus for testing and confirming a successful downlink to a rotary steerable system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11913308-B2
Application number	US-202117235324-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 20, 2021
Priority date	Apr 20, 2021
Publication date	Feb 27, 2024
Grant date	Feb 27, 2024

Abstract

A method that includes an electronic application identifying a downlink sequence for execution by a surface control system of a drilling rig, with the sequence including target output values of a mud pump system and/or a drive system. The method includes instructing the control system to operate in accordance with the sequence. The application receives measured output values of the mud pump system and/or the drive system and calculates differences between the target and measured output values. When the differences are within a level of tolerance, then the application identifies the control system as compliant; and when the differences are greater than the level of tolerance, then the application identifies the control system as non-compliant. The method also includes the application receiving data from a BHA of the drilling rig and determining, based on the data received, if a downlink to the BHA was successful.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
an electronic application identifying a downlink testing sequence for execution by a surface control system of a drilling rig;
wherein the surface control system of the drilling rig comprises a mud pump system and/or a drive system;
wherein the downlink testing sequence includes varying target operating parameters over a predetermined time period; and
wherein the varying target operating parameters are target output values of the mud pump system and/or the drive system;

instructing, via commands sent from the application to the surface control system, the surface control system to operate in accordance with the downlink testing sequence;
during and after instructing the surface control system to operate in accordance with the downlink testing sequence, measuring output values of the mud pump system and/or the drive system over the predetermined time period;
the application receiving the measured output values over the predetermined time period;
the application calculating differences between the target output values and the measured output values over the predetermined time period;
when the differences are within a predetermined level of tolerance, then the application identifies the surface control system as compliant;
when the differences are greater than the predetermined level of tolerance, then the application identifies the surface control system as non-compliant;
displaying, on a graphical user interface, a notification that the surface control system is compliant or non-compliant.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the varying target operating parameters comprise alternating first and second target operating parameters.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first and second target operating parameters alternate after each is maintained for a portion of the predetermined time period.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first and second target operating parameters are a percentage of an initial output value of the mud pump system and/or the drive system.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein instructing, via commands sent from the application to the surface control system, the surface control system to operate in accordance with the downlink testing sequence comprises instructing the surface control system to automatically alternate between the first and second target operating parameters.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target output values and the measured output values are a mud flow rate.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target output values and the measured output values are a RPM of the drive system.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined level of tolerance is a function of the target output values.

9. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the predetermined level of tolerance is a function of the target output values;
wherein the application identifies the surface control system as compliant when the differences are within the predetermined level of tolerance for a first period of time; and
wherein the application identifies the surface control system as non-compliant when the differences are greater than the predetermined level of tolerance for the first period of time.

10. The method of claim 1 ,
the electronic application identifying a downlink sequence for execution by the surface control system;
wherein the downlink sequence is configured to provide instructions to a bottom hole assembly (BHA) of the drilling rig; and
wherein the BHA includes a rotary steerable system;

instructing the mud pump system and/or the drive system to operate in accordance with the downlink sequence;
after instructing the mud pump system and/or the drive system to operate in accordance with the downlink sequence, the application receiving data from the BHA;
wherein the data received from the BHA is indicative of whether the instructions were received by the BHA; and

when the data received from the BHA indicates that the instructions were received by the BHA, then confirming that the downlink was successful.

11. A drilling apparatus comprising:
a surface control system of a drilling rig; wherein the surface control system of the drilling rig comprises a mud pump system and/or a drive system; and
an electronic application, wherein the electronic application is configured to:
identify a downlink testing sequence for execution by the mud pump system and/or the drive system;
wherein the downlink testing sequence includes varying target operating parameters over a predetermined time period; and
wherein the varying target operating parameters are target output values of the mud pump system and/or the drive system;

instruct the surface control system of the drilling rig to operate in accordance with the downlink testing sequence;
receive measured output values of the mud pump system and/or the drive system over the predetermined time period;
calculate differences between the target output values and the measured output values over the predetermined time period;
when the differences are within a predetermined level of tolerance, then identify the surface control system as compliant; and
when the differences are greater than the predetermined level of tolerance, then identify the surface control system as non-compliant.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the varying target operating parameters comprise alternating first and second target operating parameters.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first and second target operating parameters alternate after each is maintained for a portion of the predetermined time period.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first and second target operating parameters alternate after each is maintained for a portion of the predetermined time period.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the electronic application is further configured to display, on a graphical user interface, a notification that the surface control system is compliant or non-compliant.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the target output values and the measured output values are a mud flow rate.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the target output values and the measured output values are a RPM of the drive system.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the predetermined level of tolerance is a function of the target output values.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 ,
wherein the predetermined level of tolerance is a function of the target output values;
wherein the application identifies the surface control system as compliant when the differences are within the predetermined level of tolerance for a first period of time; and
wherein the application identifies the surface control system as non-compliant when the differences are greater than the predetermined level of tolerance for the first period of time.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the electronic application is further configured to:
identify a downlink sequence for execution by the surface control system;
wherein the downlink sequence is configured to provide instructions to a bottom hole assembly (BHA) of the drilling rig; and
wherein the BHA includes a rotary steerable system;

instruct the mud pump system and/or the drive system to operate in accordance with the downlink sequence;
receive data from the BHA after instructing the mud pump system and/or the drive system to operate in accordance with the downlink sequence;
wherein the data received from the BHA is indicative of whether the instructions were received by

Assignees

• Nabors Drilling Tech Usa Inc

Inventors

• Groover Austin
• Curran Drew

Classifications

• E21B4/02 Primary

  Fluid rotary type drives · CPC title

• E21B7/068

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

• 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

• F04B47/02 Primary

  the driving mechanisms being situated at ground level (F04B47/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F04B49/065

  and making use of computers · CPC title