Monitor and control of directional drilling operations and simulations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9359882-B2
Application number	US-201313799147-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2013
Priority date	Sep 27, 2006
Publication date	Jun 7, 2016
Grant date	Jun 7, 2016

Abstract

Various embodiments include apparatus and methods that use hand mobile communications device with respect to a drilling operation at a drilling site. Data with respect to one or more sensors downhole at a drilling site can be wirelessly received in the hand mobile communications device. Representations of the received data can be displayed on a graphical user interface screen of the hand mobile communications device. The representations can include displaying the data in a graphical representation, a numerical representation, or a graphical and numerical representation on the graphical user interface screen. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving data wirelessly in a mobile device, the data including performance data of a directional drilling operation downhole at a drill site, the mobile device being a hand mobile communication device; and
displaying a representation of the data on a graphical user interface screen of the mobile device including displaying a graphical representation of a downhole component disposed as part of a drill string that shows animated movement in an interior of the downhole component.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method includes transmitting, based on the data, control commands from the mobile device to a control unit associated with the directional drilling operation at the drill site to control one or more drilling tasks of the directional drilling operation based on the control commands.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method includes displaying multiple representations of the data individually in response to signals actuated from the interface screen or a user input device of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the representation of the data includes displaying in a graphical presentation, a numerical presentation, or a combination of a numerical presentation and a graphical presentation on the graphical user interface screen of the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the representation of the data includes displaying the representation of the data on the graphical user interface screen of the mobile device during performance of the directional drilling operation.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the representation of the data includes displaying an image of formations with respect to a drilling tool of the directional drilling operation.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein displaying the image includes displaying a projected path of the drilling tool in the formations.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein displaying the projected path of the drilling tool in the formations includes displaying the projected path as an animation showing the creation of the path.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is a smartphone.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is a tablet.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is a laptop computer.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method includes conducting, in the mobile device, simulations of the directional drilling operation downhole at the drill site.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein conducting, in the mobile device, the simulations includes conducting the simulations as a training tool.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the method includes transmitting commands from the mobile device to a drilling tool of the directional drilling operation to modify operation of the drilling tool or collect additional data.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving data wirelessly in the mobile device includes receiving the data over a secure communication path with a communication unit at the drilling site.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein receiving the data over the secure communication path includes conducting an authentication of the mobile device or user of the mobile device using a third party authentication process.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data includes data related to a performance attribute of one or more drilling components used in the directional drilling operation and disposed downhole.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the one or more drilling components includes a drilling motor and a rotary steerable tool.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the performance attribute includes one or more of rotations per unit of time of the one or more drilling components, operating differential pressure across the one or more drilling components, or torque output of the one or more drilling components.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method includes performing the directional drilling operation and directing the directional drilling operation from the mobile device.

21. A machine-readable device including instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a processor, causes a mobile device to perform operations comprising operations to:
receive data wirelessly in the mobile device, the data including performance data of a directional drilling operation downhole at a drill site, the mobile device being a hand mobile communication device;
display a representation of the data on a graphical user interface screen of the mobile device; and
display a graphical representation of a downhole component disposed as part of a drill string that shows animated movement in an interior of the downhole component.

22. The machine-readable device of claim 21 , wherein the instructions includes instructions to transmit, based on the data, control commands from the mobile device to a control unit associated with the directional drilling operation at the drill site to control one or more drilling tasks of the directional drilling operation based on the control commands.

23. The machine-readable device of claim 21 , wherein the instructions include instructions to display multiple representations of the data individually in response to signals actuated from the interface screen or a user input device of the mobile device.

24. The machine-readable device of claim 21 , wherein displaying the representation of the data includes displaying in a graphical presentation, a numerical presentation, or a combination of a numerical presentation and a graphical presentation on the graphical user interface screen of the mobile device.

25. The machine-readable device of claim 21 , wherein displaying the representation of the data includes displaying the representation of the data on the graphical user interface screen of the mobile device during performance of the directional drilling operation.

26. The machine-readable device of claim 21 , displaying the representation of the data includes displaying an image of formations with respect to a drilling tool of the directional drilling operation and displaying a projected path of the drilling tool in the formations.

27. The machine-readable device of claim 21 , wherein the mobile device is a smartphone, a tablet, or a laptop computer.

28. The machine-readable device of claim 21 , wherein the instructions include instructions to conduct, in the mobile device, simulations of the directional drilling operation downhole at the drill site.

29. The machine-readable device of claim 21 , wherein the instructions include instructions to transmit commands from the mobile device to a drilling tool of the directional drilling operation to modify operation of the drilling tool or collect additional data.

30. The machine-readable device of claim 21 , wherein the data includes data related to a performance attribute of one or more drilling components used in the directional drilling operation and disposed downhole.

31. The machine-readable device of claim 30 , wherein the one or more drilling components includes a drilling motor and a rotary steerable tool.

32. The machine-readable device of claim 30 , wherein the performance attribute includes one or more of rotations per unit of time of the one or more drilling components, operating differential pressure a

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Snyder John Kenneth

Classifications

• E21B47/00

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

• G09B7/02

  of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student · CPC title

• E21B44/00 Primary

  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

• E21B7/04

  Directional drilling · CPC title

• G09B9/00

  Simulators for teaching or training purposes (for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; {protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131}) · CPC title