Automated directional drilling apparatus and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9784089-B2
Application number	US-201414174522-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2014
Priority date	Dec 7, 2006
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

Methods and systems for drilling to a target location include a control system that receives an input comprising a planned drilling path to a target location and determines a projected location of a bottom hole assembly of a drilling system. The projected location of the bottom hole assembly is compared to the planned drilling path to determine a deviation amount. A modified drilling path is created to the target location as selected based on the amount of deviation from the planned drilling path, and drilling rig control signals that steer the bottom hole assembly of the drilling system to the target location along the modified drilling path are generated to intersect the planned drilling path if the amount of deviation from the planned path exceeds a first threshold amount of deviation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of drilling to a target location which comprises:
receiving an input comprising a planned drilling path to a target location; an ideal mechanical specific energy (MSE); and a predicted trend of a downhole parameter;
detecting real-time dynamic MSE parameters;
detecting a trend of the downhole parameter;
comparing the trend of the downhole parameter to the predicted trend of the downhole parameter;
determining a projected location of a bottom hole assembly of a drilling system, wherein determining a projected location of a bottom hole assembly includes using a real-time survey projection as a directional trend;
calculating a real-time MSE based on the real-time dynamic MSE parameters;
comparing the projected location of the bottom hole assembly to the planned drilling path to determine a deviation amount;
comparing the real-time MSE to the ideal MSE;
creating a modified drilling path to the target location as selected based on the amount of deviation from the planned drilling path, wherein creating a modified drilling path to the target location comprises:
creating a modified drilling path that intersects the planned drilling path responsive to the deviation amount exceeding a first threshold amount of deviation and being less than a second threshold amount of deviation; and
creating a modified drilling path that does not intersect the planned drilling path responsive to the deviation amount exceeding the second threshold amount of deviation;

automatically and electronically generating one or more drilling rig control signals at the surface of a well that steer the bottom hole assembly of the drilling system to the target location along the modified drilling path;
creating a further modified drilling path to the target location when the trend of the downhole parameter is a reversal of the predicted trend of the downhole parameter;
automatically electronically generating another one or more drilling rig control signals at the surface of the well that steer the bottom hole assembly of the drilling system to the target location along the further modified drilling path; and
adjusting one or more drilling parameters responsive to the real-time MSE falling outside an ideal MSE range.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the real-time projection includes a toolface orientation input.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the creating a modified drilling path to the target location comprises electronically calculating at least one curve from the projected location of the bottom hole assembly to intersect the planned drilling path.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the creating a modified drilling path that does not intersect the planned drilling path comprises electronically calculating a new planned drilling path that does not intersect the planned drilling path and that is directed from the projected location of the bottom hole assembly to the target location.

5. The method of claim 4 , which further comprises:
again determining a projected location of a bottom hole assembly of the drilling system;
comparing the projected location of the bottom hole assembly to the new planned drilling path;
electronically creating a second modified drilling path to the target location; and
automatically and electronically generating one or more drilling rig control signals that steer the bottom hole assembly of the drilling system along the second modified drilling path to the target location.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining a projected location of the bottom hole assembly comprises determining a projected location of a bit of the bottom hole assembly, and wherein determining a projected location of the bit comprises considering data from one or more survey results.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the planned drilling path includes a tolerance zone and creating the modified drilling path occurs when the projected location of the bottom hole assembly intersects the tolerance zone boundary and does not occur when the projected location of the bottom hole assembly is within the tolerance zone.

8. The method of claim 1 , which further comprises receiving a user-initiated input indicating whether to create a new planned path to the target that does not intersect the planned drilling path when the bottom hole assembly exceeds the second threshold amount of deviation from the planned path.

9. The method of claim 2 , which further comprises electronically calculating a toolface orientation value and a measured depth required to steer the bottom hole assembly to the target location.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein creating a modified drilling path to the target location comprises:
electronically calculating a first 3D curve;
electronically calculating a hold section; and
optionally electronically calculating a second 3D curve, the first and optional second 3D curves being a portion of the modified drilling path, the optional second 3D curve merging the modified path with the original planned drilling path at a location prior to the target location.

11. The method of claim 2 , which comprises:
defining a tolerance zone, an intervention zone, and a correction zone about the planned drilling path,
wherein comparing the projected location of the bottom hole assembly to the planned drilling path includes determining which zone contains the determined projection of the bottom hole assembly, and
wherein after creating a modified drilling path to the target location, defining a new tolerance zone, a new intervention zone, and a new correction zone about the modified drilling path.

12. The method of claim 2 , wherein the real-time projection is performed using a method comprising at least one of a minimum curvature arc, direction trends, or a straight line.

13. A system for drilling to a target location comprising:
a receiving device adapted to receive an input comprising a planned drilling path to a target location an ideal mechanical specific energy (MSE) and a predicted trend of a downhole parameter;
a sensory device adapted to determine a projected location of a bottom hole assembly of a drilling system and detect real-time dynamic MSE parameters and the downhole parameter, wherein to determine a projected location of a bottom hole assembly includes using a real-time survey projection as a directional trend;
a logic device adapted to calculate a real-time MSE based on the real-time dynamic MSE parameters, compare the real-time MSE to the ideal MSE, and compare the projected location of the bottom hole assembly to the planned drilling path to determine a deviation amount;
wherein the logic device is adapted to detect a trend of the downhole parameter and to compare the trend of the downhole parameter to the predicted trend of the downhole parameter;
a second logic device adapted to create a modified drilling path to the target location as selected based on the amount of deviation from the planned drilling path, the second logic device adapted to create:
a modified drilling path that intersects the planned drilling path responsive to the deviation amount exceeding a first threshold amount of deviation and being less than a second threshold amount of deviation; and
a modified drilling path that does not intersect the planned drilling path responsive to the deviation amount exceeding the second threshold amount of deviation;

a drilling rig control signal generator adapted to automatically and electronically generate one or more drilling rig control signals that steer the bottom hole assembly of the drilling system to the target location along the modified drilling path and adjust the one or more drilling param

Assignees

• Canrig Drilling Tech Ltd
• Nabors Drilling Tech Usa Inc

Inventors

• Boone Scott Gilbert
• Ellis Brian
• Gillan Colin
• Küttel Beat

Classifications

• E21B7/04 Primary

  Directional drilling · CPC title

• E21B44/02 Primary

  Automatic control of the tool feed ({E21B44/005,} E21B44/10 take 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

• E21B2200/20

  Computer models or simulations, e.g. for reservoirs under production, drill bits · CPC title