Automated drilling optimization

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9828845-B2
Application number	US-201414293563-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 2, 2014
Priority date	Jun 2, 2014
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

A method implemented by a processor for drilling a borehole includes: inputting drilling parameters used to drill one or more offset boreholes, rate of penetration for the one or more offset boreholes, and one or more lithologies for the one or more offset boreholes; identifying those drilling parameters that correspond to a rate of penetration (ROP) that meets or exceeds a selected ROP threshold for each input lithology; correlating a borehole plan comprising a borehole path to be drilled and one or more assumed lithologies as a function of depth to the one or more lithologies of the one or more offset boreholes; sending the identified drilling parameters to a drill rig controller for each of the assumed lithologies in the borehole plan; and drilling the borehole with the drill rig using the identified drilling parameters for each of the one or more assumed lithologies in the borehole plan.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for drilling a borehole penetrating the earth using a drill rig that operates a drill string, the method comprising:
inputting into a processor (i) drilling parameters as a function of depth used to drill one or more offset boreholes, (ii) rate of penetration using the drilling parameters for the one or more offset boreholes, (iii) any drilling dysfunctions that occurred using the drilling parameters for the one or more offset boreholes, and (iv) one or more lithologies as a function of depth for the one or more offset boreholes;
identifying, using the processor, those drilling parameters that correspond to a rate of penetration (ROP) that meets or exceeds a selected ROP threshold for each input lithology to provide identified drilling parameters and/or to a minimum number of drill dysfunctions or minimum magnitude of a drilling dysfunction to provide identified drilling parameters;
correlating a borehole plan comprising a borehole path to be drilled and one or more assumed lithologies as a function of depth to the one or more lithologies of the one or more offset boreholes;
automatically transmitting identified drilling parameters to a drill rig controller for a change in lithology when a depth is reached signifying the beginning of an interval of the changed lithology according to the borehole plan;
drilling the borehole with the drill rig using the identified drilling parameters that provide the ROP that meets or exceeds the selected ROP threshold for each of the one or more assumed lithologies in the borehole plan; and
sending an override signal from the processor to the drill rig controller based on a drilling performance indicator sensed by a drilling performance sensor.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising (a) receiving borehole survey information from a borehole survey sensor, the survey information comprising a borehole trajectory including depth of the borehole being drilled and (b) cross-checking the lithology assumed in the drilling parameters with the survey information based on depth.

3. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising updating the drilling parameters based on the survey information.

4. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising comparing the rate of penetration (ROP) assumed by the identified drilling parameters to the actual ROP sensed by a drill rig sensor and updating the drilling parameters being used when a difference between the assumed ROP and the actual ROP exceeds a threshold value.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the updated drilling parameters are based on a lithology different from the lithology assumed in the borehole plan.

6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the borehole survey sensor is disposed on the drill string.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising inputting into the processor any drilling dysfunctions that occurred using the drilling parameters for the one or more offset boreholes and wherein identifying further comprises identifying those drilling parameters that have a minimum number of drill dysfunctions or minimum magnitude of a drilling dysfunction as being identified drilling parameters.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein drilling dysfunctions comprise at least one of vibrations of a drill string operated by the drill rig exceeding a threshold value, torque applied to the drill string exceeding a threshold value, and borehole pressure exceeding a threshold value.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the drilling parameters comprise at least one of torque applied to a drill string operated by the drill rig, weight on bit, drilling fluid flow rate, and drill string rotational speed.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the depth is true vertical depth.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising identifying a lithology currently being drilled using a downhole sensor disposed on the drill string drilling the borehole and updating the borehole plan using the lithology identified by the downhole sensor.

12. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising identifying a location of a drill string drilling the borehole using a sensor disposed on the drill string and updating the borehole plan using the identified location.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the drilling performance indicator comprises at least one of axial vibration, lateral vibration, torsional vibration, abnormal drill bit motion, gas detection, and borehole pressure.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein sending comprises the processor automatically sending the override signal when the drilling performance indicator exceeds a threshold value.

15. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising displaying the drilling performance indicator to a user and wherein sending comprises the user providing a manual input to the processor for sending the override signal based on the displayed performance indicator.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the drilling performance sensor is disposed on the drill string and the drilling performance indicator is measured in the borehole.

Assignees

• Kpetehoto Franck T
• Hood James Albert
• Carey Stephen
• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• Kpetehoto Franck T
• Hood James Albert
• Carey Stephen

Classifications

• E21B44/02 Primary

  Automatic control of the tool feed ({E21B44/005,} E21B44/10 take precedence) · CPC title

• Y02P90/70

  Combining sequestration of CO2 and exploitation of hydrocarbons by injecting CO2 or carbonated water in oil wells · CPC title