Abstract:
A system for directing the drilling of a well at a drill-site includes an instructing unit, an instructed unit, and a central unit. The instructed unit receives drilling instruction from an instructing driller, sends drilling instructions to the central unit, and presents to the instructing driller drilling instructions and instruction confirmations received from the central unit. The instructed unit receives instruction confirmations from an instructed driller, sends instruction confirmations to the central unit, and presents to the instructed driller drilling instructions received from the central unit. The central unit stores and forwards drilling instructions and instruction confirmations to the instructing unit and instructed unit, and generates and stores slide sheet information from the drilling instructions.
Abstract:
The invention relates to methods and systems for measuring and/or monitoring the chemical composition of a sample (e.g., a process stream), and/or detecting specific substances or compounds in a sample, using light spectroscopy such as absorption, emission and fluorescence spectroscopy. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to spectrometers with rotating narrow-band interference optical filter(s) to measure light intensity as a function of wavelength. More specifically, in certain embodiments, the invention relates to a spectrometer system with a rotatable filter assembly with a position detector rigidly attached thereto, and, in certain embodiments, the further use of various oversampling methods and techniques described herein, made particularly useful in conjunction with the rotatable filter assembly. In preferred embodiments, the rotatable filter is tilted with respect to the rotation axis, thereby providing surprisingly improved measurement stability and significantly improved control of the wavelength coverage of the filter spectrometer.
Abstract:
During drilling of a wellbore, in a predicting state, a drilling parameter is monitored and, based on the monitored drilling parameter, it is determined that the drilling parameter is likely to exceed a drilling parameter setpoint associated with the drilling parameter. In a mitigating state, in response to determining that the drilling parameter is likely to exceed the drilling parameter setpoint, a rate of penetration setpoint is reduced so as to mitigate a likelihood of the drilling parameter exceeding the drilling parameter setpoint. In addition, during the drilling, drilling parameter data is received. A controller is used to generate, based on the drilling parameter data, one or more drilling parameter setpoint recommendations. At least one drilling parameter setpoint recommendation is selected. The selected drilling parameter setpoint is provided to an automated drilling unit that is separate from the controller.
Abstract:
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for controlling a toolface of a downhole tool are described. The toolface of the downhole tool, and a toolface setpoint, are determined. Based on the toolface and the toolface setpoint, a toolface error is determined. Based on the toolface error, one or more drilling parameter setpoints are selected from among multiple drilling parameter setpoints. The selected one or more drilling parameter setpoints are adjusted. The adjusted one or more drilling parameter setpoints are inputted to one or more drilling controllers for controlling the toolface of the downhole tool.
Abstract:
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for controlling a toolface of a downhole tool are described. The toolface of the downhole tool, and a toolface setpoint, are determined. Based on the toolface and the toolface setpoint, a toolface error is determined. Based on the toolface error, one or more drilling parameter setpoints are selected from among multiple drilling parameter setpoints. The selected one or more drilling parameter setpoints are adjusted. The adjusted one or more drilling parameter setpoints are inputted to one or more drilling controllers for controlling the toolface of the downhole tool.
Abstract:
There is described a method of determining a reactive torque factor for use in controlling a toolface of a downhole tool. For each of one or more sliding operations, a change in a top drive position of a drive unit operable to rotate a drill string connected to the downhole tool is determined, a change in a toolface of the downhole tool is determined, and a change in a differential pressure is determined. Based on the change in the top drive position, the change in the toolface, and the change in the differential pressure, a reactive torque factor is determined.
Abstract:
Methods, systems, and techniques for performing automated drilling of a wellbore. The wellbore is drilled in response to a first drilling parameter target (such as weight on bit) that includes a first drilling parameter offset modified by a first drilling parameter perturbation signal. A first drilling performance metric (such as rate of penetration) is measured and is indicative of a response of the drilling to the first drilling parameter target. An output of a first objective function is determined using the measured first drilling performance metric. A first correlation between the output of the first objective function and the first drilling parameter perturbation signal, and an integral of the first correlation, are determined. The first drilling parameter target is updated using the integral modified by the first drilling parameter perturbation signal. The wellbore is drilled in response to the updated first drilling parameter target.
Abstract:
Methods, systems, and techniques for detecting at least one of an influx event and a loss event during well drilling involve using one or both of errors between 1) estimated and measured pit volume, and 2) estimated and measured flow out, to identify or determine whether the influx or loss event is occurring, or to sound some other type of related alert. These determinations may be performed in a computationally efficient manner, such as by using one or both of a time and depth sensitive regression.
Abstract:
A method for drilling a new oil or gas well in a selected geographical location includes extracting drilling modes from historic drilling data obtained from a group of drilled wells in the selected geographical location using a pattern recognition model. Each drilling mode represents a distinct pattern that quantifies at least two drilling variables at a specified drilling depth. The method also includes selecting a sequence of drilling modes at positions along a reference well as reference drilling modes that represent more efficient values for a selection of one or more of the at least two drilling variables compared to other extracted drilling modes; associating drilling parameter settings with the reference drilling modes; and drilling the new oil or gas well applying at least some of the drilling parameter settings.
Abstract:
Described herein is a spectroscopic system and method for measuring and monitoring the chemical composition and/or impurity content of a sample or sample stream using absorption light spectroscopy. Specifically, in certain embodiments, this invention relates to the use of sample pressure variation to alter the magnitude of the absorption spectrum (e.g., wavelength-dependent signal) received for the sample, thereby obviating the need for a reference or ‘zero’ sample. Rather than use a reference or ‘zero’ sample, embodiments described herein obtain a spectrum/signal from a sample-containing cell at both a first pressure and a second (different) pressure.