DIRECTIONAL DRILLING CONTROL DEVICES AND METHODS

• US 20100175922A1
• Filed: 01/15/2009
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Ignova, Maja, Downton, Geoff, Pirovolou, Dimitrios
• Granted Patent: US 8,783,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/24
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/02 Automatic control of the tool feed E21B44/005, E21B44/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/024 of devices in the borehole determining slope or direction of the borehole E21B47/022
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/18 through the well fluid , e.g. mud pressure pulse telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/003 by analysing drilling variables or conditions E21B49/005 takes precedence; systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions E21B44/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/04 Directional drilling

Abstract

The instant invention provides apparatus and methods for directional drilling. One embodiment of the invention provides a drill control system including an uphole control device and a downhole control device. The uphole control device is configured to: transmit a reference trajectory to the downhole control device and receive information about an actual trajectory from the downhole control device. The downhole control device is configured to: receive the reference trajectory from the uphole control device, measure the actual trajectory, correct deviations between the reference trajectory and the actual trajectory, and transmit information about the actual trajectory to the uphole control device.

Claims

1. A drill control system comprising:

an uphole control device; and

a downhole control device;

wherein the uphole control device is configured to;

transmit a reference trajectory to the downhole control device; and

receive information about an actual trajectory from the downhole control device;

and wherein the downhole control device is configured to;

receive the reference trajectory from the uphole control device;

measure the actual trajectory;

correct deviations between the reference trajectory and the actual trajectory; and

transmit information about the actual trajectory to the uphole control device.

2. The drill control system of claim 1, wherein the downhole control device transmits drilling performance information to the uphole control device.

3. The drill control system of claim 2, wherein the drilling performance information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

rotational speed, rotational acceleration, orientation, inclination, azimuth, build rate, turn rate, and weight on bit.

4. The drill control system of claim 2, wherein the reference trajectory is calculated and updated in response to the drilling performance information.

5. The drill control system of claim 1, wherein the downhole control device transmits geological information to the uphole control device.

6. The drill control system of claim 5, wherein the geological information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

geological properties of formations in front of a bit, and geological properties of formations adjacent to the bit.

7. The drill control system of claim 5, wherein the reference trajectory is calculated and updated in response to the geological information.

8. The drill control system of claim 1, wherein the uphole control device and the downhole control device communicate with fluid pulses.

9. The drill control system of claim 1, wherein the uphole control device and the downhole control device communicate with electrical signals.

10. The drill control system of claim 1, wherein the uphole control device and the downhole control device communicate with radio signals.

11. The drill control system of claim 1, wherein the downhole control device is in communication with one or more directional steering devices.

12. The drill control system of claim 1, wherein the downhole control device corrects deviations between the reference trajectory and the actual trajectory more frequently than the downhole control device receives the reference trajectory from the uphole control device.

13. The drill control system of claim 1, wherein the uphole control device is in communication with a remote location via satellite.

14. A drilling method comprising:

providing a drill string having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end having a bit body for boring a hole;

providing a downhole control device located within the distal end of the drill string;

transmitting a reference trajectory to the downhole control device;

utilizing the downhole control device to steer the bit body and the drill string to follow the reference trajectory;

periodically receiving information about the actual trajectory from the downhole control device;

updating the reference trajectory; and

transmitting the updated reference trajectory to the downhole control device.

15. The drilling method of claim 14, wherein steering the bit body and drill string comprises:

measuring an actual trajectory;

detecting deviations between the reference trajectory and the actual trajectory; and

actuating one or more directional steering devices to correct the deviations.

16. The drilling method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving drilling performance information from the downhole control device.

17. The drilling method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving geological information from the downhole control device.

18. A drilling method comprising:

receiving a reference trajectory from an uphole control device;

measuring an actual trajectory;

detecting deviations between the reference trajectory and the actual trajectory;

correcting deviations between the reference trajectory and the actual trajectory; and

transmitting information about the actual trajectory to the uphole control device.

19. The drilling method of claim 18, wherein correcting deviations includes actuating one or more directional steering devices to correct to the deviations.

20. The drilling method of claim 18, further comprising:

transmitting drilling performance information to the uphole control device.

21. The drilling method of claim 18, further comprising:

transmitting geological information to the uphole control device.