System and method for processing and displaying well logging data during drilling

• US 5,237,539 A
• Filed: 12/11/1991
• Issued: 08/17/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas H. Selman
• Original Assignee: Thomas H. Selman
• Inventors: Selman, Thomas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian J.
• Application Number:
  US07/804,974
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 364/422, 367/25, 367/33, 367/68, 367/69, 73/151, 73/152
• US Class Current: 367/69
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/00 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 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 49/005 Testing the nature of borehole walls or the formation by using drilling mud or cutting data
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/00 Prospecting or detecting by methods combining techniques covered by two or more of main groups G01V1/00 - G01V9/00

Abstract

A system and method for processing and displaying well log data that provides real time and lag time data combined into a format which can be graphically printed using a printer interface to a computer during the drilling of an oil and gas well. Preselected monitors provide real time data such as weight on bit, mud pump pressure, revolutions per minute of the rotary table (drill string) and the like and lag data such as units of gas, porosity, and percent cut fluor. The monitored information is then processed by a microprocessor into digital real time textual data curves (CRVs) and digital lag textual data (LAG). These data are then processed by a central processing unit (CPU) of the system that automatically merges the CRV and LAG data, checks for completeness of file curve (curve and lag data), picks scales or enters user input scale and normalizes the data based on scale value, enters user comments for display, like change of mud weight, change of scale. The merged and combined curve and lag data create what is referred to as "rock files" which can then be suitably displayed and/or printed. The system provides for an incremental printed or displayed log between preselected well elevations.

Claims

1. A method for processing and displaying well logging data during drilling operations of a well bore utilizing a rotary drilling rig and ancillary drilling fluid equipment comprising:

a. Deriving and recording real time data for each preselected increment of depth drilling including the depth of the well, weight on the drill bit, rate of penetration, drill string revolutions per minute, non-drilling time, mud pit volume changes, mud pump strokes, mud pump pressure and percent of fluid flow exiting the well bore;

b. Deriving and recording lag time data for each said preselected increment of depth drilled including formation gas components and formation lithology samples entrained in the drilling fluid;

c. Deriving and recording for each said preselected increment of depth drilled lithology data from said formation lithology samples entrained in the drilling fluid;

d. Recording for each said preselected increment of depth drilled percent of fluorescence for said formation lithology samples;

e. Recording for each said preselected increment of depth drilled percent of oil cut in said formation lithology samples;

f. Recording comments on the drilling operations;

g. Selecting a multiple number of each said preselected increment of depth in an oil and gas well being drilled for plotting a geological-hydrocarbon log;

h. Recalling previously recorded real time data correlated to said multiple number of each said preselected increment of depth for plotting said log;

i. Recalling previously recorded lag time data correlated to said multiple number of each said preselected increment of depth for plotting said log;

j. Recalling the lithology data, the percent of fluorescence, the percent of oil cut related to said formation lithology samples for said multiple number of each said preselected increment of depth for plotting said log;

k. Recalling previously recorded comments on drilling operations for said multiple number of each said preselected increment of depth for plotting said log;

l. Determining the maximum values for said real time data and said lag time data for said multiple number of each said preselected increment of depth for plotting said log;

m. Merging said real time data and said lag time data for said multiple number of each said preselected increment of depth for plotting said log;

n. Selecting the scale interval values for assignment to the merged data based on said maximum values thereof;

o. Normalizing the merged data for presentation with said scale interval values; and

p. Plotting the merged data, the recalled lithology data, percent of fluorescence, the percent oil cut, and the recalled comments for the preselected increment of depth as a display on a computer screen or as a print-out.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a discernable alarm is activated on the occurrence of a preselected event being achieved while drilling said well bore.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a discernable alarm is activated on the occurrence of an unselected real time event while drilling said well bore.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said real time data and said lag time data are derived and recorded for each one foot increment of well bore drilled.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said lag time data is correlated to the real time data by determining the number of lag strokes required to displace the volume of the well bore.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said real time data and said lag time data are recorded as textual columns of data in ASCI II format.

7. The method of generating a geological-hydrocarbon log of a well bore during drilling operations utilizing a drilling rig, drilling fluid and associated equipment comprising:

a. Deriving and recording real time data while drilling indicative of the actual weight on the drill bit, the rate of penetration of the well bore, the mud pump pressure, and changes in mud pit volume;

b. Deriving and recording lag time data while drilling indicative of the formation gas analysis and formation lithology;

c. Checking said real time data and said lag time data for maximum values thereof;

d. Selecting scale interval values based on said maximum values;

e. Normalizing said real time data and said lag time data for presentation utilizing said scale interval values selected;

f. Merging said real time data and said lag time data recorded for an increment of the well bore depth of interest; and

g. Plotting said merged data on a visual display media as a geological-hydrocarbon log.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein commentary on drilling operations is added to the merged data and displayed as part of the geological-hydrocarbon log for the particular depth to which it relates.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said real time data and lag time data are processed into textual ASCI II files and recorded.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said first processor means includes means to generate said real time curve data and said lag time data into textual ASCI II files.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said second processor means includes means for determining the lag time for lag time data to reach the surface from each of the preselected increments by utilizing the number of lag strokes per foot drilled.

10. System for generating a geological-hydrocarbon log of a well bore during drilling operations with a rotary drilling rig and associated equipment comprising:

a. First monitor means for obtaining at preselected increments of depth drilled real time data including;

(i) the depth drilled,

(ii) the weight on the drill bit,

(iii) rate of penetration,

(iv) drill string revolutions per minute,

(v) non-drilling time,

(vi) mud pit volume changes,

(vii) mud pump strokes;

(viii) mud pump pressure, and

(ix) percent fluid flow exiting the bore hole;

b. Second monitor means for obtaining at said preselected increments of depth drilled lag time data including formation gas components and formation lithology;

c. First processor means connected to said first monitor means and said second monitor means for transforming data from said first and second monitor means into real time curve data and lag time data, indicative of the well bore and drilling characteristic thereof, respectively;

d. Data storage means for receiving from said first and second monitor means real time curve data and lag time data;

e. Second processor means interconnected with said data storage means for;

(i) checking said real time data and said lag time data for maximum values thereof,

(ii) selecting scale interval values for presentation based on said maximum values,

(iii) normalizing said real time data and said lag time data for presentation utilizing said scale interval values,

(iv) merging said real time data and said lag time data over said preselected increments of depth drilled, and

(v) generating a rock data file including said merge data, formation lithology data and commentary on drilling operations over said preselected increments of depth drilled; and

f. Visual display means for presentation of said rock data file including said merged data, lithology and commentary on drilling operations over said preselected increments of depth drilled on a visual display media as a geological-hydrocarbon log.