Methods and systems for averting or mitigating undesirable drilling events

• US 6,868,920 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Hoteit, Leila, Meehan, Richard, Dunlop, Jonathan, Aldred, Walt
• Primary Examiner(s): NEUDER, WILLIAM P
• Application Number:
  US10/334,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20040124009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 175/24, 175/25, 175/26, 175/27, 175/38, 175/40, 175/48
• US Class Current: 175/25
• 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: G06N 7/01 Probabilistic graphical models, e.g. probabilistic networks

Abstract

A method and system for averting or mitigating undesirable drilling events during a drilling process is disclosed. The state of the drilling rig is detected, preferably automatically, based on surface and/or downhole measurement data. One or more undesirable drilling events are detected by correlating the acquired measurement data with the detected state. A drilling rig action is determined which averts or mitigates a detected undesirable drilling event. Finally, the drilling process is overridden by commanding performance of the action.

The algorithm used in detecting the most likely rig state is preferably probabilistic in nature, and is even more preferably based on particle filtering techniques.

Claims

1. A method of automatically averting or mitigating undesirable drilling events during a drilling process, the method comprising:

detecting the state of the drilling rig performing the drilling process,

acquiring surface and/or downhole measurement data,

detecting one or more undesirable drilling events by correlating the acquired measurement data with the detected state,

determining a drilling rig action which averts or mitigates a detected undesirable drilling event, and

overriding the drilling process by commanding performance of the action.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the detection of the state of the drilling rig comprises the steps of:

receiving two or more independent input data channels, each input data channel representing a series of measurements made over time during the drilling process, and

based on the two or more input data channels, detecting the most likely current state of the drilling rig from at least three possible rig states.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the two or more input channels include two or more of the following input channels:

hookload, block position, torque, and stand pipe pressure.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the undesirable drilling events include a dangerous swab or surge pressure.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the undesirable drilling events include returning the bit to the well bottom too quickly.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the undesirable drilling events include downhole mud motor stall.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the undesirable drilling events include a washout.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the undesirable drilling events include bit wear.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of acquiring earth model data, the acquired measurement data being further correlated with the earth model data in order to detect the undesirable drilling events.

10. A system for automatically averting or mitigating undesirable drilling events during a drilling process, the system comprising:

a detection system for detecting the state of the drilling rig performing the drilling process,

an acquisition system for acquiring surface and/or downhole measurement data,

a processor for (i) detecting one or more undesirable drilling events by correlating the acquired measurement data with the detected state, and (ii) determining a drilling rig action which averts or mitigates a detected undesirable drilling event, and

a command issue device for overriding the drilling process by issuing a command requiring performance of the action.