Automated method and system for determining the state of well operations and performing process evaluation

• US 6,892,812 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2002
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TDE Petroleum Data Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Noble Drilling Services Incorporated (Noble Corporation plc)
• Inventors: Niedermayr, Michael, Glaser, Gerhard P., Pinckard, Mitchell D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Matthew J.
• Application Number:
  US10/153,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20030220742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 175 24- 38, 175/40, 166/250.15, 166/53, 702/9, 340/854.1, 340/856.1, 340/856.3, 731/524.3, 731/521.9
• US Class Current: 166/250.15
• 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

Abstract

An automated method and system for determining the state of a drilling or other suitable well operations includes storing a plurality of states for the well operation. Mechanical and hydraulic data is received for the well operation. Based on the mechanical and hydraulic data, one of the states is automatically selected as the state of the well operation. Process evaluation may be performed based on the state of the well operation.

Claims

1. An automated method for determining the state of a well operation, comprising:

storing a plurality of states for a well operation;

receiving mechanical and hydraulic data reported for the well operation from a plurality of systems; and

determining that at least some of the data is valid by comparing the at least some of the data to at least one limit, the at least one limit indicative of a threshold at which the at least some of the data do not accurately represent the mechanical or hydraulic condition purportedly represented by the at least some of the data; and

when the at least some of the data are valid, based on the mechanical and hydraulic data, automatically selecting one of the states as the state of the well operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the well operation comprises a drilling operation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of states comprises a drilling state.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the drilling state comprises rotary drilling.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the drilling state comprises sliding.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of states comprises a testing state.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the testing state comprises a flow check on bottom.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the testing state comprises a flow check off bottom.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the testing state comprises a parameter check.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of states comprises a conditioning state.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the conditioning state comprises bottom hole conditioning.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the conditioning state comprises circulating off bottom.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of states comprises a tripping state.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the tripping state comprises tripping in hole.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the tripping state comprises reaming while tripping in hole.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the tripping state comprises working pipe while tripping in hole.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the tripping state comprises washing while tripping in hole.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the tripping state comprises back reaming while tripping out of hole.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the tripping state comprises working pipe while tripping out of hole.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the tripping state comprises washing while tripping out of hole.

21. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of states comprises at least a drilling state, a testing state, and a tripping state.

22. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining, based on the mechanical data, whether the hole is being made; and

wherein automatically selecting one of the states comprises selecting the state of the drilling operation based on whether the rig is making hole.

23. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining, based on the mechanical data, whether a drilling bit is on bottom; and

wherein automatically selecting one of the states as the state of the well operation comprises selecting the state of the drilling operation based on whether the drilling bit is on bottom.

24. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining, based on the hydraulic data, whether a drilling fluid is circulating; and

wherein automatically selecting one of the states as the state of the well operation comprises selecting the state of the drilling operation based on whether the drilling fluid is circulating.

25. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining, based on the mechanical data, whether a bit position is constant; and

wherein automatically selecting one of the states as the state of the well operation comprises selecting the state of the drilling operation based on whether the bit position is constant.

26. The method of claim 2, further comprising indicating the state of the drilling operation.

27. The method of claim 2, further comprising recognizing a drilling event based on the state of the drilling operation and data reported for the drilling operation.

28. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of states comprises an in slips state.

29. The method claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of states comprises a slip and cut line state.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the state of the well operation to evaluate parameters and provide control for the well operation.

31. An automated system for determining the state of a well operation comprising:

means for storing a plurality of states for a well operation;

means for determining that at least some received mechanical and hydraulic data is valid by comparing the at least some of the data to at least one limit, the at least one limit indicative of a threshold at which the at least some of the data does not accurately represent the mechanical or hydraulic condition purportedly represented by the at least some of the data; and

means for automatically selecting one of the states based on mechanical and hydraulic data as the state of the well operation when the at least some of the mechanical and hydraulic data are valid.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the well operation comprises a drilling operation.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein at least one of the plurality of the states comprises a drilling state.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the drilling state comprises rotary drilling.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the drilling state comprises sliding.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein the plurality of states comprises a testing state.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the testing state comprises a flow check on bottom.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the testing state comprises a flow check off bottom.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the testing state comprises a parameter check.

40. The system of claim 32, wherein at least one of the plurality of states comprises a conditioning state.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the conditioning state comprises bottom hole conditioning.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the conditioning state comprises circulating off bottom.

43. The system of claim 32, wherein at least one of the plurality of states comprises a tripping state.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the tripping state comprises tripping in hole.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the tripping state comprises reaming while tripping in hole.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the tripping state comprises working pipe while tripping in hole.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the tripping state comprises washing while tripping in hole.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein the tripping state comprises back reaming while tripping out of hole.

49. The system of claim 45, wherein the tripping state comprises working pipe while tripping out of hole.

50. The system of claim 45, wherein the tripping state comprises washing while tripping out of hole.

51. The system of claim 32, wherein the plurality of states comprises at least a drilling state, a testing state, and a tripping state.

52. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

means for determining whether the hole is being made based on the mechanical data; and

means for determining the state of the drilling operation based on whether the rig is making hole.

53. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

means for determining whether a drilling bit is on bottom based on the mechanical data; and

means for determining the state of the drilling operation based on whether the drilling bit is on bottom.

54. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

means for determining whether a drilling fluid is circulating based on the hydraulic data; and

means for determining the state of the drilling operation based on whether the drilling fluid is circulating.

55. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

means for determining whether a bit position is constant based on the mechanical data; and

means for determining the state of the drilling operation based on whether the bit position is constant.

56. The system of claim 32, further comprising means for indicating the state of the drilling operation.

57. The system of claim 32, further comprising means for recognizing a drilling event based on the state of the drilling operation and data reported for the drilling operation.

58. The system of claim 32, wherein at least one of the plurality of states comprises an in slips state.

59. The system claim 32, wherein at least one of the plurality of states comprises a slip and cut line state.

60. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for using the state of the well operation to evaluate parameters and provide control for the operation.

61. An automated system for determining the state of a well operation, comprising:

logic encoded in media; and

the logic operable to receive mechanical and hydraulic data reported for the well operation from a plurality of systems, determine that at least some of the received data is valid by comparing the at least some of the received data to at least one limit, the at least one limit indicative of a threshold at which the at least some of the received data do not accurately represent the condition purportedly represented by the at least some of the received data, and to automatically select one of the states as the state of the well operation based on the mechanical and hydraulic data when the at least some of the received data are valid.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the well operation comprises a drilling operation.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein at least one of the plurality of states comprises a drilling state.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the drilling state comprises rotary drilling.

65. The system of claim 63, wherein the drilling state comprises sliding.

66. The system of claim 62, wherein the at least one of the plurality of states comprises a testing state.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein the testing state comprises a flow check on bottom.

68. The system of claim 66, wherein the testing state comprises a flow check off bottom.

69. The system of claim 66, wherein the testing state comprises a parameter check.

70. The system of claim 62, wherein at least one of the plurality of states comprises a conditioning state.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein the conditioning state comprises bottom hole conditioning.

72. The system of claim 70, wherein the conditioning state comprises circulating off bottom.

73. The system of claim 70, wherein at least one of the plurality of states comprises a tripping state.

74. The system of claim 73, wherein the tripping state comprises tripping in hole.

75. The system of claim 73, wherein the tripping state comprises reaming while tripping in hole.

76. The system of claim 73, wherein the tripping state comprises working pipe while tripping in hole.

77. The system of claim 73, wherein the tripping state comprises washing while tripping in hole.

78. The system of claim 73, wherein the tripping state comprises back reaming while tripping out of hole.

79. The system of claim 73, wherein the tripping state comprises working pipe while tripping out of hole.

80. The system of claim 73, wherein the tripping state comprises washing while tripping out of hole.

81. The system of claim 62, wherein the plurality of states comprises at least a drilling state, a testing state, and a tripping state.

82. The system of claim 62, the logic further operable to:

determine whether the hole is being made based on the mechanical data; and

determine the state of the drilling operation based on whether the rig is making hole.

83. The system of claim 62, the logic further operable to:

determine whether a drilling bit is on bottom based on the mechanical data; and

determine the state of the drilling operation based on whether the drilling bit is on bottom.

84. The system of claim 62, the logic further operable to:

determine whether a drilling fluid is circulating based on the hydraulic data; and

determine the state of the drilling operation based on whether the drilling fluid is circulating.

85. The system of claim 62, the logic further operable to:

determine whether a bit position is constant based on the mechanical data; and

determine the state of the drilling operation based on whether the bit position is constant.

86. The system of claim 62, the logic further operable to indicate the state of the drilling operation.

87. The system of claim 62, the logic further operable to recognize a drilling event based on the state of the drilling operation and data reported for the drilling operation.

88. The system of claim 62, wherein at least one of the plurality of states comprises an in slips state.

89. The system claim 62, wherein at least one of the plurality of states comprises a slip and cut line state.

90. The system of claim 61, the logic further operable to use the state of the well operation to evaluate parameters and provide control for the operation.

91. An automated method for determining a state of a drilling operation comprising:

receiving mechanical and hydraulic data reported for a drilling operation;

based on the mechanical and hydraulic data, determining a state of the drilling operation;

wherein the state of the drilling operation is determined to be;

drilling if;

a hole is being made;

or

a hole is not being made, a drill bit associated with the drilling operation is on bottom and drilling fluid associated with the drill bit is circulating;

testing/conditioning if;

a hole is not being made, the drill bit is on bottom and the drilling fluid is not circulating;

or

a hole is not being made, the drill bit is off bottom and the drill bit has a constant position; and

tripping/reaming if;

a hole is not being made, the drill bit is off bottom and the position of the drill bit is not constant.

92. The method of claim, 91, wherein the state of the drilling operation is determined to be in slips if a hole is not being made, the drill bit is off bottom, the drill bit has a constant bit position and a hook load associated with the drilling operation is substantially equal to a block weight associated with the drilling operation.

93. The method of claim 91, wherein the state of the drilling operation is determined to be slip and cut line if a hole is not being made, the drill bit is off bottom, the drill bit has a constant bit position and a hook load associated with the drilling operation is less than a block weight associated with the drilling operation.

94. An automated method for determining the state of a well operation, comprising:

storing a plurality of states comprising at least a productive and a non-productive state for the well operation;

receiving mechanical and hydraulic data reported for the well operation; and

determining that at least some of the data is valid by comparing the data to at least one limit, the at least one limit indicative of a threshold at which the at least some of the data do not accurately represent the mechanical or hydraulic condition purportedly represented by the at least some of the data; and

when the at least some of the data are valid, based on the mechanical and hydraulic data, automatically selecting one of the plurality of states as the state of the well operation.

95. The method of claim 94, wherein the well operation comprises a drilling operation.

96. The method of claim 95, wherein the productive state comprises a drilling state.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein the drilling state comprises rotary drilling.

98. The method of claim 96, wherein the drilling state comprises sliding.

99. The method of claim 95, wherein the non-productive state comprises a planned state.

100. The method of claim 99, wherein the planned state comprises at least one of a connection state, a maintenance state and a tripping state.

101. The method of claim 95, wherein the non-productive state comprises an unplanned state.

102. The method of claim 101, wherein the unplanned state comprises at least one of a conditioning state and a testing state.

103. The method of claim 94, wherein the state is selected without direct input from an operator.

104. The method of claim 94, wherein the state is selected without input from an operator.

105. An automated system for determining the state of a well operation, comprising:

logic encoded in media; and

the logic operable to receive mechanical and hydraulic data reported for the well operation, determine that at least some of the received data is valid by comparing the data to at least one limit, the at least one limit indicative of a threshold at which at least some of the data do not accurately represent the condition purportedly represented by the at least some of the received data, and to automatically select one of a productive state and a non-productive state as a state of the well operation based on the mechanical and hydraulic data when the at least some of the received data are valid.

106. The method of claim 105, wherein the well operation comprises a drilling operation.

107. The method of claim 106, wherein the productive state comprises a drilling state.

108. The method of claim 107, wherein the drilling state comprises rotary drilling.

109. The method of claim 107, wherein the drilling state comprises sliding.

110. The method of claim 106, wherein the non-productive state comprises a planned state.

111. The method of claim 110, wherein the planned state comprises at least one of a connection state, a maintenance state and a tripping state.

112. The method of claim 106, wherein the non-productive state comprises an unplanned state.

113. The method of claim 112, wherein the unplanned state comprises at least one of a conditioning state and a testing state.

114. The method of claim 105, wherein the state is selected without direct input from an operator.

115. The method of claim 105, wherein the state is selected without input from an operator.