Autoreaming systems and methods

• US 7,422,076 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varco I/P Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Varco I/P Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koederitz, William Leo, Porche, Michael Nathan, Thomas, C. Randall
• Primary Examiner(s): Bates; Zakiya W.
• Application Number:
  US11/514,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20070056772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 175/26
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/02 Automatic control of the tool feed E21B44/005, E21B44/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/28 Enlarging drilled holes, e.g. by counterboring

Abstract

Methods and systems for controlling movement of a bit of a drilling assembly during reaming of an already-drilled hole; the methods, in certain aspects, including determining a ream speed for downward movement of the bit in the hole, moving the bit downward in a hole at the ream speed, determining a time period for deceleration of the bit to the hole bottom, determining a value for a target drilling parameter for drilling beyond the bottom of the hole, decelerating the bit (linearly or non-linearly) for the time period, and achieving the value for the target drilling parameter when the bit reaches the bottom of the hole.

Claims

1. A method for controlling movement of a bit of a drilling assembly during reaming of an already-drilled hole, the method comprising

a.) determining a ream speed for downward movement of the bit in a hole, the hole having a hole bottom,

b.) moving the bit downward in the hole at said ream speed,

c.) determining a time period for deceleration of the downwardly moving bit to the hole bottom,

d.) determining a value for a target drilling parameter for drilling beyond the bottom of the hole,

e.) decelerating the bit for the time period, and

f.) achieving the value for the target drilling parameter when the bit reaches the bottom of the hole.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein

the already-drilled hole is not widened during reaming.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein

the bit moves a first distance at the ream speed and then

the bit moves a second distance during the time period, and

the second distance is a minimum distance within which a linear deceleration is achieved for the bit to be brought to the bottom of the hole.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein

a controller controls movement of the bit, and

the controller calculates the second distance.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein

a value for the ream speed is input into the controller,

a value for the time period is input into the computer, and

the controller controls the movement of the bit in the hole.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein

the controller inputs the ream speed value and the time period value automatically.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein

the deceleration is constant.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein

the target parameter is rate of penetration.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein

a controller automatically controls movement of the bit.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising

drilling the already-drilled hole with the bit past the hole bottom.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein

the controller automatically controls drilling by the bit after the bit is at the bottom of the hole to extend the hole past said bottom.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein

the time period has a beginning and an end, and

the decelerating occurs by sequentially decelerating to each of a plurality of intermediate setpoints between the beginning of the time period and the end of the time period, each intermediate setpoint corresponding to an intermediate value for the target drilling parameter.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the target drilling parameter is weight on bit, differential fluid pressure across a mud motor, bit rotational speed or torque on the bit.

14. A method for controlling movement of a bit of a drilling assembly during reaming of an already-drilled hole, the method comprising

determining a ream speed for downward movement of the bit,

moving the bit downward in a hole at said ream speed,

determining a time period for deceleration of the downwardly moving bit to the hole bottom,

determining a value for a target drilling parameter for drilling beyond the bottom of the hole,

decelerating the bit for the time period,

achieving the value for the target drilling parameter when the bit reaches the bottom of the hole,

the target drilling parameter is rate of penetration,

the bit moves a first distance at the ream speed,

the bit moves a second distance during the time period,

the second distance a minimum distance within which a linear deceleration is achieved for the bit to be brought to the bottom of the hole, and

a controller controls movement of the bit.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising

drilling the already-drilled hole with the bit past the hole bottom.

16. A system for controlling movement of a bit in reaming a hole, the system comprising:

a) a sensor for measuring a target drilling parameter associated with drilling past a bottom of an already-drilled hole, said reaming done by a system with a bit;

b) a controller to receive a measured target drilling parameter from the sensor and to compare the measured target drilling parameter to a predetermined setpoint for the measured target drilling parameter; and

c) the controller adjusting deceleration of the bit as the bit approaches the setpoint.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the measured target drilling parameter is rate of penetration.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein

the controller decelerates the bit so that the decelerating occurs by sequentially decelerating to each of a plurality of intermediate setpoints between a beginning of the time period and an end of the time period, each intermediate setpoint corresponding to an intermediate value for the target drilling parameter.

19. A computer readable medium containing instructions that, when executed, cause a controller to control operation of a drilling assembly with a bit according to the following method:

a.) determining a ream speed for downward movement of the bit in the hole, the hole having a hole bottom, b.) moving the bit downward in a hole at said ream speed, c.) determining a time period for deceleration of the downwardly moving bit to the hole bottom, d.) determining a value for a target drilling parameter for drilling beyond the bottom of the hole, e.) decelerating the bit for the time period, and f.) achieving the value for the target drilling parameter when the bit reaches the bottom of the hole.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein

the target parameter is rate of penetration.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein

the bit moves a first distance during the time period, and

the first distance is a minimum distance within which a linear deceleration can be achieved for the bit to be brought to the bottom of the hole.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the method includes

the time period has a beginning and an end, and

the decelerating occurs by sequentially decelerating to each of a plurality of intermediate setpoints between the beginning of the time period and the end of the time period, each intermediate setpoint corresponding to an intermediate value for the target drilling parameter.