Wellbore drilling method

• US 7,832,500 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2004
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Aldred, Walter D., Pirovolou, Dimitrios, Garcia, Ernesto, Ciglenec, Reinhart, Tabanou, Jacques R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr.; Richard E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith; Matthew J
• Application Number:
  US10/708,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20050189142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,451 Days
• Field of Search: 175/24, 175/40, 702/9, 3408531-8533, 340/856.3, 340/854.6, 166/267
• US Class Current: 175/24
• 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 47/12 Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling

Abstract

A method and apparatus for drilling at least one wellbore from an offsite location is provided. Each wellbore is located at a wellsite having a drilling rig with a downhole drilling tool suspended therefrom. The downhole drilling tool is selectively advanced into the earth to form the wellbore. The downhole drilling tool is operated according to a wellsite setup. Wellsite parameters are collected from a plurality of sensors positioned about the wellsite. The wellsite parameters are transmitted to an offsite control center. The offsite control center performs an analysis of the wellsite parameters and automatically adjusts the wellsite setup from the offsite control center based on the analysis.

Claims

1. A method for drilling at least two wellbores from an offsite location, each of the at least two wellbores located at a respective wellsite having a drilling rig with a downhole drilling tool suspended therefrom, comprising:

selectively advancing each of the downhole drilling tools into the earth to form the at least two wellbores, the downhole drilling tools operated according to respective wellsite setups;

collecting wellsite parameters from a plurality of sensors positioned about the wellsites;

transmitting at least a portion of the wellsite parameters from each of the wellsites to an offsite control center;

performing an analysis of the wellsite parameters from each of the wellsites, wherein the analysis of the wellsite parameters from each of the wellsites comprises;

comparing the wellsite parameters from each of the wellsites to the respective wellsite setup to determine any deviation from the wellsite setup; and

combining and comparing the wellsite parameters from each of the wellsites for synergistic analysis of the wellbore parameters; and

transmitting a command from the offsite control center to a transceiver positioned at each of the wellsites, wherein the command alters a trajectory of the downhole drilling tool and is based on the analysis of the wellsite parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising manually adjusting the wellsite setup at the wellsite.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically adjusting the wellsite setup at the wellsite.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the automatic adjustments are made by one of a surface control unit, a downhole control unit and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the sensors are positioned about one of a surface system of the wellsite, a downhole system of the wellsite, the wellbore and an adjacent formation and combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing an offsite communication link between the offsite control center and the wellsite.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the offsite communication link is between the offsite control center and a surface control unit at the wellsite.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising establishing an onsite communication link between the surface control unit and one of a surface system of the wellsite, a downhole system of the wellsite, and combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the offsite communication link is between the offsite control center and the downhole tool.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a wellsite communication link between one or more wellsites.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising deploying a downhole tool into the wellbore.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the sensors are positioned about the downhole tool.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the drilling tool is removed prior to deploying the downhole tool, and reinserted after the removal of the downhole tool.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the downhole tool is one of a wireline tool, a coiled tubing tool, a rapid formation tester tool, an electromagnetic tool and combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameters are transmitted via one of satellite, cable, telecommunication lines, internet, radio, microwaves and combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting and adjusting steps are performed in real time.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting and adjusting steps are performed at intervals.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the drilling tool is one of a measurement while drilling tool, a logging while drilling tool, a wireline drilling tool, a casing drilling tool and combinations thereof.

19. A method for drilling at least two wellbores at a respective wellsite from an offsite location, comprising:

selectively operating at least two drilling tools according to a wellsite setup to form the at least two wellbores;

collecting wellsite parameters from a plurality of sensors positioned about at least two wellsites;

selectively adjusting each wellsite setup at the wellsite via a wellsite control unit;

transmitting at least a portion of the wellsite parameters from each of the wellsites to an offsite control center;

comparing each of the wellsite parameters from each of the wellsites to the respective wellsite setup to determine any deviation from the wellsite setup;

combining and comparing the wellsite parameters from each of the wellsites for synergistic analysis of the wellbore parameters; and

transmitting a command to automatically adjust drilling operation of the drilling tool positioned at each of the wellsites from the offsite control center based on an analysis of the wellsite parameters at the offsite control center.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising manually adjusting the wellsite setup at the wellsite.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising automatically adjusting the wellsite setup at the wellsite.

22. A method for drilling at least two wellbores from an offsite location, each of the at least two wellbores located at a respective wellsite having a drilling rig with a downhole drilling tool suspended therefrom, comprising:

selectively advancing each of the downhole drilling tools into the earth to form the at least two wellbores, the downhole drilling tools operated according to respective wellsite setups;

collecting wellsite parameters from a plurality of sensors positioned at or within a first wellbore and a second wellbore;

transmitting at least a portion of the wellsite parameters from each of the wellsites to an offsite control center, the wellsite parameters including information related to the first wellbore and the second wellbore;

performing an analysis of the wellsite parameters from each of the wellsites, wherein the analysis of the wellsite parameters from each of the wellsites comprises;

comparing the wellsite parameters from each of the wellsites to the respective wellsite setup to determine any deviation from the wellsite setup; and

combining and comparing the wellsite parameters from each of the wellsites for synergistic analysis of the wellbore parameters;

determining a drilling command at the offsite control center in response to each of the wellsite parameters;

transmitting the drilling command from the offsite control center to a surface control unit at each of the wellsites;

automatically transmitting the drilling command from the surface control unit to the downhole drilling tools; and

implementing the drilling command at the respective downhole drilling tools.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein implementing the drilling command comprises changing the wellsite setup.