Well prog execution facilitation system and method

• US 8,386,059 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nabors Drillling Technologies USA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Canrig Drilling Technology Limited (Nabors Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Boone, Scott G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartman, Jr., Ronald
• Application Number:
  US12/976,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20110144809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700 19- 20, 700/65, 700/83, 700/86, 166/250.01, 166/250.15, 702/6, 702/9
• US Class Current: 700/65
• 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: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

A prog analysis and execution system and method. The system includes a computer control system, an interface engine in communication with the computer control system, the interface engine being configured to receive prog information, and an action item development engine in communication with the control system, the action item development engine being configured to analyze received prog information and to determine corresponding action items. The system further includes a sensor engine in communication with the computer control system, the sensor engine being configured to receive input from at least one sensor for use in controlling a well drilling operation, and an operational equipment engine in communication with the computer control system, the operational equipment engine being configured to receive input from the computer control system and to control the well drilling operation in accordance with the determined action items in the prog.

Claims

1. A transferable well prog system, comprising:

operational instructions based on a plurality of parameters for at least one well;

a logging system adapted to receive critical information indicative of a particular first event for the at least one well within a particular geologic region;

a database of events that constitute action items that require at least one procedure to be taken;

wherein data regarding the particular first event for the at least one well in the logging system of the well prog system is used to define an action item for a second particular event for at least one other well in the logging system.

2. The transferable well prog system of claim 1, wherein the particular event comprises an activity, a routine, an occurrence, or an action item.

3. The transferable well prog system of claim 1, further comprising one or more notifications that alert or remind a corresponding operator when a particular action needs to be taken during a drilling operation.

4. The transferable well prog system of claim 3, wherein a recipient(s) of each notification is required to respond before the drilling operation proceeds.

5. The transferable well prog system of claim 1, further comprising at least one input source to enter data into the well prog system or components thereof.

6. The transferable well prog system of claim 1, wherein the database of action items is adapted to have additional newly encountered action items added during the drilling process.

7. The transferable well prog system of claim 1, wherein the well prog system is searchable.

8. The transferable well prog system of claim 1, wherein the operator can add comments to the logging system.

9. The transferable well prog system of claim 1, wherein the at least one other well is adjacent to the geologic region.

10. The transferable well prog system of claim 1, wherein the logging system includes information from a sensor engine configured to measure or sense a parameter related to a component of a well drilling operation.

11. A transferable well prog system, comprising:

operational instructions based on a plurality of parameters for at least one well;

a logging system adapted to receive critical information indicative of a particular event for the at least one well within a particular geologic region;

a database of events that constitute action items that require at least one procedure to be taken;

wherein the well prog system from at least one well drilling operation is transferable to at least one other well,

wherein the plurality of parameters comprise;

well depth, a spud detail, a cementing detail, filing of a governmental form, running surface pipe, ordering pipe, ordering cement, testing a shoe, intermediate casing completion, liner run, reaching total depth, a log to run, a notification to make, a well log sample to deliver, information of interest about the formation, a disaster plan, joint service agreements for specific tasks, a well control procedure, logging run notification, a sample distribution list, a directional program, and expected days versus depth data.

12. A method for controlling a well drilling operation, comprising:

receiving a well prog;

assessing the well and adjusting the well prog regarding one or more parameters relative to a previously drilled well;

assessing the well prog to identify each action item;

associating a response with each identified action item;

storing the action items within the well prog;

controlling a well drilling operation in accordance with the response associated with each identified action item; and

updating the well prog for drilling a further well by adding to the well prog one or more additional events that arise during the well drilling operation.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein assessing the well prog to identify each action item comprises comparing a plurality of potential action items to a database of action items, and marking the data corresponding to the potential action items for later analysis.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more parameters relative to a previously drilled well are automatically acted upon when the well prog system is transferred to a well within the same geologic region.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein associating a response with each identified action item comprises matching identified action items with corresponding responses in a database of predetermined responses.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein associating a response with each identified action item comprises the operator selecting the response from a list of possible responses presented to the operator on a screen.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the further well is within the same geologic region as a prior well that used the same method.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising storing the physical parameters of the prior well within the well prog system.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising inputting operational instructions into a well prog system after assessing the well to identify newly encountered physical parameters within the well.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the operational instructions are automatically calibrated based on physical parameters of the well.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the well and well prog system are assessed during execution of the well prog.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein assessing the well and adjusting the well prog regarding one or more parameters relative to a previously drilled well comprises using a sensor engine to detect a condition or circumstance within the area of operation of the well.