Method for acquiring and displaying in near real time gas analysis, well data collection, and other well logging data

• US 8,775,088 B1
• Filed: 01/30/2013
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Selman and Associates Limited
• Original Assignee: Selman and Associates Limited
• Inventors: Selman, Thomas H., Jennings, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schechter, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): KUAN, JOHN CHUNYANG
• Application Number:
  US13/754,818
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 702/6, 702/9, 702/11, 702/188, 731/520.2, 731/520.4, 175/40, 367/25, 166/264
• US Class Current: 702/9
• 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 47/00 Survey of boreholes or wells monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08
• 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

The method uses a gas processor, various data collection devices each having a unique device protocol to receive drilling data, calibrate the devices and graphically present the data using both time events and depth events. The method includes computer implemented steps to scale the data and form the geological-hydrocarbon executive dashboard for transmission to various client devices to obtain real time streaming data, real time calibration information, while adding and removing detection devices and sensors online without shutting down the entire monitoring and analysis system for instant display.

Claims

1. A method for creating an executive dashboard of geological-hydrocarbon drilling information using fluid samples from a wellbore for a drilling rig, wherein the executive dashboard is viewable simultaneously on a plurality of client devices, wherein each client device of the plurality of client device has a display and communicates over a network, wherein the geological-hydrocarbon drilling information is updated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as depth based drilling events and time based drilling events occur and as fluid analysis occurs, wherein the method comprises:

a) using a gas processor with a gas processor data storage in communication with a network, wherein the gas processor and the gas processor data storage communicate with at least one client device of the plurality of client devices;

b) using at least one fluid detector to perform fluid data and gas chemical analysis on a fluid sample from the wellbore, wherein the at least one fluid detector is selected from the group comprising;

a gas chromatograph, a total hydrocarbon detector, a carbon dioxide detector, a hydrogen sulfide detector, and a helium detector, and providing the fluid data and gas chemical analysis to the gas processor data storage via the network;

c) using at least one rig detector to collect data from the drilling rig, the at least one rig detector selected from the group comprising;

a pump stroke counter, a pump pressure sensor, a hook load sensor, a depth sensor, and an on/off bottom sensor, wherein each fluid detector and each rig detector have a device protocol and wherein each fluid detector and each rig detector are connected to the network for communication with the gas processor for transmitting the collected data from the at least one rig detector to the gas processor data storage via the network;

d) using a device protocol interface to communicate among the at least one rig detector, the at least one fluid detector and the gas processor data storage;

e) using a database in the gas processor data storage, to receive, store and compile chemical content of fluids and data collected from each fluid detector, each rig detector, and combinations thereof;

f) forming an executive dashboard to track drilling progress, wherein the executive dashboard comprises;

a plurality of digital data track displays, a unit section, a digital display of a data value received last in time by the gas processor data storage, an identifier for the data being tracked, a time versus depth value graph depicting time and depth simultaneously, a switch index mode button for switching between a time index and a depth index, a layout data tracks button to control a size, a number of tracks, and a type of data tracks on the executive dashboard, and a status indicator of the drilling operation that can change colors to indicate one or more status of the drilling operation and provide a visual indication that data are being received from the at least one fluid detector and the at least one rig detector;

g) populating the formed executive dashboard with data from the database and (i) directly measured fluid data, (ii) imported measured fluid data and (iii) analyzed fluid data;

h) forming an operator dashboard in the gas processor data storage to track drilling progress, wherein the operator dashboard comprises;

a graphical representation of calibrated data, a graphical representation of acquired chromatographic data, a calibrated chromatographic data section, and at least one graphical operator data track section;

i) populating the formed operator dashboard with data from the database and (i) directly measured fluid data, (ii) imported measured fluid data, and (iii) analyzed fluid data;

j) transmitting the populated executive dashboard and the populated operator dashboard simultaneously to one of the plurality of client devices connected to the network;

k) performing continuous data collection and data analysis with the at least one fluid detector and the at least one rig detector as;

a detector is added or a detector is removed from communication with the gas processor without shutting down other than the one detector all, or a portion of the data collection and data analysis performed using the gas processor;

l) calibrating online the at least one fluid detector and the at least one rig detector using the device protocol interface and each detector'"'"'s device protocol using a known gas and then creating a calibration table and calibrating the detectors; and

m) repeating fluid analysis and rig detection, and updating the executive dashboard and the operator dashboard as the fluid analysis and rig detection is completed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting to a local rig server, a remote rig server, or combinations thereof, via the network, to receive sensor information or analysis information from the local rig server, remote rig server and combinations thereof, to update the executive dashboard as the analyzing, importing, and measuring is completed.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising calibrating at least one of the fluid detectors, automatically.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of the fluid detectors is the gas chromatograph or the total hydrocarbon detector.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the calibrating steps comprise:

a) closing off a conduit that passes a fluid sample to the gas chromatograph, total hydrocarbon detector, or both;

b) identifying when the gas chromatograph or the total hydrocarbon detector are stabilized at or near zero;

c) injecting a first known gas into the gas chromatograph and a second known gas into the total hydrocarbon detector;

d) causing components of the first known gas and the second known gas to be identified in the gas chromatograph and the total hydrocarbon detector;

e) comparing the identified components of the first known gas and the second known gas to a calibration table for the first known gas and the second known gas wherein the calibration table is stored in the gas processor data storage;

f) setting span calibration points for the gas chromatograph and the total hydrocarbon detector for each identified component from the first known gas and the second known gas, into the calibration table;

g) stopping the injection of the first known gas and the second known gas into the gas chromatograph and the total hydrocarbon detector;

h) using additional known gases with the gas chromatograph and the total hydrocarbon detector to identify additional calibration points in the calibration table; and

i) opening the conduit that passes the fluid sample to the gas chromatograph and the total hydrocarbon detector.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the operator dashboard further comprises:

an acquired data section, a calibrated drilling data section, and an alarm set section that includes a section for an operator to input or select alarm criteria.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the operator dashboard further comprises:

a representation of calibrated data related to well flow rates, a pressure display, and a calibrated drawworks section.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising tracking drilling progress for multiple wells simultaneously using the executive dashboard.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a quantity of time on the executive dashboard to indicate how much time must pass before a sample is collected.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting a circulation status on the executive dashboard which reveals a quantity of bottoms up.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating an alarm when acquired data, calibrated data, or combinations thereof, are above or below a preset limit.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising scaling calibrated data enabling a user to view an entire range of calibrated values on the executive dashboard.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the executive dashboard further comprises an upper scale bound section, a lower scale bound section, an identifier number section, a graphical data track section, a menu button, a scroll left button, a scroll right button, a zoom in button, a scroll down button, a scroll up button, a zoom out button, or an alarm indicator that can change color to indicate if the alarm is on or off.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the executive dashboard further comprises a time stamp for the last time data was downloaded, a current view time section, a “

my tool”

button, and a help button.