3D toolface wellbore steering visualization

• US 10,672,154 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2016
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nabors Drillling Technologies USA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nabors Drilling Technologies USA, Inc. (Nabors Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Gillen, Colin, Boone, Scott Gilbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malikasim, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US15/051,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20170243383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/024 of devices in the borehole determining slope or direction of the borehole E21B47/022
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/04 Directional drilling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2215/16 Using real world measurements to influence rendering

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for producing a three-dimensional visualization of a drill plan and drilling motor with a toolface are provided for drill steering purposes. A drilling motor with a toolface in communication with a sensor system is provided. A controller in communication with the sensor system is operable to generate a depiction of the drill plan and a depiction of the drilling motor, and to combine these depictions in a three-dimensional visualization of the downhole environment. This visualization is used by a user to steer the drill.

Claims

1. A drilling apparatus comprising:

a drill string comprising a plurality of tubulars and a drill bit;

a top drive unit configured to rotate the drill string;

a first sensor system connected to the drill string and configured to detect one or more measurable parameters of the drill bit;

a controller in communication with the first sensor system, wherein the controller is operable to generate a three-dimensional depiction of a location of the drill bit based on the one or more measurable parameters of the drill bit, wherein the controller is further operable to generate a three-dimensional depiction of a drill plan; and

a display device in communication with the controller, the display device configured to display to an operator a visualization of an underground environment from a viewpoint looking down the drill string, the visualization comprising the three-dimensional depiction of the location of the drill bit down the drill string from the viewpoint and the three-dimensional depiction of the drill plan from the viewpoint in real time, the visualization comprising a positional difference between the three-dimensional depiction of the location of the drill bit and the three-dimensional depiction of the drill plan, the visualization further comprising a first indicator extending from the three-dimensional depiction of the location of the drill bit from the viewpoint and indicating a direction toward the three-dimensional depiction of the drill plan, the visualization further comprising a second indicator showing a range of acceptable deviation from the indicated direction toward the three-dimensional depiction of the drill plan.

2. The drilling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the visualization further comprises a representation of the one or more measurable parameters of the drill bit.

3. The drilling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more measurable parameters comprise an inclination measurement, an azimuth measurement, a toolface angle, and a hole depth.

4. The drilling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to generate a three-dimensional depiction of the drill string, and wherein the visualization further comprises the three-dimensional depiction of the drill string.

5. The drilling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to generate an error margin measurement based on a second positional difference between an advisory toolface angle and an actual toolface angle, and wherein the visualization further comprises the error margin measurement.

6. The drilling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a motor located between a distal end of the drill string and the drill bit that is configured to drive the drill bit.

7. The drilling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to identify a quill position, and wherein the visualization further comprises a depiction of the quill position.

8. The drilling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second sensor system in communication with the top drive unit, wherein the second sensor system is configured to receive one or more operational parameters of the drill string.

9. The drilling apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller is in communication with the second sensor system, wherein the controller is operable to generate a three-dimensional depiction of the drill string based on the one or more measurable parameters of the drill bit and the one or more operational parameters of the drill string.

10. The drilling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to generate a three-dimensional depiction of a plurality of prior drill string positions, and wherein the visualization further comprises the three-dimensional depiction of the plurality of prior drill string positions.

11. The drilling apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to generate a positional trend of the drill string based on the plurality of prior drill string positions, and wherein the visualization further comprises the positional trend of the drill string based on the plurality of prior drill string positions.

12. The drilling apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to generate a two-dimensional overlay representing the plurality of prior drill string positions centered on the three-dimensional depiction of the plurality of prior drill string positions, and wherein the visualization further comprises the two-dimensional overlay.

13. An apparatus for steering a bottom hole assembly comprising:

a controller configured to receive data representing measured parameters indicative of positional information of a bottom hole assembly comprising a drill bit on a drill string in a downhole environment, wherein the controller is operable to generate a three-dimensional visualization of an underground environment from a perspective looking down the drill string, the visualization comprising a three-dimensional depiction of a most recent drill bit position based on the measured parameters indicative of positional information and a three-dimensional depiction of a drill plan, the controller being arranged to receive and implement steering changes from an operator to steer the drill string; and

a display in communication with the controller viewable by the operator, the display configured to display the visualization comprising the three-dimensional depiction of the most recent drill bit position and the three-dimensional depiction of the drill plan, and the visualization comprising a positional difference between the three-dimensional depiction of the most recent drill bit position and the three-dimensional depiction of the drill plan from the perspective of the drill string;

the visualization further comprising an indicator extending from the three-dimensional depiction of the most recent drill bit position and indicating a range of acceptable deviation from an indicated direction toward the three-dimensional depiction of the drill plan.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the measured position of the drill bit is based on one or more of an inclination measurement, an azimuth measurement, a toolface angle, and a hole depth.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to generate a three-dimensional depiction of a drill string, and wherein the visualization further comprises the three-dimensional depiction of the drill string.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to determine an error margin measurement based on a second positional difference between an advisory toolface angle and the actual toolface angle, and wherein the visualization further comprises the error margin measurement.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to generate a three-dimensional depiction of a plurality of prior drill bit positions, and wherein the visualization further comprises a depiction of the plurality of prior drill bit positions.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to determine a positional trend of the drill bit based on the plurality of prior drill bit positions, and wherein the visualization further comprises the positional trend of the drill bit.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to generate a two-dimensional overlay representing the plurality of prior drill bit positions centered on the three-dimensional depiction of the most recent drill bit position, and wherein the visualization further comprises the two-dimensional overlay centered on the three-dimensional depiction of the most recent drill bit position.

20. A method of directing the operation of a drilling system, comprising;

inputting a drill plan into a controller in communication with the drilling system;

driving a bottom hole assembly comprising a drill bit disposed at an end of a drill string;

receiving sensor data from one or more sensors adjacent to or carried on the bottom hole assembly;

calculating, with the controller, a position of the drill bit based on the received sensor data;

determining, with the controller, a range of acceptable deviation from the drill plan;

calculating, with the controller, a positional difference between the drill plan and the calculated position of the drill bit;

determining, with the controller, if the positional difference between the drill plan and the calculated position of the drill bit falls within the range of acceptable deviation from the drill plan;

displaying a three-dimensional visualization based on the drill plan, the sensor data, and the calculated position of the drill bit, wherein the three-dimensional visualization comprises a visual representation of an underground environment from a perspective looking down the drill string, the visualization depicting the positional difference between the drill plan and the calculated position of the drill bit and whether the positional difference between the drill plan and the calculated position of the drill falls within the range of acceptable deviation from the drill plan, the visualization further including an indicator extending from the calculated position of the drill bit and indicating an optimized path toward the drill plan; and

using the display as a reference in directing a change of position of the drill bit.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the sensor data comprises one or more of an inclination measurement, an azimuth measurement, a toolface angle, and a hole depth measurement.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the visualization further comprises a three-dimensional depiction of the calculated position of the drill bit and a three-dimensional depiction of the drill plan.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the visualization further comprises an error margin measurement based on a second positional difference between an advisory toolface angle and an actual toolface angle.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the visualization further comprises a depiction of a plurality of prior drill bit positions.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the visualization further comprises a positional trend of the drill bit based on the plurality of prior drill bit positions.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the visualization further comprises a two-dimensional overlay representing the plurality of prior drill bit positions centered on a three-dimensional depiction of a calculated position of the drill bit.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising displaying an updated three-dimensional visualization of the underground environment based on the changed position of the drill bit.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the updated three-dimensional visualization comprises an updated positional difference between the drill plan and the calculated position of the drill bit and the indicator extending from the calculated position of the drill bit and indicating the optimized path toward the drill plan.