Automated Slide Drilling Control for Torque Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transition from rotating drilling to slide drilling in directional drilling operations is complex, labor-intensive, and often inaccurate due to the need for precise manipulation of the drill string and toolface orientation, requiring multiple steps and adjustments to manage torque, hook load, and mud motor differential pressure.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced that automates slide drilling operations using a graphical user interface (GUI) to present selectable indicators for tasks related to slide drilling, allowing a controller to receive commands, execute workflows, and control drilling equipment, including removing trapped torque, auto-oscillating the drill string, tagging bottom, obtaining and maintaining a target toolface angle, and evaluating the drilling operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual manipulation of drawworks brake and rotary table is used to orient the bent segment and toolface, then precise orientation can be achieved, but the process becomes complex, labor intensive, and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses automated control where the controller automatically adjusts the drawworks brake and rotary table based on feedback from sensors and pre-programmed sequences, eliminating the need for manual manipulation while maintaining precision. The automation system serves itself by making real-time adjustments without human intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor toolface orientation and provide feedback to the controller. The controller uses this feedback to automatically adjust the bent segment orientation and toolface position, replacing manual manipulation with closed-loop automated control that maintains precision while reducing complexity.
2Measurement precision
If multiple adjustments are made to hook load, mud motor differential pressure, and drill string torque to position the toolface, then accurate orientation is achieved, but the process becomes labor intensive and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-programs the sequences of adjustments needed to position the toolface accurately. The controller executes these pre-planned adjustment sequences automatically, eliminating the time-consuming trial-and-error manual process while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated system continuously adjusts hook load, mud motor differential pressure, and drill string torque in a coordinated manner without interruption. This continuous automated adjustment process replaces the discontinuous, time-consuming manual adjustments while maintaining positioning accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual operation is used to manage torque, hook load, and mud motor differential pressure, then flexibility in handling different drilling conditions is maintained, but productivity decreases due to the complex, labor-intensive process
Solution Approach 1:
The automated control system is designed to handle multiple drilling functions and conditions through a single integrated controller. It can automatically manage torque, hook load, mud motor differential pressure, and toolface orientation, adapting to different drilling scenarios while improving productivity through automation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of automating a slide drilling operation comprising a plurality of tasks is described, in particular, reducing stored torque within a drill string that extends within a wellbore that includes storing, using a computing system, a first predetermined workflow to reduce stored torque within the drill string, and a second predetermined workflow to reduce stored torque within the drill string, wherein the first predetermined workflow comprises instructions to vertically move the drill string in first and opposing second directions; and wherein the second predetermined workflow comprises instructions to rotate the drill string in a first direction. Further included are a graphical user interface operably coupled to the computing system, a controller of the computing system receives a selection command selecting the first predetermined workflow or the second predetermined workflow, and a specific parameter is selected and one of the first and second predetermined workflows is automatically executed.