Bottom Hole Assembly Probing for Borehole Tight Spot Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
During well construction operations, identifying and mitigating tight spots in the wellbore, which can cause increased drag forces and the risk of the drill string becoming stuck, is challenging due to the long length of the drill string and the difficulty in locating these spots with low uncertainty.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that monitors data measurements from a bottom hole assembly (BHA) to detect possible tight spots by satisfying thresholds, determines probe depths, generates a tight spot profile, and executes mitigating instructions to navigate through or clear these obstructions, using large diameter components as test probes and sensors to gather and process data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the drill string length is increased to reach deeper formations, then the drilling depth capability is improved, but the difficulty in locating tight spots increases due to uncertainty in drag force measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The drill string is segmented into multiple sections, each equipped with independent drag force sensors. This segmentation allows localization of tight spots to specific segments rather than the entire string, improving location precision despite the overall increased length of the drill string.
Solution Approach 2:
The approach transitions from one-dimensional drag force measurement (along the entire string) to multi-dimensional localization by distributing sensors across multiple spatial positions and depths. This enables precise tight spot identification by analyzing drag force patterns across different dimensions of the drill string structure.
2Measurement precision
If multiple drag force sensors are distributed along the drill string to improve tight spot location accuracy, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drag force sensors are integrated into universal BHA components that serve multiple functions including drilling, stabilization, and measurement. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by combining sensing capabilities with existing structural elements rather than adding separate dedicated sensing components.
Solution Approach 2:
The BHA components automatically perform dual functions: their primary drilling/stabilization function and the secondary function of measuring drag forces. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated measurement systems, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
3Reliability
If real-time drag force monitoring is implemented to detect tight spots, then the reliability of drilling operations is improved, but the use of energy increases due to continuous data acquisition and processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs event-driven monitoring that skips continuous measurement during normal operations and only activates intensive data acquisition when tight spot conditions are detected. This approach maintains high reliability by catching critical events while reducing energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system dynamically adjusts its measurement parameters and sampling frequency based on drilling conditions. During stable operations, measurements are taken at lower frequency to conserve energy, while automatically increasing measurement intensity when anomalies are detected, thus maintaining reliability while optimizing energy usage.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method includes monitoring, by a computing device, data measurements associated with a bottom hole assembly (BHA), and detecting, by the computing device, a plurality of possible tight instances. An individual possible tight spot instance is detected based on a data measurement satisfying a threshold. The method also includes determining, by the computing device, information identifying respective probe depths of a plurality of probes incorporated by the BHA for the individual possible tight spot instance, storing, by the computing device and in a table, the information identifying the respective probe depths for each possible tight spot instance, generating, by the computing device, a profile identifying tight spot depths based on information stored in the table; and executing, by the computing device, a mitigating instruction based on the profile to mitigate the presence of the identified tight spot depths.