Directional Well Trajectory Correction With Candidate Path Evaluation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Directional drillers often face situations where they need to deviate from automatically generated correctional trajectories in directional drilling, seeking alternative options to return to the planned well trajectory.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows directional drillers to explore and evaluate multiple correctional trajectories before deciding on the best path to return to the planned well trajectory, incorporating user input and constraints from the well plan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If software automatically generates a correctional trajectory to return the BHA to the planned trajectory, then the well path can be corrected efficiently, but the directional driller loses the ability to explore alternative options and make informed decisions
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to the directional driller by displaying multiple candidate correctional trajectories generated from automated calculations. The software calculates several possible trajectories that would return the BHA to the planned well path and presents these options to the driller, allowing informed decision-making while maintaining operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically generates multiple correctional trajectory options based on real-time BHA position data and well plan constraints. Rather than providing a single static correction path, the software creates and updates multiple dynamic trajectory options that adapt to current drilling conditions and driller preferences.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system provides multiple correctional trajectory options to the directional driller, then the driller can make informed decisions, but the system complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The software generates a limited number of candidate correctional trajectories (excessive enough to provide options, but not so many as to overwhelm the driller or excessive computational resources). This partial action approach provides sufficient alternatives for informed decision-making while maintaining system simplicity and fast computation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system varies parameters of correctional trajectories such as build rate, azimuth change, and depth to KOP to generate multiple distinct candidate paths. By changing these key parameters within realistic drilling constraints, the software creates diverse trajectory options without requiring complex system architecture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system calculates and displays multiple candidate correctional trajectories, then the directional driller can evaluate alternatives, but the time required to generate and present options increases
Solution Approach 1:
The software performs preliminary calculations to generate multiple candidate correctional trajectories in advance, before the driller needs to make a decision. By pre-calculating several viable options based on current BHA position and well plan data, the system reduces the time required when the driller needs to evaluate alternatives and select a correction path.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, drilling systems, and computer-readable media for evaluating candidate correctional trajectories for a directional drilling well. If the user wishes to investigate alternatives trajectories or trajectories to get a BHA back to a planned trajectory, the computing system allows the user to enter one or more intermediate targets. The computing system generates drilling parameters for the alternative targets and displays them to the user. The user can adjust parameters and intermediate targets, as well as drilling parameters, to investigate a range of possible solutions before selecting an update to the planned trajectory.