Downhole Carrier Spiraling Detection From Frequency Profiles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Spiraling effects in boreholes due to deformation of drill string components lead to increased rugosity, deviation from planned trajectories, and negative impacts on subterranean operations such as hydrocarbon production and geothermal extraction, affecting measurements sensitive to standoff like resistivity and neutron measurements.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for detecting and correcting spiraling in downhole carriers by deploying sensors to acquire time-based and time-depth data, generating frequency profiles, and taking corrective action based on amplitude analysis to mitigate spiraling effects, which can be performed in real-time or offline.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If drill string components rotate during drilling operations, then drilling progress is achieved, but spiraling deformation occurs causing increased rugosity and trajectory deviation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling progressVSAvoidborehole trajectory accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of spiraling conditions by analyzing sensor data (accelerometers, gyroscopes) to identify deformation patterns before they cause significant trajectory deviation. This allows preventive corrective actions to be taken, such as adjusting drill string rotation parameters or stabilizer positions, thereby maintaining drilling progress while preventing accuracy degradation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors drill string deformation using sensors and provides real-time feedback on spiraling conditions. This feedback loop enables dynamic adjustment of drilling parameters (rotation speed, weight on bit, stabilizer activation) to counteract spiraling effects, allowing the system to maintain both productivity and trajectory precision by balancing rotational forces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If drill string rotation is increased to improve drilling speed, then productivity increases, but spiraling effects are amplified

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling speedVSAvoidspiraling deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts drill string rotation parameters based on real-time deformation monitoring. When sensors detect early signs of spiraling, the system automatically modulates rotation speed or activates stabilizers to counteract the deformation. This dynamic control allows the system to maintain high drilling speeds during normal operation while preventing spiraling amplification through adaptive parameter adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters (rotation speed, stabilizer position, weight on bit) in response to detected spiraling conditions. By monitoring deformation patterns and adjusting parameters accordingly, the system can reduce rotation speed or activate stabilizing mechanisms to counteract spiraling effects, thereby maintaining productivity while limiting the amplification of harmful deformation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If manual monitoring and correction of spiraling is performed, then operational complexity is reduced, but detection precision and response time are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring system simplicityVSAvoidspiraling detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-monitoring and self-correction of spiraling conditions through automated sensor data analysis and control algorithms. The multi-sensor system (accelerometers, gyroscopes, position sensors) continuously detects deformation patterns and automatically triggers corrective actions without requiring manual intervention. This self-service capability maintains operational simplicity while achieving high detection precision through sophisticated sensor fusion and real-time data processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables real-time automatic detection and correction of spiraling, allowing for improved drilling accuracy and reduced impact on formation areas, enhancing the quality of measurements and operational efficiency in subterranean operations.

Implementation Method 1

acquiring time based data from at least one sensor disposed at the carrier

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAccelerometer detection: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

generating a frequency profile by transforming the depth based profile into the frequency domain

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFourier transform:

Data Source

PatentUS11434694B2Automated spiraling detection

Publication Date: 2022.09.06 BAKER HUGHES CO

AI summary

An embodiment of a method of detecting and correcting for spiraling in a downhole carrier includes: deploying the carrier in a borehole in an earth formation as part of a subterranean operation; acquiring time based data from at least one sensor disposed at the carrier; acquiring time and depth data, the time and depth data correlating time values with depths of the carrier; generating a depth based profile based on the time based data and the time and depth data; generating a frequency profile by transforming the depth based profile into the frequency domain; detecting a spiraling event based on an amplitude of the frequency profile; and taking corrective action based on detecting the spiraling event.