Drill Path Smoothing via Predictive Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Directional drilling faces challenges in maintaining a smooth wellbore path, leading to tortuosity, which can result in stuck and fatigued pipe, collisions with nearby wells, and reduced drilling efficiency, due to complex downhole vibrations and limited sensor data with high noise levels and long transmission delays.

Innovation Solution

A drilling assembly steering system that utilizes a predictive module to model deviated paths and an optimization module to determine the most optimal correction path using a cost function, minimizing tortuosity by controlling drill bit orientation and automating the drilling process, incorporating a lumped-parameter method for real-time dynamics modeling and adaptive strategies to mitigate vibrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If directional drilling is used to drill long horizontal wells, then productivity and resource accessibility are improved, but wellbore tortuosity increases leading to stuck and fatigued pipe

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling efficiencyVSAvoidwellbore smoothness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors drill bit position using sensors and compares it to the target well path, then automatically adjusts drilling parameters in real-time to maintain alignment and minimize tortuosity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The autonomous drilling system self-corrects deviations from the target path by automatically adjusting drill bit orientation and drilling parameters without human intervention, maintaining optimal wellbore geometry throughout the drilling process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If automation is increased to reduce operational risks, then drilling efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases due to sensor limitations and noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling automationVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs sophisticated signal processing algorithms and filtering techniques as intermediaries to extract meaningful information from noisy sensor data, enabling reliable autonomous operation despite limited and contaminated measurements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts drilling parameters such as weight on bit, rotational speed, and feed rate based on real-time conditions and sensor feedback, optimizing performance while maintaining simplicity through adaptive parameter control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11421519B2Optimal control of a drill path using path smoothing

Publication Date: 2022.08.23 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

A drilling assembly control system is designed to control drill bit orientation such that a well path is followed that minimizes oscillations and deviations. When a deviation from the intended well path is detected, a predictive module models the deviated path. Using the modeled path, an optimization module utilizes a cost function and various constraints to analyze alternative correction paths in order to determine which correction path provides the most non-tortuous return to the intended well path.