Downhole Drill String Tracking via Computer Vision

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional methods for recording interest points within a borehole during drilling are prone to human error and are time and labor intensive, lacking efficiency in tracking drill string components and their interactions with various conditions.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that determine the position of drill string components relative to interest points, generating output responses including alerts and control signals for drilling equipment, and displaying a map with indicators that change based on these comparisons, enabling real-time monitoring and prediction of drill string status.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional manual recording methods are used by human operators, then the system is simple to implement, but the accuracy and reliability of interest point tracking deteriorate due to human error

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical recording operations with an automated computer vision system that uses cameras, image processing algorithms, and machine learning models to detect and track drill string components and interest points, thereby eliminating human error while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service tracking by automatically capturing images, identifying components, determining positions, and recording interest points without requiring human operators to manually monitor and record data, thus improving reliability through automated self-monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If manual tracking methods are used, then the device complexity is low, but the productivity and efficiency of drilling operations deteriorate due to time-consuming manual processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling operation efficiencyVSAvoidtracking system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes manual tracking operations with an automated computer vision system that continuously monitors drill string components and interest points in real-time, significantly improving productivity by eliminating time-consuming manual recording while managing system complexity through integrated automated processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous automated tracking and monitoring of drill string components and interest points throughout the drilling operation, ensuring uninterrupted data collection and analysis thereby maintaining high productivity without manual intervention gaps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Measurement precision

If real-time automated tracking is implemented, then the measurement precision of drill string position improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional sensors and processing systems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition detection accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs computer vision technology with cameras and image processing to detect and measure the positions of drill string components and interest points with high precision, replacing less accurate manual methods while managing complexity through software-based processing rather than additional physical sensors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates visual copies (images) of the drill string and borehole environment, which are then processed to extract precise position information, thereby achieving high measurement precision through digital representation rather than direct physical measurement instruments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Loss of information

If comprehensive tracking of all drill string components is performed, then the quantity of information available for decision-making increases, but the loss of time for data processing and analysis worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation availabilityVSAvoiddata processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary automated processing of visual data, pre-identifying drill string components and interest points as they appear in the field of view, so that position tracking and analysis can proceed efficiently without time-consuming manual intervention later, thereby maintaining high information availability while reducing processing delays

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20240401459A1System sequential status indicator for downhole tracking

Publication Date: 2024.12.05 HELMERICH & PAYNE TECH LLC

AI summary

A drilling system and method may be used with a drilling rig for tracking one or more drill string components relative to one or more blockages, obstacles, and/or other conditions that may affect the progress of the drill string components within the borehole and/or during travelling into and/or out of the borehole. An output response may be generated based on the tracking of the drill string components, and the output response may include, but is not limited to, controlling one or more pieces of drilling equipment, controlling a drilling process, and/or generating a visualization of a status of the drill string components.