Dynamic Drilling Parameter Limits for Stick-Slip Mitigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drilling automation systems struggle to dynamically adjust drilling parameters to optimize performance during drilling operations, often adhering to hard and sectional limits, which can lead to suboptimal results in certain conditions such as stick-slip vibrations, potentially damaging equipment and posing safety risks.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for dynamically adjusting drilling parameters in real-time by monitoring response measurements and comparing them to predefined windows, allowing temporary exceedance of sectional limits to mitigate specific drilling challenges, and resetting parameters once the condition is stabilized.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If drilling parameters are strictly kept within sectional limits, then equipment safety is maintained, but drilling performance may be suboptimal during specific events such as stick-slip vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment safetyVSAvoiddrilling performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts drilling parameter limits based on real-time monitoring of drilling responses and detected events. Instead of using static sectional limits, the system adapts the acceptable parameter ranges dynamically, allowing temporary exceedance of normal limits when specific events like stick-slip vibrations are detected, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter limits themselves based on operating conditions. When stick-slip vibrations are detected, the system modifies the acceptable RPM and weight on bit ranges, allowing parameters to temporarily exceed standard sectional limits to mitigate the vibrations, thereby maintaining equipment safety while improving drilling performance during problematic events

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If drilling parameters are increased to mitigate stick-slip vibrations, then vibration damage is reduced, but drilling parameters may temporarily exceed sectional limits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration damageVSAvoidparameter limit compliance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system takes preliminary action by detecting stick-slip vibrations and proactively adjusting drilling parameters before severe damage occurs. By monitoring drilling responses and identifying vibration patterns early, the system preemptively modifies parameters to prevent harmful vibrations, accepting temporary limit exceedance as necessary to avoid equipment damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the potentially harmful situation of parameter limit exceedance into a beneficial outcome by using controlled exceedance as a mitigation strategy. When stick-slip vibrations are detected, allowing parameters to temporarily exceed sectional limits becomes a deliberate action that reduces vibration damage, transforming what would normally be a violation into a protective measure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP4264012B1Dynamic adjustments of drilling parameter limits
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 SERVICES PETROLIERS SCHLUMBERGER SA
  • EP4264012B1 patent drawingFigure 1
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  • EP4264012B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, computing systems, and computer-readable media for dynamically adjusting drilling parameters during a drilling operation. The approach involves receiving, in real time, drilling parameter measurements and response measurements during a drilling operation. If the response measurements are below the lower limit of a window or trending downwards, the approach determines a new drilling parameter value that will increase the response measurement. The approach dynamically adjusts the drilling parameter value above the sectional limit, while still respecting hard limits. When the measured value improves, the approach returns the limit for the drilling parameter to the sectional limit.