Dynamic Boring Procedure Reconfiguration for HDD
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional horizontal directional drilling (HDD) techniques require skilled operators to manually monitor and adjust drilling procedures, leading to increased costs and potential inefficiencies due to the need for human intervention in responding to varying soil conditions and drilling dynamics.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for dynamically reconfiguring drilling procedures by monitoring parameters such as torsional pressure, rotational travel, hydraulic pressure, and axial displacement, and automatically switching between different drilling procedures based on threshold deviations, allowing for optimized boring through harder soils without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual monitoring and adjustment of drilling procedures is used, then skilled operators can respond to varying soil conditions, but drilling costs increase and inefficiencies occur due to human intervention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The drilling system automatically monitors parameters and adjusts procedures without human intervention. The controller system self-regulates drilling operations by comparing monitored parameters against threshold values and automatically switching between drilling procedures, eliminating the need for continuous manual oversight while maintaining adaptive response to soil conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors drilling parameters (torque, thrust, rotation speed, penetration rate) and uses this feedback to automatically adjust drilling procedures. The controller receives real-time data from sensors and modifies operational parameters based on predefined thresholds, creating a closed-loop control system that responds dynamically to changing soil conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If skilled operators manually adjust drilling procedures, then drilling can adapt to varying soil conditions, but the need for skilled operators increases costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/human system of operator judgment and manual control with an automated electronic control system. Sensors, controllers, and algorithms substitute for human operators, automatically adapting drilling procedures to soil conditions through electronic monitoring and adjustment of drilling parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically changes drilling parameters (rotation speed, thrust force, feed rate) based on monitored conditions and predefined thresholds. By establishing multiple drilling procedures with different parameter sets and automatically selecting appropriate procedures, the system achieves adaptability without requiring skilled human judgment.
3Productivity
If automatic switching between drilling procedures is implemented, then drilling efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system divides drilling operations into discrete procedures, each optimized for specific soil conditions. By segmenting the drilling process into manageable procedure blocks with defined parameter sets and switching criteria, the system achieves automatic adaptation without requiring overly complex continuous control algorithms.
Data Source
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AI summary
Various embodiments are directed to a method of switching horizontal directional drilling procedures during bore path turning. Such methods can include: identifying a hierarchal arrangement (210) of a plurality of different boring procedures utilizing different boring techniques, the hierarchy arrangement representing boring procedures of increasing ability to bore through harder soil while changing a trajectory of a boring tool; boring a first leg of a curved bore path using a boring tool connected to a drill rig by a drill string, the first leg being bored using a first boring procedure of the plurality of different boring procedures; monitoring a plurality of boring parameters (240) during boring of the first leg, the plurality of boring parameters comprising: torsional pressure of the drill string, rotational travel of the drill string, hydraulic pressure, and axial displacement; switching (260) from boring the first leg of the curved bore path using the first boring procedure to boring a second leg using a second boring procedure of the plurality of boring procedures, the switch based on one or more of the boring parameters deviating past a threshold.