MWD Tool String Operability Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In oilfield drilling operations, monitoring the performance of drilling tools while they are active and downhole is challenging, leading to inefficient operations and costly failures due to the difficulty in assessing the operational condition of MWD/LWD tool strings, which results in inefficient use and potential failure of drilling tools.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for efficiently processing voluminous MWD/LWD data to assess the operable condition of each constituent tool in the tool string, determining whether individual components meet predetermined operational metrics for continued use, and providing a visual representation of the health and characteristics of the tools, facilitating faster evaluation of the tool string's health and operating capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional monitoring methods are used for downhole tools, then the system complexity remains low, but the measurement precision and reliability of tool condition assessment deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the downhole tool string into multiple individual components (MWD tool, LWD tool, drill bit, stabilizers, etc.) and assesses each component's condition separately using specific diagnostic criteria. This segmentation enables precise measurement of each component's operational status while managing complexity through modular evaluation frameworks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary assessment system that processes raw tool data through standardized evaluation criteria and algorithms. This intermediary layer translates complex downhole measurements into actionable condition assessments, improving measurement precision while shielding users from the underlying system complexity.
2Reliability
If detailed monitoring of each tool component is implemented, then the reliability of operational condition assessment improves, but the loss of time for data processing and evaluation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes predetermined operational metrics and condition thresholds for each tool component before downhole operations begin. These pre-defined criteria enable rapid comparison against actual measurements during operations, improving assessment reliability while minimizing real-time data processing time through pre-computed evaluation frameworks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms complex multi-parameter tool data into simplified condition indicators by changing the parameter representation. Each tool component's status is reduced to key diagnostic parameters (vibration levels, temperature, pressure differentials) that can be quickly evaluated against thresholds, maintaining reliability while reducing processing time.
3Loss of information
If comprehensive data collection from all tool components is performed, then the information completeness improves, but the device complexity for data management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and focuses on only the most critical diagnostic data from each tool component, discarding redundant information. By taking out only the essential performance indicators needed for condition assessment (vibration, temperature, pressure for each component), the system maintains information completeness while reducing data management complexity through selective data extraction.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of collecting all possible data and then filtering it, the patent inverts the approach by first defining the essential condition assessment criteria and then collecting only the data needed to meet those criteria. This inversion reduces information loss while simplifying data management by avoiding collection of unnecessary data in the first place.
4Productivity
If real-time monitoring of downhole tools is implemented, then the productivity through reduced downtime improves, but the use of energy for monitoring and communication increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the monitoring system multi-functional by using the same sensor infrastructure and communication channels for both primary drilling operations and condition monitoring. The MWD/LWD tools perform their primary measurement functions while simultaneously providing diagnostic data for condition assessment, achieving real-time monitoring without additional energy-consuming dedicated monitoring hardware.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method/arrangement for rapidly assessing operable conditions of each constituent tool of a MWD tool string between two consecutive downhole runs of a drill string. The method includes filtering binary data downloaded from a recently pulled MWD tool string for data sets that each represent conditions indicative of the operational condition of each of the several tools of the MWD tool string. For each of the data sets, a processing algorithm is selected from a store of predetermined algorithms, based on characteristics of the respective data set. Each data set is substantially simultaneously processed with the algorithm selected for that data set. Based on respective tool-condition data output by each algorithm-processed data set, determining whether the tool that corresponds to the respective data set meets a predetermined operational capability requirement or threshold to be operated in a subsequent run downhole with the drill string.