Tool Face Uncertainty Heat Map Ellipses for Accurate Drilling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Directional drilling often deviates from planned trajectories due to geological uncertainties, leading to inefficiencies and inaccuracies in drilling operations.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that analyze drilling trajectory plans, identify tool face orientations, and determine uncertainty levels using a data structure, allowing for real-time adjustments to drilling parameters to minimize deviations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If real-time analysis and adjustment of drilling parameters is implemented, then trajectory accuracy is improved, but system complexity and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrajectory accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores uncertainty levels at different tool face orientations in a data structure before drilling operations begin. This preliminary preparation allows real-time adjustments during drilling to simply query pre-computed values rather than performing complex calculations, thereby improving trajectory accuracy while minimizing the computational burden and system complexity during actual operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If uncertainty analysis is performed at multiple tool face orientations, then drilling plan reliability is improved, but data processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling plan reliabilityVSAvoiddata processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs comprehensive uncertainty analysis at multiple tool face orientations and stores the results in a pre-computed data structure before drilling operations commence. This allows the drilling plan to be developed quickly by querying pre-analyzed data rather than performing time-consuming calculations during operations, thereby improving reliability without significant time penalty.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a simplified data structure that copies and stores key uncertainty characteristics at different tool face orientations. This copied data structure enables rapid access to uncertainty information during drilling plan development without requiring access to the full complex simulation models, thus reducing data processing time while maintaining sufficient reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS12359552B2Displaying steering response with uncertainty in a heat map ellipse

Publication Date: 2025.07.15 SCHLUMBERGER TECH CORP

AI summary

A system and method that include receiving a drilling trajectory plan to drill an intended trajectory. The system and method also include analyzing the drilling trajectory plan and identifying a tool face orientation to drill the intended trajectory based on the drilling trajectory plan. The system and method additionally include identifying an uncertainty level associated with the tool face orientation based on a data structure storing uncertainty levels at different tool face orientations. The system and method further include determining a drilling plan based on the uncertainty level associated with the tool face orientation.