Underbalanced Drilling Envelope Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Underbalanced drilling (UBD) operations lack reliable and accurate methods for calculating and visualizing 2D operation parameters, particularly hydrostatic, friction, and transition areas, which hinders drilling engineers' ability to dynamically manage wellbore conditions and optimize mud motor performance.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that calculates and plots gas injection rate versus bottom hole pressure curves, determines interception curves based on mud motor rates and annulus velocities, and identifies the operation envelope to dynamically visualize the UBD drilling envelope, allowing engineers to quickly determine hydraulic zones and make informed decisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional overbalanced drilling is used, then drilling fluid invasion of the wellbore is reduced, but wellbore damage increases and cleanup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional drilling approach by maintaining wellbore pressure lower than formation pressure (underbalanced drilling) instead of higher (overbalanced drilling). This inversion allows drilling fluid to flow into the formation rather than invade the wellbore, thereby reducing wellbore damage and minimizing cleanup time while improving recovery.
2Reliability
If underbalanced drilling is used, then wellbore damage is reduced and recovery is improved, but reliable and accurate calculation of 2D operation parameters is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual or simplified calculation methods with a computer-implemented system that automatically calculates and visualizes 2D operation parameters. The system computes hydrostatic, friction, and transition areas by processing mud motor properties and hole cleaning requirements, providing drilling engineers with accurate and reliable parameter determination without manual computation errors.
3Loss of information
If manual calculation of hydrostatic, friction, and transition areas is performed, then drilling engineers can determine UBD parameters, but the process is time-consuming and lacks dynamic visualization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an interactive computer system that provides real-time feedback to drilling engineers through dynamic visualization of the 2D UBD operation envelope. The system continuously processes input parameters (mud motor properties, hole cleaning requirements) and updates the visual representation of hydrostatic, friction, and transition areas, allowing engineers to quickly adjust and evaluate different drilling scenarios without time-consuming manual recalculations.
4Productivity
If engineers lack dynamic visualization of UBD operation envelope, then decision-making is delayed, but providing such visualization requires complex calculation and communication systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a computer-implemented system as an intermediary between raw drilling parameters and engineer decision-making. The system acts as a mediator that automatically performs complex calculations of the 2D operation envelope, processes mud motor properties and hole cleaning requirements, and presents the results through intuitive visualizations, thereby simplifying the interface between complex data and engineer decisions without requiring engineers to directly manage the computational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a computer implemented method for underbalanced drilling. In one embodiment, the method includes determining a plurality of gas injection rate versus bottom hole pressure curves for a plurality of liquid injection rates for a specified minimum and maximum gas injection rate and a minimum and maximum liquid injection rate. Next, the method determines a set of four interception curves including a minimum motor equivalent liquid rate interception curve, a minimum vertical liquid velocity intercept curve, a minimum horizontal liquid velocity intercept curve, and a maximum motor equivalent liquid rate intercept curve for a specified minimum and maximum mud motor rate range and a minimum horizontal and vertical annulus velocity.