Wellbore Cuttings Bed Control for Real-Time Hole Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

The transport of drilling cuttings in inclined well sections with small boreholes is inefficient, leading to cuttings bed formation that causes increased torque, drag, stuck pipes, and other drilling inefficiencies, resulting in lost time and nonproductive time.

Innovation Solution

A method to predict and alter the characteristics of the cuttings bed in real-time using an information handling system, analyzing drilling cuttings and adjusting operational parameters such as drill string RPM, flow rates, and fluid rheology to optimize hole cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If drilling fluid flow rate is increased to improve cuttings transport, then cuttings bed formation is reduced, but energy consumption and equipment wear increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecuttings transport efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts drilling fluid flow rate, drill string RPM, and other operational parameters in real-time based on measured cuttings bed characteristics, optimizing cuttings transport efficiency while minimizing energy consumption and equipment wear

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses real-time measurements of cuttings bed characteristics (thickness, density, composition) to provide feedback that automatically adjusts drilling parameters, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes cuttings transport without excessive energy input

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If drill string RPM is increased to improve hole cleaning, then cuttings bed is disrupted and transported more effectively, but torque and mechanical stress increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehole cleaning efficiencyVSAvoidtorque

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts drill string RPM based on real-time cuttings bed conditions, increasing rotation speed when cuttings bed disruption is needed for hole cleaning, while automatically reducing speed when torque limits are approached, optimizing the balance between cleaning efficiency and mechanical stress

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters including drill string RPM and flow rate based on measured cuttings bed characteristics, optimizing hole cleaning effectiveness while controlling torque and mechanical stress within safe operating limits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If real-time monitoring and parameter adjustment systems are implemented to optimize cuttings transport, then drilling efficiency improves, but system complexity and initial costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses downhole measurements of cuttings bed characteristics to automatically adjust drilling parameters without requiring complex surface-based decision-making systems, allowing the drilling system to self-optimize based on real-time conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex mechanical control systems with electronic sensors and computational algorithms that measure cuttings bed characteristics and automatically adjust drilling parameters, reducing mechanical complexity while improving control precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach allows for efficient cuttings transport and hole cleaning, reducing torque, drag, and other drilling inefficiencies, thereby minimizing lost time and improving drilling efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

drilling fluid circulates through the pipe and out of the drill bit into the wellbore. The drilling cuttings are removed from the wellbore by the circulating drilling fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid circulation: Convection

Implementation Method 2

Drilling cuttings are easily accumulated in the inclined well section due to gravity and form a cuttings bed ultimately

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

a rotary turntable drill, and a circulation system that circulates drilling fluid... as the drill bit loosens them from the surrounding rock during drilling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical rotation and abrasion: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentUS20250361805A1Method to Alter the Process of Cuttings Bed Formation in a Wellbore

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

Disclosed herein are methods and systems to predict and alter the characteristics of cuttings bed in a wellbore in real time or ahead of time during planning to avoid the consequences of poor hole cleaning, i.e., high torque and drag, stuck drills, broken drill tools, lost circulation, low rates of penetration, and any related delays in the drilling schedule. The methods may include collecting drilling cuttings from drilling a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, analyzing the drilling cuttings, predicting characteristics of cuttings bed based at least in part on the drilling cuttings, predicting the effects of the characteristics of the cuttings bed on hole cleaning, changing at least one parameter controlling drilling operation when the hole cleaning is impaired by the effects of the characteristics of the cuttings bed, and predicting an impact of the change of the at least one parameter on the characteristics of the cuttings bed.