Autonomous Wellbore Steering for Real-Time Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current directional drilling systems rely on manual collision avoidance processes that require human intervention, leading to inefficiencies and increased well delivery time due to the need for manual recalculations and path adjustments.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous steering system that integrates physics-based models and machine learning to automatically detect collision risks, identify safe corridors, and modify well paths in real-time to avoid hazards, using a downhole drilling tool equipped with sensors and a telemetry module for real-time data communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual collision avoidance processes are used, then safety monitoring is performed, but well delivery time increases due to manual recalculations and path adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The collision avoidance system performs automatic path verification and recalibration without requiring manual intervention. The system autonomously monitors wellbore trajectory, detects potential collisions with adjacent wells, and executes path adjustments independently, eliminating the need for directional drillers to manually check collision avoidance at survey points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical processes with automated computational systems. Instead of manual path calculations and adjustments performed by directional drillers, the system uses computer-based algorithms to automatically verify wellbore paths against collision avoidance constraints and generate corrected paths when needed.
2Reliability
If manual collision avoidance checks are performed at survey points, then collision risk is monitored, but the process requires frequent human intervention and increases operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous automated feedback loops where wellbore trajectory data is constantly monitored against collision avoidance constraints. The system automatically compares actual wellbore position with planned path and hazard locations, and triggers path corrections when deviations or collision risks are detected, eliminating the need for periodic manual checks.
Solution Approach 2:
The collision avoidance system operates autonomously without requiring directional driller intervention. The system self-monitors wellbore trajectory, self-evaluates collision risks, and self-corrects paths when necessary, transforming a manual operational task into an automated self-service process.
3Loss of time
If automated real-time path modification is implemented, then well delivery time is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous steering system integrates multiple functions into a single unified platform. The system simultaneously performs wellbore trajectory monitoring, collision risk assessment, path optimization, and automated steering control, eliminating the need for separate manual processes for each function and managing complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines collision avoidance functionality with the primary directional drilling control system. Instead of operating as a separate standalone system, the collision avoidance constraints and path modification capabilities are merged into the existing autonomous steering platform, sharing hardware resources and software architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides an automated method and autonomous steering system that automates and integrates a collision avoidance process and subsequent corrective action. The autonomous steering system implements an anti-collision (AC) method that provides collision avoidance by identifying collision risks with one or more hazards. In one example, the automated method includes: (1) detecting a collision risk of a path of a wellbore in a subterranean formation with at least one hazard, wherein the wellbore is being drilled by steering a downhole drilling tool according to the path and the path is based on a well plan for the wellbore, (2) identifying a corridor for the wellbore to avoid the at least one hazard, (3) modifying the path by incorporating the corridor, and (4) steering the downhole drilling tool according to the modified path, wherein the detecting, the identifying, the modifying, and the steering are automatically performed in real-time.