Wellsite Task Rescheduling Using Real-Time Subsystem State

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current well planning and drilling operations face challenges in efficiently managing and automating the scheduling of tasks across subsystems of a wellsite system, leading to suboptimal drilling efficiency and increased operational risks due to the lack of real-time state assessment and dynamic task scheduling.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that involve receiving and transmitting scheduled tasks and state information across computing devices associated with wellsite subsystems, assessing the state information to dynamically schedule tasks, and transmitting updated task information for execution, enabling real-time adjustments and optimization of drilling operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional static scheduling methods are used for wellsite tasks, then task allocation is simple to manage, but drilling efficiency decreases and operational risks increase due to lack of real-time adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling efficiencyVSAvoidtask scheduling system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic task scheduling by continuously monitoring wellsite subsystem states and automatically adjusting task schedules in real-time. The system transitions from static pre-defined schedules to dynamic schedules that adapt to changing wellsite conditions, thereby improving drilling efficiency while managing complexity through automated state-assessment and schedule-generation algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback loops where state information from wellsite subsystems is continuously assessed, and task schedules are regenerated based on current states. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the scheduling system to respond to real-time changes in wellsite conditions, improving productivity while maintaining manageable complexity through systematic feedback processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Extent of automation

If manual task scheduling is used across wellsite subsystems, then system operation is easier to understand, but time consumption increases and operational risks are elevated due to lack of automation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetask scheduling automationVSAvoidscheduling system operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the task scheduling system to serve itself by automatically assessing wellsite states and generating optimized schedules without manual intervention. The system autonomously processes state information from subsystems, evaluates task priorities, and produces updated schedules, thereby increasing automation extent while maintaining ease of operation through automated decision-making algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining task templates and scheduling rules that guide automated schedule generation. These pre-configured elements enable the automated system to operate efficiently with minimal manual input, balancing high automation extent with operational simplicity through advance preparation of scheduling frameworks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If real-time state assessment and dynamic scheduling are implemented, then drilling efficiency improves and operational risks reduce, but system complexity and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational risk reductionVSAvoidstate assessment and scheduling system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex task scheduling problem into manageable components: state information collection from individual subsystems, state assessment against desired states, task priority evaluation, and schedule generation. This segmentation allows the system to handle complexity through modular processing of discrete subsystem states and independent task evaluations, improving reliability while controlling overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system manages complexity by dynamically changing scheduling parameters such as task priorities, resource allocations, and timing based on assessed wellsite states. Rather than redesigning the entire scheduling framework, the system adjusts specific parameters in response to state changes, thereby improving operational reliability while maintaining manageable system complexity through parameter-based adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11727322B2Rescheduling one or more tasks of a digital plan associated with subsystems of a wellsite based on the wellsite's state

Publication Date: 2023.08.15 SCHLUMBERGER TECH CORP

AI summary

A method can include receiving scheduled tasks associated with subsystems of a wellsite system wherein the scheduled tasks are associated with achievement of desired states of the wellsite system; transmitting task information for at least a portion of the scheduled tasks to computing devices associated with the subsystems; receiving state information via the wellsite system; assessing the state information with respect to one or more of the desired states; based at least in part on the assessing, scheduling a task; and transmitting task information for the task to one or more of the computing devices associated with the subsystems.