Rig control system and methods

A control system adapted to operate a drilling rig comprising:

• a computer system configured to monitor operational parameters on the drilling rig;
• an interface engine in communication with the computer system, the interface engine being configured to receive operational guidelines for a set of specific hole sections that include a plurality of control limits associated with each of the operational parameters of the drilling rig, wherein the set of specific hole sections comprises a surface hole, an intermediate hole, a production hole, a ream hole, or a drill production hole, and the control limits are unique to a specific hole section and do not vary within the specific hole section;
• a sensor engine in communication with the computer system, the sensor engine being configured to sense current values of the operational parameters used in controlling a well drilling operation;
• and
• an operational equipment engine in communication with the computer system, the operational equipment engine being configured to determine when a specific hole section of a borehole is reached, activate one or more of the operational guidelines associated with the specific hole section reached, alert a rig operator when an operational guideline is activated due to a change in the specific hole section reached, determine that a current value of one of the operational parameters is not within the control limits of the specific hole section reached, and automatically adjust operation of the drilling rig to bring the current value back within the control limits of the specific hole section reached.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to extend a borehole with a drilling rig comprising a plurality of computer-readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, are adapted to cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

• receiving operational guidelines for a set of specific hole sections from a user interface that include a plurality of control limits associated with operational parameters of the drilling rig wherein the set of specific hole sections comprises a surface hole, an intermediate hole, a production hole, a ream hole, or a drill production hole, and the control limits are unique to a specific hole section and do not vary within the specific hole section;
• determining when a specific hole section of a borehole is reached;
• activating one or more of the operational guidelines associated with the specific hole section reached;
• alerting a rig operator when an operational guideline is activated due to a change in the specific hole section reached;
• monitoring current values of the operational parameters;
• determining that a current value of one of the operational parameters is not within the control limits of the specific hole section reached;
• and
• automatically adjusting operation of the drilling rig to bring the current value back within the control limits of the specific hole section reached.