Methods and systems for drilling
AssigneeHelmerich & Payne Technologies, LLC
InventorAngus Lamberton Jamieson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods of controlling drilling operations including Sliding With Indexing For Toolface (SWIFT) and Variable Weight Drilling (VWD) techniques. The methods and systems may include systems and devices for controlling the drilling operations, including systems and devices capable of automatically determining drilling parameters and setting operating parameters for drilling in a wellbore. The systems and methods may also determine a change in weight on bit and/or toolface, determine a timeframe for a weight on bit to be delivered to the bit, and/or determine a spindle change to modify the toolface. The systems and methods may also send control signals to apply the spindle change and/or block velocity change to correct any detected or anticipated toolface error.
Claims20
A computer system for controlling drilling operations, the system comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions executable by the processor for:
- (a) determining values for a plurality of drilling parameters;
- (b) responsive to the determined values of the plurality of drilling parameters, setting a plurality of operating parameters for slide drilling in a wellbore;
- (c) determining an amount of change in weight on bit (WOB) during drilling;
- (d) responsive to a desired amount of change in WOB, determining an effect on toolface;
- (e) determining a time for WOB to be delivered to the bit;
- (f) determining a spindle change required to modify the toolface to a toolface target;
- (g) sending a signal to apply the determined spindle change;
- (h) sending a signal to apply a traveling block velocity change to correct an anticipated toolface error value when the traveling block velocity change manifests at the bit;
- and
- (i) repeating step (h) during a time period for the toolface to reach the toolface target.
A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, cause the one or more processors to perform operations for controlling drilling operations comprising:
- (a) determining values for a plurality of drilling parameters;
- (b) responsive to the determined values of the plurality of drilling parameters, setting a plurality of operating parameters for slide drilling in a wellbore;
- (c) determining an amount of change in weight on bit (WOB) during drilling;
- (d) responsive to a desired amount of change in WOB, determining an effect on toolface;
- (e) determining a time for WOB to be delivered to the bit;
- (f) determining a spindle change required to modify the toolface to a toolface target;
- (g) sending a signal to apply the determined spindle change;
- (h) sending a signal to apply a traveling block velocity change to correct an anticipated toolface error value when the traveling block velocity change manifests at the bit;
- and
- (i) repeating step (h) during a time period for the toolface to reach the toolface target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.