Automating well construction operations based on detected abnormal events

A system comprising:

• an equipment controller for monitoring and controlling a well construction system, wherein the well construction system comprises well construction equipment operable to perform well construction operations, and wherein the equipment controller comprises one or more processors, memory accessibly to at least one of the one or more processors, and processor-executable instructions stored in the memory that are executable to cause the equipment controller to:
• receive sensor data from a downhole rotational speed sensor of a drill string that comprises a mud-motor operatively coupled to a bit, wherein the downhole rotational speed sensor acquires magnetic and/or gyroscopic measurements;
• detect an abnormal downhole event based on the sensor data, wherein the abnormal downhole event is a stick-slip event or a bit stalling event, and wherein the sensor data indicate reverse rotation of the mud-motor as associated with a risk of mud-motor twist-off;
• responsive to detection of the abnormal downhole event, automatically access a database to automatically select an operational sequence to be performed by the well construction equipment based on the abnormal downhole event, wherein the database comprises operational sequences for different types of events;
• and
• output control data to cause the well construction equipment to perform the operational sequence, wherein the operational sequence calls for a drawworks of the well construction equipment to reduce weight on the bit to thereby stop the reverse rotation of the mud motor and mitigate the risk of the mud-motor twist-off.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising processor-executable instructions to instruct an equipment controller of a control system to:

• commence operation of the equipment controller of the control system for monitoring and controlling a well construction system, wherein the well construction system comprises well construction equipment operable to perform well construction operations;
• receive sensor data from a downhole rotational speed sensor of a drill string that comprises a mud-motor operatively coupled to a bit, wherein the downhole rotational speed sensor acquires magnetic and/or gyroscopic measurements;
• detect an abnormal downhole event based on the sensor data, wherein the abnormal downhole event is a stick-slip event or a bit stalling event, and wherein the sensor data indicate reverse rotation of the mud-motor as associated with a risk of mud-motor twist-off;
• responsive to detection of the abnormal downhole event, automatically access a database to automatically select an operational sequence to be performed by the well construction equipment based on the abnormal downhole event, wherein the database comprises operational sequences for different types of events;
• and
• output control data to cause the well construction equipment to perform the operational sequence, wherein the operational sequence calls for a drawworks of the well construction equipment to reduce weight on the bit to thereby stop the reverse rotation of the mud motor and mitigate the risk of the mud-motor twist-off.