Systems and methods for wellbore drilling utilizing a thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) proxy

A method of preparing wellbore drilling fluid, the method comprising a computing device performing at least the following:

• receiving drilling parameters that identify wellbore drilling conditions of a wellbore drilling system, wherein the drilling parameters include a rate of penetration of a drill bit, a flow rate of the wellbore drilling fluid through the wellbore, and a depth in the subsurface formation where the wellbore is being drilled, and wherein the wellbore drilling system comprises:
• a drilling fluid tank comprising the wellbore drilling fluid;
• an additive distribution component comprising a first valve;
• and
• the computing device;
• calculating a thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) proxy value of the wellbore, where the TSR proxy value predicts the progression of a TSR reaction in a wellbore, and the TSR proxy value predicts a hydrogen sulfide concentration in the wellbore;
• in response to determining that the predicted hydrogen sulfide concentration meets a predetermined threshold:
• determining a first quantity of a first additive to be added to the wellbore drilling fluid;
• actuating the first valve for a duration sufficient to release the first quantity of the first additive;
• and
• combining the first quantity of the first additive with the wellbore drilling fluid.

A wellbore drilling system comprising:

• a drilling fluid tank that holds wellbore drilling fluid for introduction into a wellbore;
• an additive distribution component comprising a first valve, wherein the additive distribution component is fluidly coupled to the drilling fluid tank that holds a first additive;
• a computing device communicatively coupled to the additive distribution component, the computing device including a processor and a memory component, the memory component storing logic that, when executed by the processor, causes the wellbore drilling system to perform at least the following:
• receive drilling parameters identifying wellbore drilling conditions of the wellbore drilling system;
• calculate a thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) proxy value of the wellbore, wherein the TSR proxy value predicts progression of a TSR reaction in the wellbore, and wherein the TSR proxy value predicts a hydrogen sulfide concentration in the wellbore;
• determine whether the predicted hydrogen sulfide concentration meets a first threshold;
• in response to determining that the predicted hydrogen sulfide concentration meets the first threshold:
• determine a first quantity of the first additive to be added to the drilling fluid tank to increase a concentration of the first additive in the wellbore drilling fluid;
• and
• send an instruction to the additive distribution component to actuate the first valve to release the first quantity of the first additive to the drilling fluid tank;
• and
• a hydrogen sulfide sensor that measures a concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the wellbore, wherein the computing device modifies the TSR proxy value based on the measured concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the wellbore;
• and
• a wellbore pump that pumps the wellbore drilling fluid from the drilling fluid tank to a wellbore drilling rig, and the computing device sends instructions to the wellbore pump to modify a flow rate of the wellbore drilling fluid.