# US 2014/0196950 A1 · Path Tracking for Directional Drilling as Applied to Attitude Hold and Trajectory Following

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2014/0196950 A1
- Document ID: US20140196950A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/233,133
- Filed: 2012-07-23
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-22
- Assignees: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
- Inventors: Martin Thomas Bayliss
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196950A1

## CPC

- E21B 44/02: Automatic control of the tool feed ({E21B44/005,} E21B44/10 take precedence)
- E21B 7/04: Directional drilling
- E21B 7/10: Correction of deflected boreholes
- E21B 44/005: {Below-ground automatic control systems}
- E21B 47/022: of the borehole, e.g. using geomagnetism
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A method for directional control of a drilling system, having steps of using an inclination and azimuth hold system to develop a path to be followed by the drilling system, wherein the inclination and azimuth hold system calculates an inclination angle of a tool face and an azimuth angle of the tool, generating a set point attitude to establish the path to be followed by the drilling system and controlling the drilling system to drill along the path obtained by the inclination and azimuth hold system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for directional control of a drilling system, comprising:
using an inclination and azimuth hold system to develop a path to be followed by the drilling system, wherein the inclination and azimuth hold system calculates an inclination angle of a tool face and an azimuth angle of the tool;
generating a set point attitude to establish the path to be followed by the drilling system; and
controlling the drilling system to drill along the path obtained by the inclination and azimuth hold system.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
controlling an attitude of the path to be followed by the drilling system.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein the attitude of the path to be followed by the drilling system is based on a target azimuth and inclination and nominal rate of penetration.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
tracking the path obtained by the inclination and azimuth hold system.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method according to claim 4, further comprising:
displaying the path obtained by the inclination and azimuth hold system.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
feeding back signals from the drilling system drilling along the path obtained by the inclination and azimuth hold system to develop a revised path developed by the inclination and azimuth hold system.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
obtaining a true vertical displacement response from a bottom hole assembly during the controlling the drilling system to drill along the path obtained by the inclination and azimuth hold system.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, further comprising:
displaying the true vertical displacement response of the bottom hole assembly.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
displaying the path to be followed by the drilling system; and
displaying an actual path followed by the drilling system.