Drilling control method and system

A drilling control system, for automatically triggering a remedying action responsive to an evolving or existing critical condition, the system comprising:

• a process parameter calculation element operative to calculate process parameter boundaries which represent a critical condition for a well by using calibrated drilling process models,
• enforcement elements operative to trigger an emergency action if a process parameter exceeds said process parameter boundaries, said emergency action being intended to minimize the effect of said critical condition,
• a remedying action calculation element, operative to analyze the well further in order to determine a remedying action to then be applied, the remedying action being intended to remedy the cause of said critical condition the remedying action being determined dynamically as a function of the response of the well to the remedying action;
• wherein the enforcement elements are operative to apply the remedying action and if said remedying action is not capable of remedying the cause of said critical condition, the enforcement elements are operative to apply predetermined safe process parameters or to shut down the well.

A drilling control system for automatically triggering a remedying action responsive to an evolving or existing critical condition, the drilling control system being adapted to apply calibrated drilling process models in calculating acceptable threshold conditions used to determine whether a well has entered a critical condition, wherein, in case a parameter is exceeding the continuously updated conditions for a critical situation, an automatic action is triggered to minimize the effect of the critical situation, wherein this automatic action can adapt itself as a function of the response of the well to the automatic action, and the system comprises

• machine controllers adapted to automatically trigger emergency remediating action based on machine controller algorithms implemented directly in the machine controllers;
• the machine controllers being arranged to apply a dynamic remediating action based on machine controller algorithms implemented directly in the machine controllers;
• and
• a central database communicating calculated setpoints or curves or surfaces defining emergency remediating action and dynamic remediating action to the machine controllers;
• wherein the machine controllers are adapted to continuously compare measured process values with the triggering limits, and wherein, if triggering limits are exceeded then emergency remediating action is automatically triggered;
• and
• wherein after triggering, further remediating control is performed dynamically as a function of response, as defined by the setpoints or curves or surfaces defining appropriate dynamic remediating action.