Directional drilling methods and systems employing multiple feedback loops
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsJason D. Dykstra, Yuzhen Xue, Fanping Bu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A directional drilling system includes a bottomhole assembly having a drill bit and a steering tool configured to adjust a drilling direction in real-time. The system also includes a first feedback loop that provides a first steering control signal to the steering tool, and a second feedback loop that provides a second steering control signal to the steering tool. The system also includes a set of sensors to measure at least one of strain and movement at one or more points along the bottom-hole assembly during drilling, wherein the first and second steering control signals are based in part on the strain or movement measurements.
Claims16
A directional drilling system, comprising:
- a bottomhole assembly having a drill bit and a steering tool configured to adaptively control a drilling direction;
- a first feedback loop that provides a first control signal to the steering tool;
- a second feedback loop that provides a second control signal to the steering tool;
- and
- a set of sensors to measure at least one of strain and movement at one or more points along the bottomhole assembly during drilling, wherein the first and second control signals are based in part on the strain or movement measurements,
- wherein the second feedback loop comprises logic that estimates a bit position and at least one of a bit force and a bit force disturbance based in part on the strain or movement measurements, and,
- wherein the second feedback loop comprises logic that estimates a bit force disturbance compensation based on the estimated bit force or bit force disturbance.
A directional drilling method, comprising:
- measuring at least one of strain and movement at one or more points along a bottomhole assembly during drilling;
- applying a first control signal from a first feedback loop to a steering tool of the bottomhole assembly;
- applying a second control signal from a second feedback loop to the steering tool;
- adjusting the first and second control signals over time based in part on the strain or movement measurements;
- estimating, by the second feedback loop, a bit position and at least one of a bit force and a bit force disturbance based in part on the strain or movement measurements;
- and
- estimating, by the second feedback loop, a bit force disturbance compensation based on the estimated bit force or bit force disturbance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.