Automatic steering instructions for directional motor drilling

A method of directing operation of a drilling system, comprising:

• identifying, with a controller in communication with the drilling system, a first steering target;
• calculating, with the controller, a curvature limit of a bottom hole assembly (BHA) of the drilling system;
• determining, with the controller, whether the BHA can be driven to the first steering target using one of a straight line projection or a rotary drilling projection;
• calculating, with the controller, a first optimized steering path to the first steering target using a first slide model calculation based on achieving an inclination and azimuth vector at a vertical depth;
• displaying the first optimized steering path and the first steering target along with the inclination and azimuth vector at a vertical depth to an operator on a display device;
• after calculating the first optimized steering path, calculating, with the controller, a second optimized steering path to a second steering target using a second slide model calculation based on a single target point of the second steering target with an x, y, and z coordinate, wherein the second optimized steering path has a greater amount of curvature than the first optimized steering path, ;
• after calculating the first and second optimized steering paths, calculate calculating a third optimized steering path to a third steering target on a drill plan using the first slide model calculation based on achieving an inclination and azimuth vector at a vertical depth;
• after calculating the third optimized steering path, calculate calculating, using the second slide model calculation based on a single target point of a fourth steering target on the drill plan with an x, y, and z coordinate, a fourth optimized steering path to the fourth steering target, such that the controller alternates between the first and second slide model calculations;
• displaying the second optimized steering path along with the x, y, and z coordinates to the operator on the display device;
• determining, with the controller, a toolface angle and a distance to slide;
• displaying the toolface angle and the distance to slide to the operator on the display device;
• and
• driving the BHA to the first steering target using the straight line projection, the rotary drilling projection, or the determined toolface angle and distance to slide.

A method of directing operation of a drilling system, comprising:

• identifying, with a controller in communication with the drilling system, a first steering target;
• determining, with the controller, a maximum possible curvature of a bottom hole assembly (BHA) of the drilling system;
• calculating, with the controller, a first optimized steering path to the first steering target using a first slide model calculation based on achieving an inclination and azimuth vector at a vertical depth;
• displaying the first optimized steering path and the first steering target to an operator on a display device;
• driving the BHA along the first optimized steering path if the first optimized steering path is determined to have a curvature less than the maximum possible curvature;
• after calculating the first optimized steering path, calculating, with the controller, a second optimized steering path to a second steering target using a second slide model calculation different than the first slide model calculation, the second slide model calculation based on a single target point of the second steering target with an x, y, and z coordinate, ;
• after calculating the first and second optimized steering paths, calculate calculating a third optimized steering path to a third steering target on a drill plan using the first slide model calculation based on achieving an inclination and azimuth vector at a vertical depth;
• after calculating the third optimized steering path, calculate calculating, using the second slide model calculation based on a single target point of a fourth steering target on the drill plan with an x, y, and z coordinate, a fourth optimized steering path to the fourth steering target, such that the controller alternates between the first and second slide model calculations;
• displaying the second optimized steering path to the operator on the display device;
• and
• driving the BHA along the second optimized steering path.

A method of directing operation of a drilling system, comprising:

• identifying, with a controller in communication with the drilling system, a first steering target;
• determining, with the controller, a maximum possible curvature of a bottom hole assembly (BHA) of the drilling system;
• calculating, with the controller, a first optimized steering path to the first steering target using a first slide model calculation based on achieving an inclination and azimuth vector at a vertical depth;
• displaying the first optimized steering path and the first steering target to an operator on a display device;
• then calculating, with the controller, a second optimized steering path to a second steering target using a second slide model calculation different than the first slide model calculation, the second slide model calculation based on a single target point of the second steering target with an x, y, and z coordinate;
• then calculating, a third optimized steering path to a third steering target on a drill plan using the first slide model calculation based on achieving the inclination and azimuth vector at the vertical depth;
• then calculating, using the second slide model calculation based on a single target point of a fourth steering target on the drill plan with another x, y, and z coordinate, a fourth optimized steering path to the fourth steering target;
• displaying the second optimized steering path to the operator on the display device;
• and
• driving the (BHA) along one of the first, second, third, or fourth optimized steering paths.