IP Library › Granted Patent US 12687536
Granted Patent B1
US 12687536 · App. 19/035,669 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Determining rock fragment size and size distribution

Inventors: Yonggui Guo (Houston, TX); Claudia Lucia Bonin De Oliveira (Houston, TX); Dale E. Jamison (Humble, TX); Mateusz Michal Dyngosz (Houston, TX); Mahdi Parak (Houston, TX)
Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
G01N33/24E21B44/00G01N15/0211
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12687536
App. No.
19/035,669
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

Techniques for determining a rock fragment size and size distribution include determining rock fragment parameters associated with a well systems. The techniques further include determining a fractal dimension based, at least in part, on the rock fragment parameters. The techniques further include determining a rock fragment size distribution based, at least in part, on the fractal dimension.

Claims (39)

1 . A method for determining a rock fragment size and size distribution, the method comprising:

determining rock fragment parameters associated with a well system;

determining a fractal dimension based, at least in part, on the rock fragment parameters;

determining a rock fragment size distribution based, at least in part, on the fractal dimension;

determining a well system operational parameter based, at least in part, on the rock fragment size distribution; and

modifying a downhole operation in a wellbore of the well system based, at least in part, on said determining the well system operational parameter.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising directing an operation to modify the downhole operation in the wellbore based, at least in part, on the rock fragment size distribution.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein said determining the rock fragment parameters associated with the well system comprises determining the rock fragment parameters based, at least in part, on sample data, wherein the sample data is associated with rock fragments created by drilling operations of the well system.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the rock fragment parameters comprise a maximum rock fragment size and a cumulative mass of rock fragments for a plurality of size classes.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining the rock fragment parameters associated with the well system comprises determining the rock fragment parameters based, at least in part, on operational parameters associated with a plurality of other well systems.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said well system operational parameter comprises at least one of drilling fluid density and viscosity.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said downhole operation comprises pumping of drilling fluid into the wellbore.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said modifying the downhole operation comprises modifying at least one of drilling fluid density, drilling fluid viscosity, or hydraulic pressure within the wellbore.

9 . A system comprising:

a computing system comprising one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums including instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to execute one or more operations for determining a rock fragment distribution, the instructions including:

instructions to determine rock fragment parameters associated with a well system;

instructions to determine a fractal dimension based, at least in part, on the rock fragment parameters;

instructions to determine a rock fragment size distribution based, at least in part, on the fractal dimension;

instructions to determine a well system operational parameter based, at least in part, on the rock fragment size distribution; and

instructions to modify a downhole operation in a wellbore of the well system based, at least in part, on a determination of the well system operational parameter.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to direct an operation to modify the downhole operation in the wellbore based, at least in part, on the rock fragment size distribution.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions to determine the rock fragment parameters associated with the well system comprise instructions to determine the rock fragment parameters based, at least in part, on sample data, wherein the sample data is associated with rock fragments created by drilling operations of the well system.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the rock fragment parameters comprise a maximum rock fragment size and a cumulative mass of rock fragments for a plurality of size classes.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions to determine the rock fragment parameters associated with the well system comprise instructions to determine the rock fragment parameters based, at least in part, on operational parameters associated with a plurality of other well systems.

14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein said well system operational parameter comprises at least one of drilling fluid density and viscosity.

15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein said downhole operation comprises pumping of drilling fluid into the wellbore.

16 . The system of claim 9 , wherein said instructions to modify the downhole operation comprises instructions to modify at least one of drilling fluid density, drilling fluid viscosity, or hydraulic pressure within the wellbore.

17 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to execute one or more operations for determining a rock fragment distribution, the instructions comprising:

instructions to determine rock fragment parameters associated with a well system;

instructions to determine a fractal dimension based, at least in part, on the rock fragment parameters;

instructions to determine a rock fragment size distribution based, at least in part, on the fractal dimension;

instructions to determine a well system operational parameter based, at least in part, on the rock fragment size distribution; and

instructions to modify a downhole operation in a wellbore of the well system based, at least in part, on a determination of the well system operational parameter.

18 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums of claim 17 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to direct an operation to modify the downhole operation in the wellbore based, at least in part, on the rock fragment distribution.

19 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums of claim 17 , wherein the rock fragment parameters comprise a maximum rock fragment size and a cumulative mass of rock fragments for a plurality of size classes.

20 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums of claim 17 , wherein the instructions to determine the rock fragment parameters associated with the well system comprise instructions to determine the rock fragment parameters based, at least in part, on operational parameters associated with a plurality of other well systems.

21 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums of claim 17 , wherein said well system operational parameter comprises at least one of drilling fluid density and viscosity.

22 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums of claim 17 , wherein said downhole operation comprises pumping of drilling fluid into the wellbore.

23 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums of claim 17 , wherein said instructions to modify the downhole operation comprises instructions to modify at least one of drilling fluid density, drilling fluid viscosity, or hydraulic pressure within the wellbore.