Granted Patent B2

US 8,082,104 · App. 12/359,065 · Granted Dec 20, 2011

Abstract

Claims (51)

1. A computer implemented method of determining one or more rock properties of a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising:

measuring a plurality of drilling parameters comprising a weight on bit (WOB), a bit revolutions per minute (RPM), and rate of penetration (ROP);

normalizing the plurality of drilling parameters to obtain one or more normalized drilling parameters; and

using the normalized drilling parameter to obtain one or more rock properties while drilling,

wherein normalizing the plurality of drilling parameters to obtain one or more normalized drilling parameters is performed via at least obtaining a depth of cut (DOC) using the following equation:

DOC=ROP/RPM.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more rock properties comprises a rock strength.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the rock strength is an unconfined compressive strength.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the rock strength is a confined compressive strength.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more rock properties comprises an effective rock porosity.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein normalizing the plurality of drilling parameters to obtain one or more normalized drilling parameters is further performed via obtaining an intrinsic drilling impedance (IDI) using the following equation:

IDI=WOB A /DOC B .

7. The computer implemented method of claim 6 , wherein A ranges from about 0.2 to about 1.0 and B ranges from about 0.4 to about 1.2.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 6 , further comprising obtaining a numerical model of a drill bit to be used to drill through the subterranean formation, the numerical model comprising a drill bit design constant A and a drill bit design constant B.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 6 , further comprising obtaining a cohesion (Co) using the following equation:

Co= A *IDI B ,

wherein A and B are calibration factors dependent upon the a type of drill bit.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 9 , wherein A ranges from about 5000 to about 30000.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more rock properties comprises an effective rock porosity, the effective rock porosity being determined from the cohesion.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising obtaining an internal friction angle φ, and wherein the one or more rock properties comprises an unconfined compressive strength (UCS), the UCS being determined from the following equation:

UCS=(2*Co*cos φ)/(1−sin φ).

13. The computer implemented method of claim 12 , further comprising obtaining a confining pressure P b , and wherein the one or more rock properties comprises a confined compressive strength (CCS), the CCS being determined from the following equation:

CCS=UCS+ P b [(1+sin φ)/(1−sin φ)].

14. The computer implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the IDI is plotted against the CCS to identify one or more abnormalities within the wellbore.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 14 , wherein the one or more abnormalities is at least one of an overbalanced condition, a bit balling, a bit dulling, a stabilizer hang-up, a BHA hang-up, a stress on borehole, an inadequate bit selection, a hard rock, or a depleted zone.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the IDI is plotted against the UCS to identify one or more abnormalities within the wellbore.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 16 , wherein the one or more abnormalities is at least one of an overbalanced condition, a bit balling, a bit dulling, a stabilizer hang-up, a BHA hang-up, a stress on borehole, an inadequate bit selection, a hard rock, or a depleted zone.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of drilling parameters further comprises measuring a bulk density, and wherein the IDI is plotted against the bulk density to identify one or more abnormalities within the wellbore.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 18 , wherein the one or more abnormalities is at least one of an overbalanced condition, a bit balling, a bit dulling, a stabilizer hang-up, a BHA hang-up, a stress on borehole, an inadequate bit selection, a hard rock, or a depleted zone.

20. The computer implemented method of claim 18 , wherein the IDI is three-dimensionally plotted against the bulk density and a corresponding depth, wherein a depleted zone is identified at the corresponding depth when the IDI is high and the bulk density is in a valley.

21. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying one or more abnormalities from the one or more rock properties.

22. A computer implemented method of identifying one or more abnormalities occurring within a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising:

measuring a plurality of drilling parameters comprising a weight on bit (WOB), a bit revolutions per minute (RPM), and rate of penetration (ROP);

normalizing the plurality of drilling parameters to obtain one or more normalized drilling parameters, the one or more normalized drilling parameters comprising a depth of cut (DOC) and an intrinsic drilling impedance (IDI);

using the normalized drilling parameter to obtain one or more rock properties; and

using the one or more rock properties to identify one or more abnormalities occurring within a subterranean formation while drilling,

wherein the DOC is determined using the following equation:

DOC=ROP/RPM.

23. A computer implemented method of identifying one or more abnormalities occurring within a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising:

measuring a plurality of drilling parameters comprising a weight on bit (WOB), a bit revolutions per minute (RPM), and rate of penetration (ROP);

normalizing the plurality of drilling parameters to obtain one or more normalized drilling parameters, the one or more normalized drilling parameters comprising a depth of cut (DOC) and an intrinsic drilling impedance (IDI);

using the normalized drilling parameter to obtain one or more rock properties; and

using the one or more rock properties to identify one or more abnormalities occurring within a subterranean formation while drilling,

wherein the IDI is determined using the following equation:

IDI=WOB A /DOC B .

24. A computer implemented method of identifying one or more abnormalities occurring within a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising:

measuring a plurality of drilling parameters comprising a weight on bit (WOB), a bit revolutions per minute (RPM), and rate of penetration (ROP);

normalizing the plurality of drilling parameters to obtain one or more normalized drilling parameters, the one or more normalized drilling parameters comprising a depth of cut (DOC) and an intrinsic drilling impedance (IDI);

using the normalized drilling parameter to obtain one or more rock properties; and

using the one or more rock properties to identify one or more abnormalities occurring within a subterranean formation while drilling,

wherein the one or more abnormalities is at least one of an overbalanced condition, a bit balling, a bit dulling, a stabilizer hang-up, a BHA hang-up, a stress on borehole, an inadequate bit selection, a hard rock, or a depleted zone.

Assignments (11)