IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,208,580
Granted Patent B2
US 10,208,580 · App. 15/196,242 · Granted Feb 19, 2019

System and method for detection of slide and rotation modes

Inventors: Todd W. Benson (Dallas, TX); Teddy C. Chen (Austin, TX); David Lee Simpson (Dallas, TX)
Assignee: Motive Drilling Technologies Inc.
E21B44/00E21B7/04E21B45/00E21B47/00E21B47/024E21B47/042E21B47/06E21B47/10E21B47/12
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,208,580
App. No.
15/196,242
Granted
Feb 19, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for surface steerable drilling are provided. In one example, the method includes monitoring operating parameters for drilling rig equipment and bottom hole assembly (BHA) equipment for a BHA, where the operating parameters control the drilling rig equipment and BHA equipment. The method includes receiving current inputs corresponding to performance data of the drilling rig equipment and BHA equipment during a drilling operation and determining that an amount of change between the current inputs and corresponding previously received inputs exceeds a defined threshold. The method further includes determining whether a modification to the operating parameters has occurred that would result in the amount of change exceeding the defined threshold and identifying that a problem exists in at least one of the drilling rig equipment and BA equipment if no modification has occurred to the operating parameters. The method includes performing a defined action if a problem exists.

Claims (39)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a slide estimator of a surface steerable system of a drilling rig for generating information relating to slides responsive to externally monitored data;

wherein the slide estimator can detect whether a borehole assembly (BHA) connected to the drilling rig is in a slide mode of operation or a rotary mode of operation responsive to the externally monitored data;

wherein the slide estimator detects a slide mode responsive to detection of a flow rate of drilling mud, a stationary BHA and an on bottom condition of the BHA; and

wherein the detection of the flow rate of drilling mud is determined by detection of a standpipe pressure exceeding a standpipe pressure circulation threshold.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the standpipe pressure circulation threshold comprises 100 PSI.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detection of the stationary BHA detects a surface rotary speed of zero.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detection of the stationary BHA detects a surface rotary speed less than a rocking threshold value.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the rocking threshold value lies within a range of 5-35 RPM.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein detection of the stationary BHA detects a difference between successive toolface reading being less than a stationary threshold value.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein detection of the stationary BHA detects a toolface quality value greater than a near stationary toolface quality threshold value.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein detection of the stationary BHA detects oscillation of rotary torque between zero and a non-zero torque.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein detection of the on bottom condition tracks a total amount of drill sting within a borehole.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein detection of the on bottom condition is based upon a predetermined differential standpipe pressure value.

11. A method for detecting slide modes and rotary modes of a borehole assembly connected to a drilling rig, comprising:

monitoring at least one well sensor parameter associated with the drilling rig;

detecting within a slide estimator associated with a surface steerable system for the drilling rig whether a borehole assembly (BHA) connected to the drilling rig is in a slide mode of operation or a rotary mode of operation responsive to the monitored at least one well sensor parameter;

controlling the operation of the drilling rig responsive to the detected slide mode or rotary mode of operation;

wherein the step of detecting further comprises detecting a flow rate of a drilling mud, a stationary BHA and an on bottom condition of the BHA; and

wherein the step of detecting the flow rate further comprises determining whether a standpipe pressure exceeds a standpipe pressure circulation threshold.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the standpipe pressure circulation threshold comprises 100 PSI.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of detecting the stationery BHA further comprises the step of detecting a surface rotary speed of zero.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of detecting the stationary BHA further comprises the step of detecting a surface rotary speed less than a rocking threshold value.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the rocking threshold value lies within a range of 5-35 RPM.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of detecting the stationary BHA further comprises the step of detecting a difference between successive toolface readings being less than a stationary threshold value.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of detecting the stationary BHA further comprises the step of detecting a toolface quality value greater than a near stationary toolface quality threshold value.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of detecting the stationary BHA further comprises the step of detecting oscillation of rotary torque between zero and a non-zero torque.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of detecting the on bottom condition further comprises tracking a total amount of drill sting within a borehole.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of detecting the on bottom condition further comprises detecting a predetermined differential standpipe pressure value to detect the on bottom condition.

21. A method for detecting slide modes and rotary modes of a borehole assembly connected to a drilling rig, comprising:

monitoring a plurality of well sensor parameters associated with the drilling rig;

detecting within a slide estimator associated with a surface steerable system for the drilling rig whether a borehole assembly (BHA) connected to the drilling rig is in a slide mode of operation or a rotary mode of operation responsive to the monitored plurality of well sensor parameters, wherein the step of detecting further comprises:

detecting a flow rate of drilling mud, a stationary BHA and an on bottom condition of the BHA to determine whether the BHA is in the slide mode or the rotary mode of operation; and

determining the slide mode of operation or the rotary mode of operation; and

based upon occurrence of one or more of these conditions:

controlling the operation of the drilling rig responsive to the detected slide mode or rotary mode of operation;

wherein the step of detecting the flow rate of drilling mud further comprises determining if the flow rate of the drilling mud exceeds a predetermined flow circulation threshold; and

wherein the step of detecting the stationary BHA further comprises the step of detecting a surface rotary speed less than a rocking threshold value.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the step of detecting the on bottom condition further comprises detecting a predetermined differential standpipe pressure value to detect the on bottom condition.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2016
From: BENSON, TODD W.; SIMPSON, DAVID LEE; CHEN, TEDDY C.
To: MOTIVE DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 039065/0495 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 14314697 · Jun 25, 2014
Continuation 13535573 · Jun 28, 2012
Continuation 13334370 · Dec 22, 2011
Related Publication 20160305230A1 · Oct 20, 2016
Cited By (7)
US 51,013 US 12,196,069 US 12,203,361 US 12,241,356 US 12,297,736 US 12,595,730 US 12,719,392