IP Library Granted Patent US 12,735,979
Granted Patent B2
US 12,735,979 · App. 18/520,635 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Wellbore tripping advisor

Inventors: Prasanna Amur Varadarajan (Clamart, FR); Nicholas Abolins (Clamart, FR); Ghislain Roguin (Périgny, FR); Maurice Ringer (London, GB)
Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
E21B47/06E21B21/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,735,979
App. No.
18/520,635
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for determining a maximum tripping velocity for tripping a downhole tool string in a wellbore includes obtaining contextual data including wellbore data, tool string data, and drilling fluid data; computing downhole drilling fluid pressures at multiple tool string velocities and accelerations using the obtained contextual data and a wellbore hydraulics model; generating an equivalent circulation density (ECD) contour along a two-dimensional acceleration and velocity parameter space from the computed downhole drilling fluid pressures; and evaluating the ECD contour with at least one of a formation pore pressure or a formation fracture pressure to generate the maximum tripping velocity.

Claims (62)

1 . A method for determining a maximum tripping velocity for tripping a downhole tool string in a wellbore, the method comprising:

obtaining contextual data including wellbore data, tool string data, and drilling fluid data;

computing downhole drilling fluid pressures at multiple tool string velocities and accelerations using the obtained contextual data and a wellbore hydraulics model;

generating an equivalent circulation density (ECD) contour along a two-dimensional acceleration and velocity parameter space from the computed downhole drilling fluid pressures; and

evaluating the ECD contour with a formation fracture pressure to generate the maximum tripping velocity, wherein the evaluating the ECD contour further comprises:

obtaining the formation fracture pressure;

applying a safety buffer to the obtained formation fracture pressure to obtain upper and lower fracture pressures;

determining upper and lower fracture pressure contours;

determining a maximum tripping in velocity and a minimum tripping in velocity from the upper and lower fracture pressure contours; and

tripping the tool string in the wellbore at a velocity based on the determined maximum tripping in velocity.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein

the wellbore data comprises a wellbore diameter;

the tool string data comprises a tool string diameter and a tool string depth;

the drilling fluid data includes a drilling fluid viscosity, a drilling fluid density, and a drilling fluid gel strength.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ECD contour comprises a surge contour and a swab contour.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the two-dimensional acceleration and velocity parameter space comprises a two dimensional parameterized acceleration length and steady state tripping velocity that are based on a trip acceleration profile including an initial acceleration interval, a steady state velocity interval, and a deceleration interval.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the evaluating the ECD contour further comprises generating a maximum tripping acceleration.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the evaluating the ECD contour further comprises:

obtaining a formation pore pressure;

applying an additional safety buffer to the obtained formation pore pressure to obtain upper and lower pore pressures;

determining upper and lower pore pressure contours; and

determining a minimum tripping out velocity and a maximum tripping out velocity from the upper and lower pore pressure contours.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying the maximum tripping velocity on a trip advisor board.

8 . A system for tripping a tool string in a wellbore; the system comprising:

a tool string deployed in a wellbore;

a processor configured to:

receive contextual data including wellbore data, tool string data, and drilling fluid data;

compute downhole drilling fluid pressures at multiple tool string velocities and accelerations using the received contextual data and a wellbore hydraulics model;

generate an equivalent circulation density (ECD) contour along a two-dimensional acceleration and velocity parameter space from the computed downhole drilling fluid pressures; and

evaluate the ECD contour with a formation fracture pressure to generate a maximum velocity for tripping the tool string, wherein the evaluate the ECD contour further comprises:

obtain the formation fracture pressure;

apply a safety buffer to the obtained formation fracture pressure to obtain upper and lower fracture pressures;

determine upper and lower fracture pressure contours; and

determine a maximum tripping in velocity and a minimum tripping in velocity from the upper and lower fracture pressure contours; and

a trip advisor board display configured to display the maximum tripping velocity; wherein

the system trips the tool string in the wellbore at a velocity based on the determined maximum tripping in velocity.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the two-dimensional acceleration and velocity parameter space comprises a two dimensional parameterized acceleration length and steady state tripping velocity that are based on a trip acceleration profile including an initial acceleration interval, a steady state velocity interval, and deceleration interval.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the evaluate the ECD contour further comprises generate a maximum tripping acceleration.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the evaluate the ECD contour further comprises:

obtain a formation pore pressure;

apply an additional safety buffer to the obtained formation pore pressure to obtain upper and lower pore pressures;

determine upper and lower pore pressure contours; and

determine a minimum tripping out velocity and a maximum tripping out velocity from the upper and lower pore pressure contours.

12 . A method for tripping a tool string in a wellbore, the method comprising:

obtaining contextual data including wellbore data, tool string data, and drilling fluid data;

computing downhole drilling fluid pressures at multiple tool string velocities and accelerations using the obtained contextual data and a wellbore hydraulics model;

generating an equivalent circulation density (ECD) contour along a two-dimensional acceleration and velocity parameter space from the computed downhole drilling fluid pressures;

evaluating the ECD contour with a formation fracture pressure to generate a maximum tripping velocity and a minimum tripping velocity, wherein the evaluating the ECD contour further comprises:

obtaining the formation fracture pressure;

applying a safety buffer to the obtained formation fracture pressure to obtain upper and lower fracture pressures;

determining upper and lower fracture pressure contours; and

determining a maximum tripping in velocity and a minimum tripping in velocity from the upper and lower fracture pressure contours; and

tripping the tool string in the wellbore at a velocity between the determined minimum tripping in velocity and the determined maximum tripping in velocity.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the two-dimensional acceleration and velocity parameter space comprises a two dimensional parameterized acceleration length and steady state tripping velocity that are based on a trip acceleration profile including an initial acceleration interval, a steady state velocity interval, and deceleration interval.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the evaluating the ECD contour further comprises generating a maximum tripping acceleration; and

the tripping further comprises tripping the tool string in the wellbore at an acceleration that is less than the maximum tripping acceleration.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the evaluating the ECD contour further comprises:

obtaining a formation pore pressure;

applying an additional safety buffer to the obtained formation pore pressure to obtain upper and lower pore pressures;

determining upper and lower pore pressure contours; and

determining a minimum tripping out velocity and a maximum tripping out velocity from the upper and lower pore pressure contours.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 25, 2025
From: AMUR VARADARAJAN, PRASANNA; ABOLINS, NICHOLAS; ROGUIN, GHISLAIN; RINGER, MAURICE
To: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 073313/0775 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250172064A1 · May 29, 2025
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