University of Texas System

Roman Shor

Eric Van Oort

Pradeepkumar Ashok

Carlos Torres-Verdin

Parham Pournazari

Adrian Ambrus

Systems and methods are disclosed that provide highly accurate and controllable measurements of rock formation properties in a wellbore. The systems and methods utilize a prescribed input signal to mechanically perturb a drill string in contact with a rock formation in order to elicit a mechanical response. Based on the input signal and the mechanical response, a transfer function is computed and analyzed, wherein the analysis uses estimates of the drill string resonances to identify rock formation resonances, which are used, in turn, to determine the rock formation properties.

Sensing formation properties during wellbore construction

A method, system and computer program product for utilizing look-up tables representing all models in an automation control architecture to independently handle uncertainties in sensed data. Data is stored in a form of conditional probability tables (CPTs) or conditional probability distributions (CPDs), where the data comes from an operator, a service provider, a drilling contractor and an equipment manufacturer. Models of the drilling process domains, such as wellbore hydraulics, drill bit/rock interactions, torque and drag modeling, vibration modeling and drilling machinery operation, are received. Data is extracted from these models into the CPTs or CPDs. The CPTs or CPDs are converted to look-up tables. Data in the look-up tables are then visually displayed in graphical form. As a result, real-time troubleshooting of drilling operations occurs in an efficient manner.

Utilizing look-up tables representing all models in an automation control architecture to independently handle uncertainties in sensed data in oil and gas well construction

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Roman Shor