Nabors Drilling Technologies Usa, Inc.

Schlumberger Technology Corporation

Scott Coffey

Austin Groover

Drew Curran

Adam Lacroix

Zaurayze Tarique

Blaine Dow

Justin Cremer

An apparatus for, and method of identifying a potential problem with a bottom hole assembly ('BHA') combination that is used in a drilling operation. The method includes monitoring, using a sensor, an actual drilling parameter; comparing the actual drilling parameter to a target drilling parameter to determine a deviation; creating, in response to the deviation and by a feedback control loop system that references an electronic database, instructions thereby omitting variability associated with human input in creating the instructions; monitoring, using the controller, a change in the deviation; determining that the change in the deviation is below a threshold; and determining, based on the change in the deviation being below the threshold, that there is a potential problem with the BHA combination. The BHA combination comprises a mud motor and a drill bit.

Method and apparatus for identifying a potential problem with a bottom hole assembly (BHA) combination using a feedback control loop system

A method of transitioning from rotary to slide drilling while maintaining a bit of a bottom hole assembly ('BHA') on a wellbore bottom includes (a) recording a first toolface value of the BHA that is coupled to a drill string; (b) identifying a correlation between the first toolface value and a first quill position of a quill coupled to the drill string; (c) identifying a breakover torque for the drill string; (d) performing rotary drilling; (e) recording a second toolface value while the bit remains on the wellbore bottom; (f) receiving, while the bit remains on the wellbore bottom, a target toolface value; (g) calculating, while the bit remains on the wellbore bottom, an unwind amount to unwind the drill string; and (h) unwinding the drill string by the unwind amount to bring the second toolface value closer to the target toolface value while the bit remains on the bottom.

Method and apparatus for transitioning between rotary drilling and slide drilling while maintaining a bit of a bottom hole assembly on a wellbore bottom

An apparatus and method of operating a drilling system with a directional guidance system and a drilling operation system is described. The directional guidance system and drilling operation system may engage in bi-directional communication during a slide drilling operation. This communication may be continual during the drilling operation. Parameters of the drilling instructions and the drilling operation system may be changed in response to these communications resulting in new instructions and changed slide drilling operations.

Steerable drilling bi-directional communications system and methods

An apparatus for, and method of identifying a potential problem with, drilling equipment that is used in a drilling operation. The method includes monitoring an actual drilling parameter associated with the drilling operation; comparing the actual drilling parameter to a target drilling parameter to determine a deviation between the actual and target drilling parameters; creating, using the controller and in response to the deviation, instructions for a control system that controls an aspect of the drilling operation; drilling, using the instructions and the controller, the wellbore; monitoring, using the controller, a change in deviation in response to drilling using the instructions; determining that the change in deviation is below a threshold; and determining, based on the change in deviation being below the threshold, that there is a potential problem with the drilling equipment.

Method and apparatus for identifying a potential problem with drilling equipment using a feedback control loop system

Systems including a plurality of sensors disposed on a bottom hole assembly (BHA) configured to provide data to a controller, wherein a drill bit is connected to a bottom of the BHA; and a controller configured to: receive a well plan; receive, at a first stationary survey station, locational data and directional data of the BHA from the plurality of sensors; create steering instructions based on the well plan, historical drilling data, and the locational and directional data; generate a predicted future position of the drill bit for each of a plurality of stationary survey stations subsequent to the first stationary survey station assuming implementation of the steering instructions; display the predicted future position of the drill bit for each stationary survey station on a graphical user interface; receive directions to implement, reject, or revise the steering instructions; and execute the received directions. Methods and machine-readable media are also included.

Methods and systems for improving confidence in automated steering guidance

A method for maintaining a constant bottom hole pressure during wellbore drilling operations, the method comprising supplying drilling fluid to the drill string via a top drive at a first pressure while flow of drilling fluid out of a wellbore annulus is restricted by a choke to hold pressure in a wellbore annulus and supplying drilling fluid to the drill string via the top drive at a second pressure lower than the first pressure and to a circulation coupler at a third pressure while flow of drilling fluid out of a wellbore annulus is restricted by a choke to hold pressure in the annulus, wherein the sum of the second and third pressures is approximately the same as the first pressure. The method also comprises supplying drilling fluid to the drill string via the circulation coupler at the third pressure while pumping drilling fluid into the wellbore annulus by a back pressure pump, wherein the bottom hole pressure at the bottom of the wellbore is maintained substantially constant during all steps of supplying drilling fluid to the drill string.

Non-stop circulation system for maintaining bottom hole pressure

A circulation coupler for continuous or constant circulation of drilling mud during operation of a drill string, the circulation coupler comprising: a housing having an upper open end and a lower open end, wherein the housing has a port through the housing between the upper and lower ends; an upper rotating control device positioned in the upper open end of the housing, wherein the upper rotating control device comprises a bearing package and a sealing component for sealing engagement with a drill string; and a lower rotating control device position in the lower open end of the housing, wherein the upper rotating control device comprises a bearing package and a sealing component for sealing engagement with a drill string, wherein when a drill sting is positioned within the circulation coupler and engaged by the sealing components of the upper and lower rotating control devices a chamber is defined within the housing between the upper and lower rotating control devices around the drill string.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Scott Coffey