초록 ▼

A method and system is disclosed for automatically detecting the state of a drilling rig during the drilling process of a wellbore. Two or more, but preferably four independent input data channels are received, each input data channel representing a series of measurements made over time during the d

A method and system is disclosed for automatically detecting the state of a drilling rig during the drilling process of a wellbore. Two or more, but preferably four independent input data channels are received, each input data channel representing a series of measurements made over time during the drilling process. Based on the input channels the most likely state of the drilling rig is detected from at least three possible rig states. The detection method is preferably probabilistic and even more preferably based on particle filtering techniques. The preferred systems and methods disclosed are also capable of detecting events and displaying or notifying drilling personnel of the detected events and suggesting corrective action.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for drilling while automatically detecting the state of a drilling rig during the drilling process of a wellbore comprising the steps of: receiving two or more independent input data channels, each input data channel representing a series of measurements made over ti

What is claimed is: 1. A method for drilling while automatically detecting the state of a drilling rig during the drilling process of a wellbore comprising the steps of: receiving two or more independent input data channels, each input data channel representing a series of measurements made over time during the drilling process; and automatically detecting the most likely state of the drilling rig from at least three possible rig states, the detection based on the two or more input channels, wherein the step of automatically detecting further comprises generating a probability associated with each possible rig state, and wherein said generating said probability associated with each possible rig state includes using transitional probabilities for state-to-state transitions for the purpose of calculating said probability. 2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of altering activity relating to drilling based on the detection of the most likely state of the drilling rig. 3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of investigating data relating to the drilling process and/or characteristics of the earth surrounding the wellbore collected during the drilling process. 4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the two or more input data channels are represent measurements of equipment on the drilling rig. 5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the two or more input data channels include two or more of the following input channels: hookload, block position, torque, and stand pipe pressure. 6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of receiving includes at least three independent input channels and the detection is based on the at least three input channels. 7. A method according to claim 5 wherein the step of receiving includes at least four independent input channels and the detection is based on the at least four input channels. 8. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of predicting a future rig state based in part on a current rig state. 9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the most likely state is detected from at least four possible rig states. 10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the most likely state is detected from at least six possible rig states. 11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the most likely state is detected from at least 10 possible rig states. 12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the at least three possible rig states include three or more of the following rig states: Rotary mode drilling (DrillRot), Slide mode drilling (DrillSlide), Reaming in (RihPumpRot), Sliding in (RihPump), Tripping in (Rih), Reaming out (PoohPumpRot), Sliding out (PoohPump), Tripping out (Pooh), Circulating and rotating (StaticPumpRot), Circulating (StaticPump), Off bottom (Static), InSlips, and Unclassified. 13. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of automatically detecting makes use of a fuzzy logic algorithm. 14. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of automatically detecting makes use of a probabilistic technique. 15. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of automatically detecting make use of a Bayesian technique. 16. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of automatically detecting make use of a sequential Bayesian technique. 17. A method according to claim 1 wherein a particle filtering technique is used in the step of automatic detection. 18. A method according to claim 1 wherein a parametric particle filtering technique is used in the step of automatic detection. 19. A method according to claim 1 wherein the most likely state of the drilling rig is detected by calculating a probability distribution of the possible rig states using a probabilistic model, the probabilistic model being based on changepoints and parameters between the changepoints, where the changepoints are derived from the two or more input channels. 20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the changepoints are detected separately for each input channel. 21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the changepoints are detected using a sequential Bayesian technique. 22. A method according to claim 1 wherein a Kalman filtering technique is used in the step of automatic detection. 23. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of automatically detecting is based at least in part on binary indicators from a drilling acquisition system. 24. A method according to claim 23 wherein the binary indicators include bit on bottom, and bit not on bottom. 25. A method according to claim 23 wherein the binary indicators include in slips, not in slips. 26. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of detecting a drilling event based at least in part on (i) the automatically detected most likely state of the drilling rig, and (ii) other information. 27. A method according to claim 26 wherein said step of detecting a drilling event is performed automatically. 28. A method according to claim 27 wherein the drilling event being detected is a washout. 29. A method according to claim 27 wherein the drilling event being detected is a stuck pipe. 30. A method according to claim 27 wherein the drilling event being detected is a predetermined level of bit wear. 31. A method according to claim 27 wherein the step of detecting a drilling event involves tendency analysis. 32. A method according to claim 27 wherein the step of detecting a drilling event involves torque and drag analysis. 33. A method according to claim 27 further comprising the step of notifying drilling personnel of the detected event. 34. A method according to claim 33 wherein the detected event is undesirable, and the notification is a warning of the undesirable event. 35. A method according to claim 27 further comprising the step of suggesting to drilling personnel a response to the detected event. 36. A method according to claim 27 wherein the event is detected in part using information from an earth model. 37. A method according to claim 26 wherein the step of detecting a drilling event involves comparing values derived from the other information with threshold values, and different threshold values are used depending upon the automatically detected most likely state. 38. A method according to claim 26 wherein the detecting of the drilling event is in part a manual process. 39. A method according to claim 26 wherein the other information includes MWD data. 40. A method according to claim 39 wherein the event detected is destructive vibration modes. 41. A method according to claim 1 wherein the automatic detection is based in part on knowledge base information. 42. A method according to claim 1 wherein said steps of receiving and automatically detecting are repeated such that the most likely states of drilling rig is detected over a period of time. 43. A system for drilling while automatically detecting the state of a drilling rig during the drilling process of a wellbore comprising: a storage system adapted to receive two or more independent input data channels, each input data channel representing a series of measurements made over time during the drilling process; and a processing system adapted and programmed to automatically detect the most likely state of the drilling rig from at least three possible rig states and to calculate a probability associated with each possible rig state, the detection based on the two or more inputs, wherein said calculating the probability associated with each possible rig state includes using transitional probabilities for state-to-state transitions for the purpose of calculating said probability. 44. A system for drilling according to claim 43 further comprising a user interface to display information based on the detected most likely state of the drilling rig to drilling personnel such that drilling activity can be altered. 45. A system for drilling according to claim 44 wherein the two or more input data channels are configured to communicate measurements of equipment on the drilling rig. 46. A system for drilling according to claim 43 wherein the storage system is adapted to receive at least three independent input channels and the detection is based on the at least three input channels. 47. A system for drilling according to claim 43 wherein the processing system is further adapted and programmed to generate separate probabilities associated with each possible rig state, and detection of future rig states is based in part on a current rig state probability. 48. A system for drilling according to claim 43 wherein the processing system detects the most likely state of the drilling rig using a probabilistic technique. 49. A system for drilling according to claim 48 wherein the probabilistic technique includes a sequential Bayesian technique based on particle filtering. 50. A system for drilling according to claim 48 wherein the processing system detects the most likely state of the drilling rig by calculating a probability distribution of the possible rig states using a probabilistic model, the probabilistic model being based on changepoints and parameters between the changepoints, where the changepoints are derived from the two or more input channels. 51. A system for drilling according to claim 50 wherein the changepoints are detected separately for each input channel. 52. A system for drilling according to claim 51 wherein the changepoints are detected using a sequential Bayesian technique. 53. A system for drilling according to claim 43 wherein the processing system is further adapted and programmed to detect a drilling event based at least in part on (i) the automatically detected most likely state of the drilling rig, and (ii) other information. 54. A system for drilling according to claim 53 wherein the detecting of a drilling event is performed automatically. 55. A system for drilling according to claim 54 wherein the detecting of a drilling event is in part performed using information from an earth model. 56. A system for drilling according to claim 43, further comprising a user interface configured to display the probability of at least one of said rig states. 57. A system for drilling according to claim 43, further comprising a user interface configured to display the transitional probability associated with the state-to-state transition. 58. A computer readable medium capable of causing a computer system to carry out the following steps during a drilling process of a wellbore: receiving two or more independent input data channels, each input data channel representing a series of measurements made over time during the drilling process; automatically detecting the most likely state of the drilling rig from at least three possible rig states, the detection based on the two or more input channels, wherein automatically detecting the most likely state comprises calculating a probability of at least one of said rig states, and wherein said calculating the probability of at least one of said rig states includes using a transitional probability associated with a state-to-state transition for the purpose of calculating said probability; and displaying information based on the detected most likely state of the drilling rig to drilling personnel such that drilling activity can be altered. 59. A computer readable medium according to claim 58 further capable of causing the computer system to carry out the step of altering activity relating to drilling based on the detection of the most likely state of the drilling rig. 60. A computer readable medium according to claim 58 wherein the detection is based on at least three input channels. 61. A computer readable medium according to claim 58 wherein the probability of at least one of said rig states is generated by the computer system. 62. A computer readable medium according to claim 58 wherein the computer system detects the most likely state of the drilling rig using a probabilistic technique. 63. A computer readable medium according to claim 62 wherein the probabilistic technique includes a sequential Bayesian technique based on particle filtering. 64. A computer readable medium according to claim 62 wherein the probabilistic technique includes analyzing changepoints and parameters for segments between the changepoints derived from the two or more input channels. 65. A computer readable medium according to claim 58 wherein the computer system is further caused to detect a drilling event based at least in part on (i) the automatically detected most likely state of the drilling rig, and (ii) other information. 66. A computer readable medium according to claim 58 wherein the detecting of a drilling event is performed automatically. 67. A method for drilling while automatically detecting the state of a drilling rig during the drilling process of a wellbore comprising the steps of: receiving two or more independent input data channels, each input data channel representing a series of measurements made over time during the drilling process; and automatically detecting the most likely state of the drilling rig from at least three possible rig states, the detection based on the two or more input channels, wherein the step of detecting further comprises the step of calculating a probability of at least one of said rig states including the use of transitional probabilities assigned to each state-to-state transition for the purpose of calculating said probability.