Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02689470 2009-12-31
f ,
SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR DIRECTING THE DRILLING OF A WELL
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a system and apparatus
for directing the
drilling of a well at a drill-site.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Drilling operations involve numerous specialized workers
located at a
drill-site. Typically, at least one worker (the "instructing driller") is
tasked with directing
the drilling of the well by monitoring the path of the well and instructing
one or more
workers ("instructed drillers") to make adjustments to the drilling equipment
such that the
path of the well closely follows a predetermined well plan.
[0003] The instructing driller is located at the drill-site and
communicates
instructions to the instructed drillers by either using an on-site phone,
being physically
located on the drilling floor to speak to the instructed drillers, or using an
electronic note
on an Electronic Drilling Recorder (EDR).
[0004] The instructing driller is responsible for recording all
instructions issued
by the instructing driller into a document known as a slide sheet. The slide
sheet is a
record of the actions taken at a drill-site during the drilling of a well. The
instructing
driller manually enters information into the slide sheet either as a paper
record or as a
digital record.
[0005] In directional drilling applications, the well plan
identifies a series of
target points through which the path of well is desired to follow. The
instructing driller
directs the path of the well by communicating instructions to the instructed
drillers to
control the advancement of a drill string into the ground. The drill string
comprises a
bottom hole assembly ("BHA") positioned at the bottom most point of the drill
string,
and a series of drill pipes (also known as "singles") that are incrementally
attached to the
upper tail end of the drill string as the drill string advances into the
ground. The BHA
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CA 02689470 2009-12-31
typically comprises a drill bit, a mud motor, a bent sub, a measurement while
drilling
("MWD") tool, and other components that are well known in the art.
[0006] The instructing driller monitors the path of well by interpolating
the
results of periodic surveys taken during the drilling operation. Each survey
identifies the
current depth, inclination and azimuth of the BHA. The instructing driller
controls the
path of the well by issuing drilling instructions to the instructed drillers
that typically
comprise a combination of one or more slide and rotate commands. A slide
command
directs the instructed drillers to advance the drill string a specific
distance and at a
specific toolface angle without rotation of the drill string. A rotate command
directs the
instructed drillers to advance the drill string a specific distance while
rotating the drill
string.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides, in part, a system and apparatus
for
directing the drilling of a well at a drill-site.
[0008] In accordance with one embodiment, a system for directing the
drilling of
a well at a drill-site is provided, comprising:
(a) an instructing unit communicatively coupled with a central unit, the
instructing unit configured to receive one or more drilling instructions
from an instructing driller, send received drilling instructions to the
central
unit, receive one or more instruction confirmations from the central unit,
and present received instruction confirmations to the instructing driller;
(b) an instructed unit located at the drill-site and communicatively
coupled
with the central unit, the instructed unit configured to receive one or more
instruction confirmations from an instructed driller, send received
instruction confirmations to the central unit, receive one or more drilling
instructions from the central unit, and present received drilling instructions
to the instructed driller;
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,
,
(c) a central unit communicatively coupled with the
instructing unit and
instructed unit, comprising:
(i) a receiver configured to receive one or more drilling instructions
from the instructing unit and one or more instruction confirmations
from the instructed unit;
(ii) a memory having stored therein a data structure for storing
received drilling instructions, received instruction confirmations,
and slide sheet information;
(iii) a logger communicatively coupled to the receiver and the memory,
the logger configured to store received drilling instructions and
received instruction confirmations in the memory;
(iv) a slide sheet manager communicatively coupled to the receiver and
the memory, the slide sheet manager configured to generate slide
sheet information from the received drilling instructions and store
the slide sheet information in the memory; and
(v) a transmitter communicatively coupled to the receiver, the
transmitter configured to transmit received drilling instructions to
the instructed unit and received instruction confirmations to the
instructing unit.
[0009] The instructing unit may be located remote to the drill-
site.
[0010] The system may further comprise a plurality of
instructing units.
[0011] The system may further comprise an alarm unit located at
the drill-site, the
alarm unit configured to receive an alarm instruction from the central unit
and generate
an audible alarm upon receipt of the alarm instruction; the central unit may
further
comprise an alarm manager communicatively coupled to the receiver, the alarm
manager
selectively configurable to issue the alarm instruction upon receipt of one or
more drilling
instructions by the receiver of the central unit; and the transmitter of the
central unit may
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,
,
further be configured to transmit the alarm instruction issued by the alarm
manager to the
alarm unit.
[0012] The system may further comprise a monitoring unit
communicatively
coupled with the central unit, the monitoring unit configured to receive one
or more
drilling instructions and instruction confirmations from the central unit, and
present
received drilling instructions and instruction confirmations to a user; and
the transmitter
of the central unit may be further configured to transmit received drilling
instructions and
received instruction confirmations to the monitoring unit.
[0013] The system may comprise a plurality of monitoring units.
[0014] The instructing unit may be further configured to
receive slide sheet
information from the central unit and present slide sheet information to the
instructing
driller; and the transmitter of the central unit may be further
communicatively coupled to
the slide sheet manager and may be further configured to transmit slide sheet
information
to the instructing unit.
[0015] The instructed unit may be further configured to receive
slide sheet
information from the central unit and present slide sheet information to the
instructed
driller; and the transmitter of the central unit may be further configured to
transmit slide
sheet information to the instructed unit.
[0016] The instructing unit may b further configured to receive
drilling
instructions from the central unit and present received drilling instructions
to the
instructing driller; and the transmitter of the central unit may be further
configured to
transmit received drilling instructions to the instructing unit.
[0017] The instructed unit may be further configured to receive
instruction
confirmations from the central unit and present received instruction
confirmations to the
instructed driller; and the transmitter of the central unit may be further
configured to
transmit received instruction confirmations to the instructed unit.
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[0018] The monitoring unit may be further configured to receive slide
sheet
information from the central unit and present slide sheet information to the
user; and the
transmitter of the central unit may be further communicatively coupled to the
slide sheet
manager and may be further configured to transmit slide sheet information to
the
monitoring unit.
[0019] In accordance with one embodiment, an apparatus for facilitating
the
drilling of a well at a drill-site is provided, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a receiver configured to receive one or more drilling instructions from
an
instructing unit and one or more instruction confirmations from an
instructed unit;
(b) a memory having stored therein a data structure for storing received
drilling instructions, received instruction confirmations, and slide sheet
information;
(c) a logger communicatively coupled to the receiver and the memory, the
logger configured to store received drilling instructions and received
instruction confirmations in the memory;
(d) a slide sheet manager communicatively coupled to the receiver and the
memory, the slide sheet manager configured to generate slide sheet
information from the received drilling instructions and store the slide sheet
information in the memory; and
(e) a transmitter communicatively coupled to the receiver, the transmitter
configured to transmit received drilling instructions to the instructed unit
and received instruction confirmations to the instructing unit.
[0020] The apparatus may further comprise an alarm manager communicatively
coupled to the receiver, the alarm manager selectively configured to issue an
alarm
instruction upon receipt of one or more drilling instructions by the receiver;
and the
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CA 02689470 2009-12-31
transmitter may be further configured to transmit the alarm instruction issued
by the
alarm manager to an alarm unit located at the drill-site.
[0021] The transmitter may be further configured to transmit received
drilling
instructions and received instruction confirmations to a monitoring unit.
[0022] The transmitter may be further configured to transmit slide sheet
information to the instructing unit.
[0023] The transmitter may be further communicatively coupled to the
slide sheet
manager and may be further configured to transmit slide sheet information to
the
instructed unit.
[0024] The transmitter may be further communicatively coupled to the
slide sheet
manager and may be further configured to transmit slide sheet information to
the
monitoring unit.
[0025] The transmitter may be further configured to transmit received
drilling
instructions to the instructing unit.
[0026] The transmitter may be further configured to transmit received
instruction
confirmations to the instructed unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] Figure 1 is a system diagram of a system for directing the
drilling of a well
according to one embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0028] The embodiments described herein relate to a system and apparatus
for
directing the drilling of a directional well at a drill-site. Particularly,
the embodiments
relate to a system and apparatus for communicating drilling instructions from
one or
more instructing drillers to one or more instructed drillers, providing
feedback to
instructing drillers by communicating confirmations of the receipt of drilling
instructions
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CA 02689470 2009-12-31
,
by the instructed drillers (referred to as "instruction confirmations"),
logging
communications from the instructing drillers and instructed drillers, and
updating and
maintaining a slide sheet respecting the drilling of the well. While the
embodiments
described herein relate to directional drilling applications, it is to be
understood that the
scope of the present invention is not limited to directional drilling
applications and is
equally applicable to other drilling applications.
[0029] The term "communicatively coupled" as used herein
"communicatively
coupled" refers to communication between two devices and/or components,
directly or
through one or more intermediate devices and/or components, including without
limitation, communication through one or more systems, networks, buffers,
databases, or
media.
[0030] Further, throughout the specification, where a
"computer" is referenced it
may include one or more computers located at one more locations communicating
through one or more networks. Where a "processor" is referenced it may include
one or
more processors located at one more locations communicating through one or
more
networks, including without limitation, application specific circuits,
programmable logic
controllers, field programmable gate arrays, microcontrollers,
microprocessors, virtual
machines, electronic circuits and other processing devices known in the art.
Where a
"computer readable medium" or "memory" is referenced it may include one or
more
computer readable mediums located at one more locations communicating through
one or
more networks, including without limitation, random access memory, flash
memory, hard
disc drives, read-write optical drives and optical drive media, flash drives,
and other
computer readable storage media known in the art. Where a "network" is
referenced it
may include one or more networks, including without limitation, local area
networks,
wide area networks, intranets, the Internet, and other networks known in the
art.
[0031] Referring to Figure 1, a first embodiment of a system
for directing the
drilling of a directional well at a drill-site is shown generally as item 1
and is comprised
of the following major components: an instructing unit 10, a central unit 20,
an instructed
unit 30, an alarm unit 40, a monitoring unit 60 and a network 50.
Alternatively, the
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CA 02689470 2009-12-31
system 1 may comprise a plurality of instructing units having the
functionality of the
instructing unit 10 described herein. In the further alternative, the system 1
may
comprise a plurality of monitoring units having the functionality of the
monitoring
unit 60 described herein.
[0032] The Instructing Unit
[0033] The instructing unit 10 (a) receives drilling instructions from
the
instructing driller and drilling information from the central unit 20, (b)
forwards drilling
instructions to the central unit 20, and (c) presents drilling information to
the instructing
driller. The instructing unit 10 is located remote to the drill-site, thereby
protecting the
instructing driller from the potentially hazardous environment at the drill-
site.
Alternatively, the instructing unit 10 may be located at the drill-site if
desired.
[0034] The instructing unit 10 is integrated with a directional drilling
monitoring
system (not shown) that provides the instructing driller with information
pertaining to the
drilling operation, such as, survey data, environmental conditions, well plan,
pressure
data, MWD decoder data, toolface information and configuration settings.
Alternatively,
the instructing unit 10 may be a standalone unit or integrated with other
drilling
equipment.
[0035] The instructing unit 10 comprises: an input device 11, a display
12, a
receiver 13, a transmitter 14, a memory 15, and a processor 16. The input
device 11
receives drilling instructions input by an instructing driller. The input
device 11 consists
of a keyboard, mouse and graphical display. Alternatively, the input device 11
may be
comprised of any electronic device or combination of electronic devices known
in the art
for receiving information from a user.
[0036] The drilling instructions describe specific actions for the
instructed drillers
to follow at the drill-site. The drilling instructions are selected from one
of the
instructions in the following table resulting in the following corresponding
actions taken
by the instructed drillers. Alternatively, the drilling instructions may
consist of any action
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,
,
or combination of actions that an instructing driller may desire the
instructed drillers to
follow at the drill-site.
Instruction Action
Slide and Rotate Advance the drill string without rotation by a first
distance at a specified tool face angle and then rotate
and advance the drill string by a second distance.
Rotate and Slide Rotate and advance the drill string by a first distance
and then advance the drill string without rotation by a
second distance at a specified tool face angle.
Slide Advance the drill string without rotation by
a
specified distance at a specified tool face angle.
Rotate Rotate and advance the drill string by a
specified
distance.
Cancel Cancel the previously issued instruction.
Stop Drilling Stop all drilling activity and await new
instruction.
[0037] For the "Slide and Rotate", "Rotate and Slide" and
"Slide" instructions,
the toolface angle is specified with respect to either magnetic north ("MAG")
or the top
of the well ("GRAV").
[0038] The receiver 13 receives drilling information sent by
the central unit 20
over the network 50 to the instructing unit 10. The receiver 13 comprises an
Ethernet
receiver that communicatively coupled with the central unit 20 over the
network 50 to
receive drilling instructions, instruction confirmations and slide sheet
information.
Alternatively, the receiver 13 may consist of other communications hardware
employing
a variety of communications protocols as are well known in the art.
[0039] The display 12 is a computer monitor or other type of
graphical electronic
display that presents drilling information to the instructing drillers that is
received from
the central unit 20 by the receiver 13, such as, drilling instructions,
instruction
confirmations and slide sheet information.
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CA 02689470 2009-12-31
,
,
[0040] The transmitter 14 transmits drilling instructions to
the central unit 20.
The transmitter 14 comprises an Ethernet transmitter that is communicatively
coupled
with the central unit 20 over the network 50. Alternatively, the transmitter
14 may
comprise other communications hardware employing a variety of communications
protocols as are well known in the art.
[0041] The memory 15 comprises a computer readable medium
having
statements and instructions stored thereon that when executed by the processor
16
provide the functionality of the instructing unit 10 as described below.
[0042] The processor 16 is communicatively coupled to the
display 12, the
receiver 13, the transmitter 14, and the memory 15. The processor 16 executes
the
statements and instructions stored in the memory 15 to: (a) receive drilling
instructions
from the instructing driller and drilling information from the central unit
20, (b) forward
drilling instructions to the central unit 20, and (c) present drilling
information to the
instructing driller. Specifically, the processor 16 unpackages each
communication
received from the central unit 20 by the receiver 13 from its packaged form,
and directs
the display 12 to present drilling information to the instructing driller,
such as, drilling
instructions, instruction confirmations and slide sheet information. In the
present
embodiment, each communication is unpackaged from its packaged form conforming
to
the applicable communication protocols, decompressed using a decompression
utility
such as GZIPTM, and converted from an Extensible Markup Language ("XML") data
object into the unpackaged drilling information.
[0043] The processor 16 also packages each drilling instruction
received by the
input device 11 from the instructing driller into a form suitable for
transmission over the
network 50, and directs the transmitter 12 to transmit the packaged drilling
instruction to
the central unit 20. In the present embodiment, each drilling instruction is
converted into
a XML data object, compressed using a compression utility such as GZIPTM, and
packaged to conform to the applicable communication protocols.
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[0044] The Instructed Unit
[0045] The instructed unit 30 is located at the drill-site and functions
to:
(a) receive instruction confirmations from the instructed drillers and
drilling information
from the central unit 20, (b) forward instruction confirmations to the central
unit 20, and
(c) present drilling information to the instructed drillers.
[0046] The instructed unit 30 is a Pason Systems Corp. Sidekick.
Alternatively,
the instructed unit 30 may be a standalone unit or integrated with other
drilling
equipment.
[0047] The instructed unit 30 comprises: an input device 31, a display 32,
a
receiver 33, a transmitter 34, a memory 35, and a processor 36. The input
device 31
functions to receive instruction confirmations input by the instructed
drillers. The input
device 31 consists of a touchscreen. Alternatively, the input device 31 may be
comprised
of any electronic device or combination of electronic devices known in the art
for
receiving information from a user.
[0048] The instruction confirmations provide feedback to the instructing
driller
indicating that a drilling instruction has been received by the instructed
drillers. An
instruction confirmation may be issued for each drilling instruction received
by the
instructed unit 30, except for a "Cancel" instruction. Alternatively, an
instruction
confirmation may be issued in response to the receipt of one or more drilling
instructions.
[0049] The receiver 33 receives drilling information sent by the central
unit 20
over the network 50 to the instructed unit 30. The receiver 33 comprises an
Ethernet
receiver that is communicatively coupled with the central unit 20 over network
50 to
receive drilling instructions, instruction confirmations and slide sheet
information.
Alternatively, the receiver 33 may comprise other communications hardware
employing a
variety of communications protocols as are well known in the art.
[0050] The display 32 is a computer monitor or other type of graphical
electronic
display that presents drilling information to the instructed drillers that is
received from
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CA 02689470 2009-12-31
the central unit 20 by the receiver 33, such as, drilling instructions,
instruction
confirmations and slide sheet information.
[0051] The transmitter 34 transmits the instruction confirmations to the
central
unit 20. The transmitter 34 comprises an Ethernet transmitter that is
communicatively
coupled with the central unit 20 over the network 50. Alternatively, the
transmitter 34
may comprise other communications hardware employing a variety of
communications
protocols as are well known in the art.
[0052] The memory 35 comprises a computer readable medium having
statements and instructions stored thereon that when executed by the processor
36
provide the functionality of the instructed unit 30 as described below.
[0053] The processor 36 is communicatively coupled to the display 32, the
receiver 33, the transmitter 34, and the memory 35. The processor 36 executes
the
statements and instructions stored in the memory 34 to: (a) receive
instruction
confirmations from the instructed drillers and drilling information from the
central
unit 20, (b) forward instruction confirmations to the central unit 20, and (c)
present
drilling information to the instructed drillers. Specifically, the processor
36 unpackages
each communication received from the central unit 20 by the receiver 33 from
its
packaged form, and directs the display 32 to present drilling information to
the instructed
drillers, such as, drilling instructions, instruction confirmations and slide
sheet
information. In the present embodiment, each communication is unpackaged from
its
packaged form conforming to the applicable communication protocols,
decompressed
using a decompression utility such as GZIPTM, and converted from an Extensible
Markup
Language ("XML") data object into the unpackaged drilling information.
[0054] The processor 36 also packages each instruction confirmation
received by
the input device 31 from the instructed drillers into a form suitable for
transmission over
the network 50, and directs the transmitter 32 to transmit the packaged
instruction
confirmation to the central unit 20. In the present embodiment, each
instruction
confirmation is converted into a XML data object, compressed using a
compression
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CA 02689470 2009-12-31
utility such as GZIPTM, and packaged to conform to the applicable
communication
protocols.
[0055] The Alarm Unit
[0056] The alarm unit 40 is located at the drill-site and functions to
generate an
audible alarm upon receipt of an alarm instruction from the central unit 20.
The audible
alarm indicates to the instructed drillers at the drill-site that a new
drilling instruction has
been sent by the central unit 20 to the instructed unit 30.
[0057] The alarm unit 40 is a Pason Systems Corp. Pit Volume Totalizer.
Alternatively, the instructed unit 30 may be a standalone unit or integrated
with other
drilling equipment.
[0058] The alarm unit 40 comprises a receiver 43, a memory 45, a
processor 46,
and an alarm transducer 47. The receiver 43 receives alarm instructions sent
by the
central unit 20 over the network 50 to the alarm unit 40. The receiver 43
comprises an
Ethernet receiver. Alternatively, the receiver 41 may comprise other
communications
hardware employing a variety of communications protocols as are well known in
the art.
[0059] The alarm transducer 47 generates an audible alarm directed at the
instructed drillers at the drill-site to indicate that a new drilling
instruction has been sent
to the instructed unit 30.
[0060] The memory 45 comprises a computer readable medium having
statements and instructions stored thereon that when executed by the processor
46
provide the functionality of the alarm unit 40 as described below.
[0061] The processor 46 is communicatively coupled to the receiver 43,
the
memory 15, and the alarm transducer 47. The processor 46 executes the
statements and
instructions stored in the memory 44 to generate an audible alarm upon receipt
of an
alarm instruction from the central unit 20. Specifically, the processor 46
unpackages
each communication received from the central unit 20 by the receiver 43 from
its
packaged form, and directs the alarm transducer 47 to generate an audible
alarm. In the
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CA 02689470 2009-12-31
present embodiment, each communication is unpackaged from its packaged form
conforming to the applicable communication protocols, decompressed using a
decompression utility such as GZIPTM, and converted from an Extensible Markup
Language ("XML") data object into the unpackaged alarm instruction.
[0062] The Monitoring Unit
[0063] The monitoring unit 60 is located remote to the drill-site.
Alternatively,
the monitoring unit 60 may be located at the drill-site if desired. The
monitoring unit 60
functions to receive drilling information from the central unit 20 and present
received
drilling information to a user.
[0064] The monitoring unit 60 is a standalone unit comprised of a general-
purpose computer. Alternatively, the monitoring unit 60 may be integrated with
other
drilling equipment.
[0065] The monitoring unit 60 comprises a display 62, a receiver 63, a
memory 65, and a processor 66. The receiver 63 receives drilling information
sent by the
central unit 20 over the network 50 to the monitoring unit 60. The receiver 63
comprises
an Ethernet receiver that is communicatively coupled with the central unit 20
over the
network 50 to receive drilling instructions, instruction confirmations and
slide sheet
information. Alternatively, the receiver 63 may consist of other
communications
hardware employing a variety of communications protocols as are well known in
the art.
[0066] The display 62 is a computer monitor or other type of graphical
electronic
display that presents drilling information to the user that is received from
the central
unit 20 by the receiver 63, such as, drilling instructions, instruction
confirmations and
slide sheet information.
[0067] The memory 65 comprises a computer readable medium having
statements and instructions stored thereon that when executed by the processor
66
provide the functionality of the monitoring unit 60 as described below.
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[0068] The processor 66 is communicatively coupled to the display 62, the
receiver 63, and the memory 65. The processor 66 executes the statements and
instructions stored in the memory 64 to receive drilling information from the
central
unit 20 and present received drilling information to a user. Specifically, the
processor 66
unpackages each communication received from the central unit 20 by the
receiver 63
from its packaged form, and directs the display 63 to present drilling
information to the
user, such as, drilling instructions, instruction confirmations and slide
sheet information.
In the present embodiment, each communication is unpackaged from its packaged
form
conforming to the applicable communication protocols, decompressed using a
decompression utility such as GZIPTM, and converted from an Extensible Markup
Language ("XML") data object into the unpackaged drilling information.
[0069] The Central Unit
[0070] The central unit 20 functions to: (a) receive drilling
instructions from the
instructing unit 10 and instruction confirmations from the instructed unit 30;
(b) automatically and accurately store a history of all received drilling
instructions and
confirmation instructions; (c) automatically and accurately update and
maintain a slide
sheet for the drilling operation; (d) transmit drilling information to the
instructing unit 10,
instructed unit 30, and monitoring unit 60; and (e) selectively transmit alarm
instructions
to the alarm unit 40. The central unit 20 is located at the drill-site.
Alternatively, the
central unit 20 may be located remote to the drill-site if desired.
[0071] The central unit 20 is a standalone unit comprised of a general-
purpose
computer. Alternatively, the central unit 20 may be integrated with other
drilling
equipment.
[0072] The central unit 20 comprises: a receiver 23, a transmitter 24, a
memory 25, and a processor 26. The receiver 23 receives drilling information
sent by the
instructing unit 10 and instructed unit 30 to the central unit 20. The
receiver 23
comprises an Ethernet receiver that is communicatively coupled with the
instructing
unit 10 and instructed unit 30 over the network 50 to receive drilling
instructions from the
instructing unit 10 and instruction confirmations from the instructed unit 30.
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. ,
Alternatively, the receiver 23 may comprise other communications hardware
employing a
variety of communications protocols as are well known in the art.
[0073] The transmitter 24 is communicatively coupled to the
instructing unit 10,
the instructed unit 30, the monitoring unit 60, and the alarm unit 40. The
transmitter 24
comprises an Ethernet transmitter that is communicatively coupled with the
instructing
unit 10, instructed unit 30 and monitoring unit 60 over the network 50.
Alternatively, the
transmitter 26 may comprise other communications hardware employing a variety
of
communications protocols as are well known in the art.
[0074] The memory 25 comprises a computer readable medium
having
statements and instructions stored thereon that when executed by the processor
26
provide the functionality of the central unit 20 as described below. The
memory 25 also
comprises a data structure stored therein for storing drilling information. In
the present
embodiment, the data structure is a database configured to store drilling
instructions
received from the instructing unit 10, instruction confirmations received from
the
instructed unit 30, and slide sheet information generated by the central unit
20.
[0075] The processor 26 is communicatively coupled to the
receiver 23, the
transmitter 24, and the memory 25. The processor 26 executes the statements
and
instructions stored in the memory 25 to: (a) receive drilling instructions
from the
instructing unit 10 and instruction confirmations from the instructed unit 30;
(b) automatically and accurately store a history of all received drilling
instructions and
confirmation instructions; (c) automatically and accurately update and
maintain a slide
sheet for the drilling operation; (d) transmit drilling information to the
instructing unit 10,
instructed unit 30, and monitoring unit 60; and (e) selectively transmit alarm
instructions
to the alarm unit 40.
[0076] The processor 26 unpackages each communication received
from the
instruction unit 10 and instructed unit 30 from its packaged form and provides
the
functionality of a logger 26A, slide sheet manager 26B, and an alarm manager
26C as
further described below. In the present embodiment, each communication is
unpackaged
from its packaged form conforming to the applicable communication protocols,
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decompressed using a decompression utility such as GZIPTM, and converted from
a XML
data object into the unpackaged drilling information.
[0077] The processor 26 executes instructions and statements stored in
the
memory 25 that define a logger 26A. The logger 26A automatically and
accurately stores
all drilling instructions received from the instructing unit 10 and all
instruction
confirmations received from the instructed unit 30 to the memory 25.
[0078] The processor 26 also executes instructions and statements stored
in the
memory 25 that define a slide sheet manager 26B. The slide sheet manager 26B
accurately and automatically updates and maintains the slide sheet information
stored in
the memory 25 to account for each "Slide and Rotate", "Rotate and Slide",
"Slide" and
"Rotate" drilling instruction received from the instructing unit 10. The slide
sheet
manager 26B generates slide sheet information for each of these drilling
instructions
received by the central unit 20 and stores the slide sheet information in the
memory 25.
Slide sheet information is generated by copying the drilling instruction,
modifying the
copied drilling instruction to account for the current depth of the drill
string, and
converting the modified drilling instruction into the format of a slide sheet
entry. For
example, if the current depth of the drill string is 1000 meters, the current
drill pipe
is 9.45 meters long, and the drilling instruction "Slide and Rotate 5m @48
MAG" is
received by the central unit 20, then the slide sheet manager 26B will store
the following
slide sheet entry in the slide sheet:
Slide From Slide To Toolface Rotate From Rotate To
1000.0 m 1005.0 m 48 MAG 1005.0 m 1009.45m
[0079] Upon receipt of a "Cancel" instruction from the instructing unit
10, the
slide sheet manager 26B removes the slide sheet entry pertaining to the last
drilling
instruction received from the instructing unit 10. No action is taken by the
slide sheet
manager 26B upon receipt of a "Stop Drilling" instruction from the instructing
unit 10.
[0080] The processor 26 also executes instructions and statements stored
in the
memory 25 that define an alarm manager 26C. The alarm manager 26C selectively
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issues an alarm instruction directed to the alarm unit 40 for each drilling
instruction sent
by the central unit 20 to the instructed unit 30. The alarm manager 26C is
selectively
configurable to either issue an alarm instruction or not issue an alarm
instruction for each
drilling instruction sent to the instructed unit 30 by the central unit 20.
Alternatively, the
alarm manager 26C may issue an alarm instructed upon the receipt of one or
more
drilling instructions sent to the instructed unit 30 by the central unit 20.
[0081] The processor 26 packages and drilling information received or
generated
by the central unit 20 into a form suitable for transmission over the network
50. In the
present embodiment, the drilling information is converted into a XML data
object,
compressed using a compression utility such as GZIPTM, and packaged to conform
to the
applicable communication protocols. The processor 26 then transmits the
packaged
drilling information as follows: (a) drilling instructions received from the
instructing
unit 10 are transmitted to the instructing unit 10, instructed unit 30, and
monitoring
unit 60; (b) confirmation instructions received from the instructed unit 30
are transmitted
to the instructing unit 10, instructed unit 30, and monitoring unit 60; (c)
slide sheet
information generated by the slide sheet manager 26B is transmitted to the
instructing
unit 10, instructed unit 30, and monitoring unit 60; and (d) alarm
instructions issued by
the alarm manager 26C are transmitted to the alarm unit 40.
[0082] The Network
[0083] The network 50 comprises a Local Area Network ("LAN") at the drill-
site
and a satellite connection for off-site communications. At the drill-site, the
central
unit 20 is communicatively coupled with the instructed unit 30 and alarm unit
40 over an
Ethernet-based Local Area Network (LAN). The instructing unit 10 and
monitoring
unit 60 located remote to the drill-site are communicatively coupled with the
central
unit 20 located at the drill-site through a satellite connection.
Alternatively, the
instructing unit 10, central unit 20, instructed unit 30, alarm unit 40 and
monitoring
unit 60 may be communicatively coupled through any combination of networks
utilizing
any combination of communication mediums and protocols know in the art.
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CA 02689470 2009-12-31
[0084] System Operation
[0085] In operation, the instructing driller monitors the status of the
drilling
operation and path of the well from a location remote to the drill-site. When
the
instructing driller desires the instructed drillers to take a specific action,
the instructing
driller inputs a drilling instruction to the input device 11 of the
instructing unit 10. The
transmitter 14 of the instructing unit 10 then packages the drilling
instruction as described
above and transmits the packaged drilling instruction to the central unit 20
over the
network 50.
[0086] The receiver 21 of the central unit 20 receives the packaged
drilling
instruction sent from the instructing unit 10 which is unpackaged by the
processor 26. In
response to the received drilling instruction: the logger 26A stores the
unpackaged
drilling instruction to the memory 25, the slide sheet manager 26B converts
the
unpackaged drilling instruction to slide sheet information and stores the
slide sheet
information to the memory 25, and the alarm manager 26C issues an alarm
instruction if
it has been selectively configured to do so. The processor 26 packages the
drilling
instruction, slide sheet information and alarm instruction, and the
transmitter 26 transmits
over the network 50 the packaged drilling instruction and slide sheet
information to the
instructing unit 10, instructed unit 30 and monitoring unit 60, and the
packaged alarm
instruction to the alarm unit 40.
[0087] The receiver 13 of the instructing unit 10 receives the packaged
drilling
instruction and slide sheet information sent from the central unit 20. The
processor 16
unpackages the drilling instruction and slide sheet information and the
display 12
presents the unpackaged drilling instruction and slide sheet information to
the instructing
driller. The instructing driller may also optionally view the slide sheet
information on the
display 12 if desired.
[0088] The receiver 33 of the instructed unit 30 also receives the
packaged
drilling instruction and slide sheet information sent from the central unit
20. The
processor 36 unpackages the drilling instruction and slide sheet information
and the
display 32 presents the unpackaged drilling instruction and slide sheet
information to the
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, .
instructed drillers. The instructed drillers may also optionally view the
slide sheet
information on the display 32 if desired.
[0089] The receiver 63 of the monitoring unit 60 also receives
the packaged
drilling instruction and slide sheet information sent from the central unit
20. The
processor 66 unpackages the drilling instruction and slide sheet information
and the
display 62 presents the unpackaged drilling instruction and slide sheet
information to the
user. The user may also optionally view the slide sheet information on the
display 62 if
desired.
[0090] The receiver 43 of the alarm unit 40 receives the
packaged alarm
instruction sent from the central unit 20. The processor 46 unpackages the
alarm
instruction and the alarm transducer 47 generates an audible alarm directed at
the
instructed drillers at the drill-site.
[0091] After the instructed drillers have reviewed the drilling
instruction
presented on the display 32 of the instructed unit 30, the instructed drillers
input an
instruction confirmation to the input device 31. The processor 36 then
packages the
instruction confirmation and the transmitter 34 transmits the instruction
confirmation to
the central unit 20.
[0092] The receiver 21 of the central unit 20 receives the
packaged instruction
confirmation sent from the instructed unit 30. In response to the received
instruction
confirmation: the processor unpackages the instruction confirmation, the
logger 26A
stores the unpackaged instruction confirmation to the memory 25, the processor
packages
the instruction confirmation, and the transmitter 26 transmits the packaged
instruction
confirmation over the network 50 to the instructing unit 10, instructed unit
30 and
monitoring unit 60.
[0093] The receiver 13 of the instructing unit 10 receives the
packaged instruction
confirmation sent from the central unit 20. The processor 16 then unpackages
the
instruction confirmation and the display 12 visually presents the unpacked
instruction
confirmation to the instructing driller.
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CA 02689470 2016-02-12
,
[0094] The receiver 33 of the instructed unit 30 also receives the
packaged
instruction confirmation sent from the central unit 20. The processor 36 then
unpackages
the instruction confirmation and the display 32 visually presents the unpacked
instruction
confirmation to the instructed drillers.
[0095] The receiver 63 of the monitoring unit 60 also receives the
packaged
instruction confirmation sent from the central unit 20. The processor 66 then
unpackages
the instruction confirmation and the display 62 visually presents the unpacked
instruction
confirmation to the user.
[0096] The drilling of the well continues as the directional driller
issues
additional drilling instructions to direct the path of the well to conform
with the
predefined well plan.
[0097] While a particular embodiment of the present invention has
been described
in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible
within the
scope of the invention and are intended to be included herein. The scope of
the claims
should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples,
but should
be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a
whole.
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