Computer assisted method for horizontal, lateral, and directional drilling using data from a drill string

摘要

A method for geo-steering, during directional drilling of a wellbore, including a processor, a data storage, and client devices in communication with the processor through a network. The processor can receive data from directional drilling equipment and can present that data to users in an executive dashboard. Users can send data and/or commands to the directional drilling equipment. The executive dashboard can present a portion of interest in a stratigraphic cross section for user identification of: the drill bit in the stratigraphic cross section, formations in the stratigraphic cross section, and other formation data. The method can be used to identify a projected path for the drill bit, import data, compute wellbore profiles and stratigraphic cross sections, plot actual drilling paths, overlay the actual drilling path onto the projected path, and present control buttons to the user.

主权项

1. A computer assisted method for horizontal, lateral, and directional drilling into a stratigraphic cross section of a wellbore using data from a drill string, the drill string extending into the earth from a drilling rig enabling drilling operations to be adjusted in real time, change drilling direction, and staying on target within a desired formation while drilling using the stratigraphic cross section, wherein the computer assisted method comprises using an administrative processor executing computer instructions stored on an administrative data storage comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium for:
a. forming an executive dashboard and presenting the executive dashboard in real-time to a display of a client device of a user via a network, enabling a drilling operator to stay within the desired formation; b. presenting the stratigraphic cross section to the display of the client device of the user via the network; c. presenting the executive dashboard to the user and data collected from the wellbore for use on the stratigraphic cross section using a tool connected to the drill string in the wellbore, wherein the drill string extends into the wellbore and provides data from the tool connected to the drill string for overlaying a location of the drill string graphically onto the stratigraphic cross section; d. transmitting the data collected from the wellbore to the administrative processor and the administrative data storage; e. using computer instructions in the administrative data storage to instruct the administrative processor to:
(i) calculate a projected path for the drill string in the wellbore using computer instructions in the administrative data storage during directional drilling, and presenting the projected path in the stratigraphic cross section to the executive dashboard and storing the projected path in the administrative data storage;(ii) compute a wellbore profile for the wellbore using the data collected from the wellbore and insert the stratigraphic cross section into the wellbore profile, wherein the wellbore profile has a composite visualization of a plurality of true vertical depths;(iii) recalculate the stratigraphic cross section for the wellbore profile using the data collected from the wellbore, wherein the stratigraphic cross section comprises:
1. a formation dipping away from a perpendicular angle to a horizontal plane representing a surface surrounding the wellbore;2. a formation dipping toward the perpendicular angle to the horizontal plane representing the surface surrounding the wellbore; or3. combinations thereof;(iv) plot an actual drilling path for the drill string within the stratigraphic cross section using an actual survey and data collected from the wellbore;(v) extend the actual drilling path with the projected path to form an extension of the wellbore through the stratigraphic cross section and change the projected path in the stratigraphic cross section in the wellbore profile to determine if the actual drilling path is within the desired formation, thereby enabling real-time updating of the actual drilling path;(vi) transmit the executive dashboard with the proposed extension of the wellbore through the stratigraphic cross section from the administrative data storage to the client device depicting the actual drilling path and the projected path and an indication that the wellbore of the drill string operated by the drilling rig is on target or off target within the formation and within the stratigraphic cross section; and(vii) transmit the actual drilling path and the projected path overlaid on the stratigraphic cross section to the administrative data storage and performing a multidimensional simulation, wherein the multidimensional simulation allows the user to select a dimensional plot representing operation of the drilling rig, and adjust the actual drilling path in real time, and to change direction of drilling with the drill string to stay on target within the desired formation within 3 to 12 hours, wherein the multi-dimensional simulation comprises: a three dimensional plot of the projected path for the drill string simultaneously as superimposed over the stratigraphic cross section, wherein the three dimensional plot has a northing as a “y” axis, an easting as an “x” axis, a true vertical depth as a “z” axis, and the actual drilling path; and(viii) present the wellbore profile graphically to the user; e. using a controller comprising a controller processor with a controller data storage and controller computer instructions for receiving the data from the tool; controller computer instructions to transmit the data to a geo-steering system, and computer instructions to receive data from the geo-steering system; computer instructions to present the wellbore profile, the stratigraphic cross section, the actual drilling path, and the projected path to the user, and computer instructions to offer to the user a link to the multidimensional simulation; wherein the geo-steering system comprises:
(i) a geo-steering processor in communication with directional drilling equipment for receiving data from the directional drilling equipment and for sending data, commands, or combinations thereof to the directional drilling equipment to steer a drill bit in the wellbore;(ii) a geo-steering data storage in communication with the geo-steering processor;(iii) computer instructions stored in the geo-steering data storage to instruct the geo-steering processor to create the executive dashboard and to present the executive dashboard on the display of the client device of the user in real-time;(iv) computer instructions in the geo-steering data storage to instruct the geo-steering processor to present at least a portion of interest in the stratigraphic cross section, wherein the stratigraphic cross section comprises:
1. the drill bit of the drill string in the stratigraphic cross section;2. formations in the stratigraphic cross section; and3. other formation data;(v) computer instructions for importing a data fan offset/type table including a plurality of offset/type tops of a projected formation that the projected path is expected to pass;(vi) computer instructions in the geo-steering data storage to instruct the geo-steering processor to import data including the actual survey of the wellbore from a second data storage, a third data storage, or combinations thereof into the geo-steering data storage;(vii) computer instructions in the geo-steering data storage to instruct the geo-steering processor to import data including a geological prognosis from the second data storage, the third data storage, a fourth data storage, or combinations thereof to a prognosed tops table within the geo-steering data storage, wherein the geological prognosis comprises at least one depth for at least one formation top through which the projected path is expected to pass; and(viii) computer instructions in the geo-steering data storage to instruct the geo-steering processor to present control buttons on the executive dashboard enabling an increase or a decrease for a member of the group consisting of: a start measured depth of the wellbore, an ending measured depth of the wellbore, a true vertical depth offset of the wellbore, a dip of the projected formation, and combinations thereof for the portion of the stratigraphic cross section.