Abstract: Methods and software tools for determining wellbore-strengthening information for a drilling operation, the method including inputting wellbore parameters into a wellbore simulator, importing wellbore-strengthening options into the wellbore simulator, and performing a plurality of wellbore simulations to obtain fracture information, wherein the performing the plurality of wellbore simulations includes selecting at least one of the wellbore parameters and determining the affect of the selected wellbore parameter on the wellbore. The method further includes selecting a wellbore-strengthening option based on the fracture information and outputting the selected wellbore-strengthening option.

Abstract: A method includes disposing an open end of a housing in a wellbore fluid, flowing the wellbore fluid into the housing though the open end, rotating an impeller disposed within the housing at a first rotational speed with a motor coupled to the impeller, and determining at least one of viscosity and rheology of the wellbore fluid based on the rotating an impeller. An apparatus includes a housing, a mechanical agitator disposed in the housing, a motor operatively coupled to the mechanical agitator, a first sensor coupled to at least one of the mechanical agitator and the motor, and a second sensor disposed in the housing and configured to measure a fluid property or characteristic.

Abstract: A process for reducing wellbore instability includes inputting pre-drilling assessment information into an hydraulics analysis and wellbore stability application, inputting a well plan into the hydraulics and wellbore analysis application, inputting a parameter measured at the wellsite into the hydraulics and wellbore stability analysis application, inputting an observation made at the wellsite into the hydraulics and wellbore stability analysis application, integrating the pre-drilling assessment information, the measured parameter, and the observation into the wellbore strengthening analysis application, and adjusting a drilling fluid parameter in response to the integrated pre-drilling assessment information, the measured parameter, and the observation.

Abstract: A method includes disposing an open end of a housing in a wellbore fluid, flowing the wellbore fluid into the housing though the open end, rotating an impeller disposed within the housing at a first rotational speed with a motor coupled to the impeller, and determining at least one of viscosity and rheology of the wellbore fluid based on the rotating an impeller. An apparatus includes a housing, a mechanical agitator disposed in the housing, a motor operatively coupled to the mechanical agitator, a first sensor coupled to at least one of the mechanical agitator and the motor, and a second sensor disposed in the housing and configured to measure a fluid property or characteristic.

Abstract: A method of determining drilling fluid contents including fractionating a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample includes a drilling fluid, and collecting image data from the fractioned fluid sample. Furthermore, processing the image data with a process station to produce a rendered image, and outputting the rendered image. Additionally, a system for determining drilling fluids content including an image gathering vessel having a holding section and an image gathering device operatively coupled to the image gathering vessel for collecting image data from a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample includes a drilling fluid. Furthermore, a processing station for receiving the image data from the image gathering device and for producing a rendered image of the fluid sample based on the image data.

Abstract: A process for reducing wellbore instability includes inputting pre-drilling assessment information into an hydraulics analysis and wellbore stability application, inputting a well plan into the hydraulics and wellbore analysis application, inputting a parameter measured at the wellsite into the hydraulics and wellbore stability analysis application, inputting an observation made at the wellsite into the hydraulics and wellbore stability analysis application, integrating the pre-drilling assessment information, the measured parameter, and the observation into the wellbore strengthening analysis application, and adjusting a drilling fluid parameter in response to the integrated pre-drilling assessment information, the measured parameter, and the observation.

Abstract: A system for monitoring fluids at a drilling location, the system including a viscometer (210) having a heating cup and a pump (211) in clued communication with the heating cup, wherein the pump is configured to provide a flow of fluid from a fluid line inlet to the heating cup. The system also including a cleaning fluid tank (214) including communication with the heating cup, wherein the pump is configured to provide a flow of cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid tank to the heating cup, and a system controller (217) configured to provide instructions to the pump for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid tanks to the heating cup.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing the effects of mud chemistry and bit design on bit balling is disclosed The apparatus includes a replica bit coupled to a rotary drive and having at least one nozzle, a test container, a test formation located within the test container through which the replica bit will be drive, wherein the test formation includes a plurality of layers of pre-manufactured cuttings The apparatus further includes a lifting device applying a force to the bottom of the container to drive the test formation into the replica bit while the replica bit is rotating, a second container within which is a drilling fluid, and a pump for communicating drilling fluid from the container through a conduit to the replica bit.

Abstract: A method for controlling a peripheral drilling operation involves obtaining a first property of a first drilling operation component associated with the peripheral drilling operation, via a wireless network, obtaining a second property of a second drilling operation component associated with the peripheral drilling operation, generating a control signal for the first drilling operation component, based on the first property and the second property, and communicating the control signal to the first drilling operation component, via the wireless network, where the first drilling operation component is adjusted, based on the control signal, to control the peripheral drilling operation.

Abstract: A system for monitoring fluids at a drilling location, the system including a viscometer (210) having a heating cup and a pump (211) in clued communication with the heating cup, wherein the pump is configured to provide a flow of fluid from a fluid line inlet to the heating cup. The system also including a cleaning fluid tank (214) including communication with the heating cup, wherein the pump is configured to provide a flow of cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid tank to the heating cup, and a system controller (217) configured to provide instructions to the pump for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid tanks to the heating cup.

Abstract: Methods and software tools for determining wellbore-strengthening information for a drilling operation, the method including inputting wellbore parameters into a wellbore simulator, importing wellbore-strengthening options into the wellbore simulator, and performing a plurality of wellbore simulations to obtain fracture information, wherein the performing the plurality of wellbore simulations includes selecting at least one of the wellbore parameters and determining the affect of the selected wellbore parameter on the wellbore. The method further includes selecting a wellbore-strengthening option based on the fracture information and outputting the selected wellbore-strengthening option.

Abstract: A system for screening a drag reduction agent that includes at least one pressure vessel, comprising: at least one container having an outlet; a first tube fluidly connected with the outlet of the at least one container; a second tube fluidly connected with the first tube; a timer; and a collection vessel configured to receive a fluid from the second tube is disclosed.

Abstract: A visualization system for wellbore and drillstring data includes a graphics processor for creating a wire mesh model of a well and drillstring based on datasets of depth-varying parameters of the well. A graphics system maps appropriate textures to the wire mesh models, which are then displayed on a graphics display. A user interface facilitates user navigation along the length of the well to any selected location therein, and further permits user adjustment of orientation of the displayed renderings. The data is sufficient to permit calculation of fluid velocity in the wellbore at any selected location. The fluid velocity is presented as a velocity profile in the rendered visualization of the wellbore and drillstring to provide the user with a visual indication of fluid velocity in the wellbore as the user navigates the visualization along the length of the wellbore and drillstring.

Abstract: A visualization system for a wellbore environment includes a graphics processor for creating a wire mesh model of a well and optionally a drillstring based on datasets of depth-varying parameters of the well. A graphics system maps appropriate textures to the wire mesh models, which are then displayed on a graphics display. A user interface facilitates user navigation along the length of the well to any selected location therein, and further permits user adjustment of orientation of the displayed renderings. Simulated, real or a combination of simulated and real wellbore data may be visually depicted in the wellbore at any selected location. This provides the user with a visual indication of the wellbore environment as the user navigates the visualization along the length of the wellbore.

Abstract: A visualization system for a wellbore environment includes a graphics processor for creating a computer rendered visual model of a well, and optionally a drill string, based on data sets of depth-varying and/or time-varying parameters of the well. The model is then displayed on a graphics display. A user interface facilitates user navigation along the length of the well to any selected region therein, and further permits user adjustment of orientation of the displayed renderings as well as a temporal selection of the time-varying data to be displayed. Simulated, real, or a combination of simulated and real wellbore data, which may be steady state, transient, or real-time data, may be visually depicted at any selected region. This provides the user with a visual indication of the wellbore environment as the user navigates the visualization spatially and temporally.

Abstract: A system for screening a drag reduction agent that includes at least one pressure vessel, comprising: at least one container having an outlet; a first tube fluidly connected with the outlet of the at least one container; a second tube fluidly connected with the first tube; a timer; and a collection vessel configured to receive a fluid from the second tube is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of determining drilling fluid contents including fractionating a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample includes a drilling fluid, and collecting image data from the fractioned fluid sample. Furthermore, processing the image data with a process station to produce a rendered image, and outputting the rendered image. Additionally, a system for determining drilling fluids content including an image gathering vessel having a holding section and an image gathering device operatively coupled to the image gathering vessel for collecting image data from a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample includes a drilling fluid. Furthermore, a processing station for receiving the image data from the image gathering device and for producing a rendered image of the fluid sample based on the image data.

Abstract: A method for controlling a peripheral drilling operation involves obtaining a first property of a first drilling operation component associated with the peripheral drilling operation, via a wireless network, obtaining a second property of a second drilling operation component associated with the peripheral drilling operation, generating a control signal for the first drilling operation component, based on the first property and the second property, and communicating the control signal to the first drilling operation component, via the wireless network, where the first drilling operation component is adjusted, based on the control signal, to control the peripheral drilling operation.

Abstract: A visualization system for a wellbore environment includes a graphics processor for creating a computer rendered visual model of a well, and optionally a drill string, based on data sets of depth-varying and/or time-varying parameters of the well. The model is then displayed on a graphics display. A user interface facilitates user navigation along the length of the well to any selected region therein, and further permits user adjustment of orientation of the displayed renderings as well as a temporal selection of the time-varying data to be displayed. Simulated, real, or a combination of simulated and real wellbore data, which may be steady state, transient, or real-time data, may be visually depicted at any selected region. This provides the user with a visual indication of the wellbore environment as the user navigates the visualization spatially and temporally.

Abstract: A visualization system for wellbore and drillstring data includes a graphics processor for creating a wire mesh model of a well and drillstring based on datasets of depth-varying parameters of the well. A graphics system maps appropriate textures to the wire mesh models, which are then displayed on a graphics display. A user interface facilitates user navigation along the length of the well to any selected location therein, and further permits user adjustment of orientation of the displayed renderings. The data is sufficient to permit calculation of fluid velocity in the wellbore at any selected location. The fluid velocity is presented as a velocity profile in the rendered visualization of the wellbore and drillstring to provide the user with a visual indication of fluid velocity in the wellbore as the user navigates the visualization along the length of the wellbore and drillstring.