Abstract: The system for automating well construction operations includes a plurality of sensors, such as a fingerboard latch position sensor for providing position of a fingerboard latch, a stick-up height sensor for determining a height of a portion of a tubular section extending from a well center, a pipe handler rotation sensor for detecting a position of a pipe handler, a bell guide clearance sensor for measuring a distance between a bell guide and a tool joint, a link tilt position sensor for measuring an angle of a bail with respect to a top drive, an elevator latch status sensor for detecting whether an elevator latch is open or closed, and a power slips sensor for detecting whether a power slips is open or closed. Further, the system includes a controller in communication with the plurality of sensors and configured to command one or more equipment based on inputs from the sensors.

Abstract: The device for covering an opening of a wellbore includes a housing having a central opening. The housing is configured to be secured within a well center opening. Covers are arranged around the central opening and are configured to move to an open-cover position, a partially-closed-cover position, or a closed-cover position. The covers cover at least a portion of the central opening n the partially-closed cover position or the closed-cover position. An actuator extends and retract the covers. A controller sends signals to the actuator to extend and retract the covers. The controller uses motion data and diameter data of a tubular to determine the partially-closed-cover position for a cover opening time and sends signals to extend and retract the plurality of covers to the partially-closed-cover position for a cover opening time.

Abstract: A method of removing oxygen from a drilling fluid includes pumping the drilling fluid into a first inlet of a mixer, such that the drilling fluid is flowing in a first direction. Further the method includes pumping a gas including nitrogen into a second inlet of the mixer to mix the gas with the drilling fluid, the second inlet being downstream of the drilling fluid. The method includes flowing the gas in an opposite direction from the first direction, thereby permitting mass transfer of the oxygen from the drilling fluid to the gas to produce a deoxygenated drilling fluid; and discharging the deoxygenated drilling fluid from an outlet of the mixer.

Abstract: An end-to-end well construction system includes an e-program for receiving a first input selected from well planning data, rig historical performance data, rig parameters, drilling engineering input, management of change, and a combination thereof, and configured to produce a first output selected from a machine and/or human readable sequence, a time depth curve, a drilling program, and a combination thereof, and a second output including analytics data. Further, the end-to-end well construction system includes a drilling control layer, configured to receive the first output from e-program, and to produce a third output including an automated sequence, and a smart well analytics system configured to receive the analytics data from the e-program and a second input selected from drilling data, downhole data, base data from the e-program, a modeling software, and a combination thereof, and to produce a fourth output to the drilling control layer for automated adjustment.

Abstract: A processor is operably coupled to a time of flight (TOF) camera, a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor, and an optical camera. The processor can receive a TOF signal representative of a first coordinate associated with a stick-up height of a tool joint of a pipe of a drill string during a tripping operation on a rig drill floor, and a pitch and a roll of the tool joint. The processor can receive a LIDAR signal representative of a second coordinate associated with the stick-up height, and the pitch of the tool joint. The processor can receive an optical camera signal representative of a third coordinate associated with the stick-up height of the tool joint and the roll of the tool joint. The processor can generate a pose estimate and an orientation estimate based on the signals.

Abstract: This disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for coupling one or more auxiliary lines to a subsea well control assembly.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a controller is configured to be operably coupled to a series of safety relays. Each safety relay is coupled to a machine from a plurality of machines. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of a potential collision between any machine from the plurality of machines that is coupled to the at least one of the safety relays that was activated. The controller is configured to send, in response to the signal indicative of the potential collision, a signal to at least one of the safety relays from the series of safety relays to activate the at least one of the safety relays, thereby stopping motion of any machine from the plurality of machines that is coupled to the at least one of the safety relays that was activated.

Abstract: The system for making or breaking the riser includes a robotic system. The robotic system includes one or more robotic arms configured to be disposed on a spider deck, and one or more riser-connection manipulation tools each having a camera and being configured to manipulate a riser connection, the camera being configured to capture an image of an object, wherein each robotic arm is configured to couple to one riser-connection manipulation tool. Further the system for making or breaking the riser includes a control system. The control system includes a robot controller in communication with the one or more robotic arms and configured to control the one or more robotic arms. The system for making or breaking the riser is configured to analyze the image to determine the location and orientation of the object and transmit the location and orientation of the object to the robot controller.

Abstract: An end-to-end well construction system includes an e-program for receiving a first input selected from well planning data, rig historical performance data, rig parameters, drilling engineering input, management of change, and a combination thereof, and configured to produce a first output selected from a machine and/or human readable sequence, a time depth curve, a drilling program, and a combination thereof, and a second output including analytics data. Further, the end-to-end well construction system includes a drilling control layer, configured to receive the first output from e-program, and to produce a third output including an automated sequence, and a smart well analytics system configured to receive the analytics data from the e-program and a second input selected from drilling data, downhole data, base data from the e-program, a modeling software, and a combination thereof, and to produce a fourth output to the drilling control layer for automated adjustment.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for executing an emergency disconnect sequence in shallow water depth includes unlatching a lower marine riser package (LMRP) of a blowout preventer (BOP) from a lower stack of the BOP. The BOP defines a wellbore fluidically coupled to the subsea wellhead. A tubular is disposed within the wellbore. The method further includes shearing the tubular and sealing the wellbore. In response to an indication that a vessel operably coupled to the BOP has failed to keep station, an unlatch sequence and a shear and seal sequence are initiated, such that each sequence occurs at least partially simultaneously. The unlatch sequence includes disconnecting the LMRP from the lower stack, and the shear and seal sequence includes activating the lower stack to shear the tubular in less than about one second and seal the wellbore.

Abstract: A method includes receiving first position data from at least one of a TOF sensor or a LIDAR. The first position data is representative of a position of a human within a hazardous environment. The method further includes receiving second position data associated with a plurality of wearable sensors associated with a plurality of personnel. The method further includes comparing the first position data to the second position data to identify a match between the first position data and the second position data. The method further includes sensing a signal to an alert device associated with the hazardous environment such that the alert device issues an alert in response to the first position data failings to match the second position data.

Abstract: The system for making or breaking the riser includes a robotic system. The robotic system includes one or more robotic arms configured to be disposed on a spider deck, and one or more riser-connection manipulation tools each having a camera and being configured to manipulate a riser connection, the camera being configured to capture an image of an object, wherein each robotic arm is configured to couple to one riser-connection manipulation tool. Further the system for making or breaking the riser includes a control system. The control system includes a robot controller in communication with the one or more robotic arms and configured to control the one or more robotic arms. The system for making or breaking the riser is configured to analyze the image to determine the location and orientation of the object and transmit the location and orientation of the object to the robot controller.

Abstract: A processor is operably coupled to a time of flight (TOF) camera, a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor, and an optical camera. The processor can receive a TOF signal representative of a first coordinate associated with a stick-up height of a tool joint of a pipe of a drill string during a tripping operation on a rig drill floor, and a pitch and a roll of the tool joint. The processor can receive a LIDAR signal representative of a second coordinate associated with the stick-up height, and the pitch of the tool joint. The processor can receive an optical camera signal representative of a third coordinate associated with the stick-up height of the tool joint and the roll of the tool joint. The processor can generate a pose estimate and an orientation estimate based on the signals.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for executing an emergency disconnect sequence in shallow water depth includes unlatching a lower marine riser package (LMRP) of a blowout preventer (BOP) from a lower stack of the BOP. The BOP defines a wellbore fluidically coupled to the subsea wellhead. A tubular is disposed within the wellbore. The method further includes shearing the tubular and sealing the wellbore. In response to an indication that a vessel operably coupled to the BOP has failed to keep station, an unlatch sequence and a shear and seal sequence are initiated, such that each sequence occurs at least partially simultaneously. The unlatch sequence includes disconnecting the LMRP from the lower stack, and the shear and seal sequence includes activating the lower stack to shear the tubular in less than about one second and seal the wellbore.

Abstract: A method includes receiving first position data from at least one of a TOF sensor or a LIDAR. The first position data is representative of a position of a human within a hazardous environment. The method further includes receiving second position data associated with a plurality of wearable sensors associated with a plurality of personnel. The method further includes comparing the first position data to the second position data to identify a match between the first position data and the second position data. The method further includes sensing a signal to an alert device associated with the hazardous environment such that the alert device issues an alert in response to the first position data failings to match the second position data.

Abstract: Some connector assemblies include a female connector having a sidewall extending between first and second ends to define an interior channel, the sidewall having a cylindrical inner surface, and a plurality of lugs extending from and disposed circumferentially along the inner surface, and a male connector having a sidewall extending between first and second ends to define an interior channel, the sidewall having a cylindrical outer surface, and a plurality of lugs extending from and disposed circumferentially along the outer surface, wherein the male connector is configured to be coupled to the female connector such that the sidewall of the male connector is received through the first end of and into the interior channel of the female connector, and at least one of the lugs of the male connector is disposed between at least one of the lugs of the female connector and the second end of the female connector.

Abstract: A method includes receiving first position data from at least one of a TOF sensor or a LIDAR. The first position data is representative of a position of a human within a hazardous environment. The method further includes receiving second position data associated with a plurality of wearable sensors associated with a plurality of personnel. The method further includes comparing the first position data to the second position data to identify a match between the first position data and the second position data. The method further includes sensing a signal to an alert device associated with the hazardous environment such that the alert device issues an alert in response to the first position data failings to match the second position data.

Abstract: A hybrid power plant is characterized by a substantially constant load on generators regardless of momentary swings in power load. Short changes in power load are accommodated by DC components such as capacitors, batteries, resistors, or a combination thereof. Resistors are used to consume power when loads in the power plant are generating excess power. Capacitors are used to store and deliver power when the loads in the power plant demand additional power. Reducing rapid changes in power load as seen by the generators allows the generators to operate at higher efficiencies and with reduced emissions. Additionally, power plants employing combinations of generators, loads, and energy storage devices have increased dynamic performance.

Abstract: This disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for coupling one or more auxiliary lines to a subsea well control assembly.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for executing an emergency disconnect sequence in shallow water depth includes unlatching a lower marine riser package (LMRP) of a blowout preventer (BOP) from a lower stack of the BOP. The BOP defines a wellbore fluidically coupled to the subsea wellhead. A tubular is disposed within the wellbore. The method further includes shearing the tubular and sealing the wellbore. In response to an indication that a vessel operably coupled to the BOP has failed to keep station, an unlatch sequence and a shear and seal sequence are initiated, such that each sequence occurs at least partially simultaneously. The unlatch sequence includes disconnecting the LMRP from the lower stack, and the shear and seal sequence includes activating the lower stack to shear the tubular in less than about one second and seal the wellbore.