Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods according to which a geosteering trajectory change is efficiently communicated by presenting, on a first human-machine interface, a plurality of selectable trajectory types, each of the trajectory types representing a potential trajectory of a wellbore, selecting, via the first human-machine interface, the selectable trajectory type most closely representing a desired trajectory of the wellbore, the selected trajectory type including one or more data fields adapted to receive one or more task parameters needed to drill the wellbore along the desired trajectory, entering, via the first human-machine interface, the one or more task parameters into the one or more data fields of the selected trajectory type, and pushing the selected trajectory type and/or the one or more entered task parameters to a control system adapted to control drilling equipment to drill the wellbore along the desired trajectory.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods according to which a geosteering trajectory change is efficiently communicated by presenting, on a first human-machine interface, a plurality of selectable trajectory types, each of the trajectory types representing a potential trajectory of a wellbore, selecting, via the first human-machine interface, the selectable trajectory type most closely representing a desired trajectory of the wellbore, the selected trajectory type including one or more data fields adapted to receive one or more task parameters needed to drill the wellbore along the desired trajectory, entering, via the first human-machine interface, the one or more task parameters into the one or more data fields of the selected trajectory type, and pushing the selected trajectory type and/or the one or more entered task parameters to a control system adapted to control drilling equipment to drill the wellbore along the desired trajectory.

Abstract: A control system that corrects differential pressure measurements with downhole annulus pressure information is disclosed. When differential pressure is zeroed with the BHA off-bottom, the annulus pressure value is baselined. During drilling, a controller receives surface differential pressure measurements and annulus pressure measurements. As the controller receives each new annulus pressure measurement, it compares it to the baseline annulus pressure value to obtain a different annulus pressure value. The controller corrects the surface differential pressure measurements with the annulus pressure measurements. As the controller receives each new surface differential pressure measurement, it subtracts out the current difference annulus pressure value. As a result, the modified surface differential pressure measurement remains a reflection of mud motor performance that removes the influence of the increased density of the fluid, thereby improving autodrilling control.

Abstract: Systems and methods of documenting a geosteering process include obtaining measured subterranean formation information while drilling and generating a proposed modification to a well plan based on the obtained information. Information relating to the proposed modification to the well plan may be stored in a drilling control system, and the drilling control system may generate and output a data log including information relating to the proposed modification to the well plan and performance indicators on a stand by stand basis.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for determining wellbore position in deviated or horizontal wells. Continuous inclination values captured while drilling can be used to provide a more accurate model of a wellbore path, particularly true vertical depth, than would be produced using conventional methods of measuring inclination only at static survey points.

Abstract: A drilling rig apparatus is disclosed for improving slide drilling control by enabling use of azimuthal measurements while slide drilling to characterize and direct geosteering control. A bottom hole assembly controller receives RPM and gamma sensor data and transitions from a rotary, vertical binning mode to a slide drilling, horizontal binning mode when the RPM falls below a threshold. In the horizontal mode, the BHA controller tracks the hemisphere that the gamma sensors are in. As data from a gamma sensor is received from the upper hemisphere, it is associated with a top bin in a radial plot, and data from a gamma sensor in the lower hemisphere is associated with a bottom bin. The BHA controller estimates one or more bin values for bins falling between the top and bottom bins. The measured and estimated bin data is transmitted to the surface for image log creation and geosteering control.

Abstract: A drilling rig apparatus is disclosed for improving geosteering control by reducing the amount of bandwidth necessary to convey log data to the surface in real time. A bottom hole assembly receives measurement data from azimuthal measurement sensors. The BHA sorts the measurement data into appropriate bins in a radial plot. The BHA selects a hemisphere for transmission of the measurement data in those bins for the selected hemisphere, instead of transmitting the data for all bins in the plot. The BHA may average the data in the bins for the selected hemisphere with the data of the mirroring bins in the non-selected hemisphere. The BHA transmits the measurement data to a surface controller, which mirrors the data transmitted to the corresponding bins in the non-selected hemisphere to reconstitute the full set of data for the radial plot, which is used for image log generation, geosteering and other control functions.

Abstract: A control system that corrects differential pressure measurements with downhole annulus pressure information is disclosed. When differential pressure is zeroed with the BHA off-bottom, the annulus pressure value is baselined. During drilling, a controller receives surface differential pressure measurements and annulus pressure measurements. As the controller receives each new annulus pressure measurement, it compares it to the baseline annulus pressure value to obtain a different annulus pressure value. The controller corrects the surface differential pressure measurements with the annulus pressure measurements. As the controller receives each new surface differential pressure measurement, it subtracts out the current difference annulus pressure value. As a result, the modified surface differential pressure measurement remains a reflection of mud motor performance that removes the influence of the increased density of the fluid, thereby improving autodrilling control.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for determining wellbore position in deviated or horizontal wells. Continuous inclination values captured while drilling can be used to provide a more accurate model of a wellbore path, particularly true vertical depth, than would be produced using conventional methods of measuring inclination only at static survey points.