Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a drilling operation based on an MSE value calculated for a depth increment are disclosed herein. In an exemplary method, drilling parameters characterizing a drilling operation in a subterranean formation are received in a control system. The drilling parameters are used by the control system to calculate a depth-based mechanical specific energy (MSE) based on some amount of energy expended by at least a portion of a drilling assembly while drilling at least one identified depth sub-interval of a depth interval of a subterranean formation. The control system uses the calculated depth-based MSE to control the drilling operation.

Abstract: A method and system are described for generating a geologic model having material properties for a faulted subsurface region. The method and system involve parameterizing corresponding fault surfaces and solving an energy optimization equation and/or conservation law equation for the corresponding fault surfaces based on parameterized nodes on the fault surfaces to generate a displacement map. The displacement map is used to map a geologic model from the physical space to the design space, where it is populated with material properties. The resulting populated geologic model may be used for hydrocarbon operations associated with the subsurface region.

Abstract: A method and system are described for creating a subsurface model. In this method, a framework is obtained that includes various objects associated with a subsurface region. A background mesh is generated to enclose the framework and then cell splitting is performed to modify the background mesh into a watertight model. The watertight model may be assigned properties and utilized in simulations to assist in performing hydrocarbon operations.

Abstract: A method and system are described for creating a subsurface model. The method involves forming a volumetric representation having objects associated with the subsurface region; computing a value for each of the blocks based on an object priority function; and removing one or more blocks based on constraints and the object priority function to create the watertight model. Then, using the watertight model to perform simulations and in performing hydrocarbon operations.

Abstract: A method and system are described for creating a subsurface model. The method and system may include updating a subsurface model having objects associated with a subsurface region. The method includes obtaining a subsurface model having a mesh formed from various nodes and forming blocks or mesh elements, which have mesh shapes. Then, areas of the mesh that need repair are identified and one or more of a local re-meshing operation, an edge-flipping operation, a collapsing operation and any combination thereof are applied to the identified areas. The resulting updated subsurface model is then outputted.

Abstract: Integrated methods and systems for optimizing drilling related operations include recording data, parsing the data into intervals and analyzing the intervals to determine if the performance data in each time interval is of sufficient quality for using the interval data in a performance optimization process. The quality assessment may involve evaluating the data against a set of determined standards or ranges. The performance optimization process may utilize data mapping and/or modeling to make performance optimization process recommendations.

Abstract: Combined methods and systems for optimizing drilling related operations include global search engines and local search engines to find the optimal value for at least one controllable drilling parameter, and a data fusion module to combine or select the operational recommendations from global and local search engines. The operational recommendations are used to optimize the objective function, mitigate dysfunctions, and improve drilling efficiency.

Abstract: A method and system are described for generating a geologic model having material properties for a faulted subsurface region. The method and system involve parameterizing corresponding fault surfaces and solving an energy optimization equation and/or conservation law equation for the corresponding fault surfaces based on parameterized nodes on the fault surfaces to generate a displacement map. The displacement map is used to map a geologic model from the physical space to the design space, where it is populated with material properties. The resulting populated geologic model may be used for hydrocarbon operations associated with the subsurface region.

Abstract: Integrated methods and systems for optimizing drilling related operations include global search engines and local search engines to find an optimal value for at least one controllable drilling parameter, and decision trees to select algorithms such as between learning mode algorithms and application mode algorithms for generating operational recommendations based on the results from global and local search engines. The operational recommendations are used to optimize the objective function, mitigate dysfunctions, and improve drilling efficiency.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a drilling operation based on an MSE value calculated for a depth increment are disclosed herein. In an exemplary method, drilling parameters characterizing a drilling operation in a subterranean formation are received in a control system. The drilling parameters are used by the control system to calculate a depth-based mechanical specific energy (MSE) based on some amount of energy expended by at least a portion of a drilling assembly while drilling at least one identified depth sub-interval of a depth interval of a subterranean formation. The control system uses the calculated depth-based MSE to control the drilling operation.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting downhole bit dysfunction in a drill bit penetrating a subterranean formation comprising receiving a plurality of drilling parameters characterizing a wellbore drilling operation and calculating bit aggressiveness (?) at each of a plurality of points during drilling, wherein each point corresponds to time, depth, or both. A depth-of-cut (DOC), time derivative of bit aggressiveness ({dot over (?)}), calculated as d?/dt, or both, is calculated at each of the plurality of points. A two-dimensional data representation of the plurality of points, comprising ? in one dimension and DOC, {dot over (?)}, or both, in another dimension is created. Data features are extracted from the two-dimensional data representation and downhole bit dysfunction is identified by comparing the extracted data features with predefined criteria.

Abstract: Methods and systems for making decisions related to the operation of a hydrocarbon well include characterizing effective production capacity of a reservoir over space and time based at least in part on a reservoir potential and a near-well capacity; determining an optimized well potential over space and time relative to the characterized effective production capacity using a well model of a simulated well accessing the reservoir, which may be determined based at least in part on an objective function that considers at least one of a plurality of decision-making factors, such as one or more of operations costs, operational risks, and modeled production rates over the life of the well; and determining at least one well operating plan component that can be incorporated into a well operating plan to provide the optimized well potential in a well accessing the reservoir.

Abstract: Integrated methods and systems for optimizing drilling related operations include recording data, parsing the data into intervals and analyzing the intervals to determine if the performance data in each time interval is of sufficient quality for using the interval data in a performance optimization process. The quality assessment may involve evaluating the data against a set of determined standards or ranges. The performance optimization process may utilize data mapping and/or modeling to make performance optimization process recommendations.

Abstract: Combined methods and systems for optimizing drilling related operations include global search engines and local search engines to find the optimal value for at least one controllable drilling parameter, and a data fusion module to combine or select the operational recommendations from global and local search engines. The operational recommendations are used to optimize the objective function, mitigate dysfunctions, and improve drilling efficiency.

Abstract: Integrated methods and systems for optimizing drilling related operations include global search engines and local search engines to find an optimal value for at least one controllable drilling parameter, and decision trees to select algorithms such as between learning mode algorithms and application mode algorithms for generating operational recommendations based on the results from global and local search engines. The operational recommendations are used to optimize the objective function, mitigate dysfunctions, and improve drilling efficiency.

Abstract: Methods and systems for making decisions related to the operation of a hydrocarbon well include 1) characterizing effective production capacity of a reservoir over space and time based at least in part on a reservoir potential and a near-well capacity; 2) determining an optimized well potential over space and time relative to the characterized effective production capacity using a well model of a simulated well accessing the reservoir; and 3) determining at least one well operating plan component that can be incorporated into a well operating plan to provide the optimized well potential in a well accessing the reservoir. The optimized well potential may be determined based at least in part on an objective function that considers at least one of a plurality of decision-making factors, such as one or more of operations costs, operational risks, and modeled production rates over the life of the well.