Abstract: Safe dynamic handover between MPD and well control operations provides the ability to automate MPD, well control, and transitions therebetween while maintaining the wellbore in a dynamic fluid state at all times. In the event a kick is taken, a safe dynamic handover from MPD to well control operations is made, unknown formation fluids within the wellbore are circulated out of the wellbore, and a safe dynamic handover from well control operations to MPD is made while maintaining the wellbore in dynamic fluid state, without ever going static with respect to fluids within the wellbore. Because the wellbore remains dynamic, the formation of gels is prevented, thereby preventing pressure spikes during the start-up of the mud pumps and improving pressure transmission throughout the well system. Pressure may be more precisely managed during all phases of MPD, well control, and transitions therebetween.

Abstract: Safe dynamic handover between MPD and well control operations provides the ability to automate MPD, well control, and transitions therebetween while maintaining the wellbore in a dynamic fluid state at all times. In the event a kick is taken, a safe dynamic handover from MPD to well control operations is made, unknown formation fluids within the wellbore are circulated out of the wellbore, and a safe dynamic handover from well control operations to MPD is made while maintaining the wellbore in dynamic fluid state, without ever going static with respect to fluids within the wellbore. Because the wellbore remains dynamic, the formation of gels is prevented, thereby preventing pressure spikes during the start-up of the mud pumps and improving pressure transmission throughout the well system. Pressure may be more precisely managed during all phases of MPD, well control, and transitions therebetween.

Abstract: A method of hierarchical pressure management for managed pressure drilling operations includes receiving a measured pressure value. If the measured pressure exceeds an MPD pressure set point, commanding one or more choke valves of an MPD choke manifold to open until the measured pressure is approximately equal to the MPD pressure set point or is commanded to a fully opened choke aperture setting. If at any time the measured pressure exceeds a pressure control valve set point, parking the MPD choke manifold and commanding one or more pressure control valve system valves to open until the measured pressure is less than the pressure control valve set point or is commanded to a fully opened pressure control valve setting. If at any time the measured pressure exceeds a pressure relief valve set point, commanding a pressure relief valve to open.

Abstract: A method of safe pressurized mud cap drilling includes determining a set point for a surface backpressure choke manifold, injecting sacrificial fluids into a drillstring disposed in a wellbore, injecting weighted mud into an annulus, and monitoring a surface backpressure. If the surface backpressure rises above the set point, closing one or more chokes of the surface backpressure choke manifold in a stepwise incremental manner to increase an injection rate of weighted mud into the annulus. If the surface backpressure falls below the set point, opening the one or more chokes of the surface backpressure choke manifold in a stepwise incremental manner to decrease the injection rate of weighted mud into the annulus. If the surface backpressure is substantially equal to the set point, maintaining a state of the one or more chokes of the surface backpressure choke manifold to maintain the injection rate of weighted muds into the annulus.

Abstract: A method of hierarchical pressure management for managed pressure drilling operations includes receiving a measured pressure value. If the measured pressure exceeds an MPD pressure set point, commanding one or more choke valves of an MPD choke manifold to open until the measured pressure is approximately equal to the MPD pressure set point or is commanded to a fully opened choke aperture setting. If at any time the measured pressure exceeds a pressure control valve set point, parking the MPD choke manifold and commanding one or more pressure control valve system valves to open until the measured pressure is less than the pressure control valve set point or is commanded to a fully opened pressure control valve setting. If at any time the measured pressure exceeds a pressure release valve set point, commanding a pressure release valve to open.

Abstract: A system for automated model-based drilling includes a plurality of surface-based sensors configured to sense one or more rig parameters in real-time, a hydraulic modeler unit configured to generate a real-time model of an equivalent circulating density based on one or more rig parameters, a control module configured to continually determine whether the equivalent circulating density is within pre-determined safety margins of a safe pressure window, and a forward parameters simulator configured to, while the equivalent circulating density is within the pre-determined safety margins of the safe pressure window, determine an optimal drilling parameter to change and an optimal drilling parameter amount of change. The control module changes a rig setting corresponding to the optimal drilling parameter to change to the optimal drilling parameter value automatically or outputs the optimal drilling parameter to change and the optimal drilling parameter value to a display for manual adjustment by a driller.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for controlled delivery of unknown fluids that safely and efficiently removes entrained gas from unknown fluids in the wellbore and/or marine riser. A control system automatically controls one or more choke manifold(s), and optionally the flow rate of one or more mud pump(s), to maximize the safe flow rate of returning unknown fluids to one or more instrumented mud-gas separator(s) without overloading. The control system may receive the state of the one or more instrumented mud-gas separator(s) to manipulate the choke manifold(s), and optionally the one or more mud pump(s) to maximize the safe flow rate of return fluids and expedite the removal of gases.

Abstract: A method of safe pressurized mud cap drilling includes determining a set point for a surface backpressure choke manifold, injecting sacrificial fluids into a drillstring disposed in a wellbore, injecting weighted mud into an annulus, and monitoring a surface backpressure. If the surface backpressure rises above the set point, closing one or more chokes of the surface backpressure choke manifold in a stepwise incremental manner to increase an injection rate of weighted mud into the annulus. If the surface backpressure falls below the set point, opening the one or more chokes of the surface backpressure choke manifold in a stepwise incremental manner to decrease the injection rate of weighted mud into the annulus. If the surface backpressure is substantially equal to the set point, maintaining a state of the one or more chokes of the surface backpressure choke manifold to maintain the injection rate of weighted muds into the annulus.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for controlled delivery of unknown fluids that safely and efficiently removes entrained gas from unknown fluids in the wellbore and/or marine riser. A control system automatically controls one or more choke manifold(s), and optionally the flow rate of one or more mud pump(s), to maximize the safe flow rate of returning unknown fluids to one or more instrumented mud-gas separator(s) without overloading. The control system may receive the state of the one or more instrumented mud-gas separator(s) to manipulate the choke manifold(s), and optionally the one or more mud pump(s) to maximize the safe flow rate of return fluids and expedite the removal of gases.

Abstract: A system for automated model-based drilling includes a plurality of surface-based sensors configured to sense one or more rig parameters in real-time, a hydraulic modeler unit configured to generate a real-time model of an equivalent circulating density based on one or more rig parameters, a control module configured to continually determine whether the equivalent circulating density is within pre-determined safety margins of a safe pressure window, and a forward parameters simulator configured to, while the equivalent circulating density is within the pre-determined safety margins of the safe pressure window, determine an optimal drilling parameter to change and an optimal drilling parameter amount of change. The control module changes a rig setting corresponding to the optimal drilling parameter to change to the optimal drilling parameter value automatically or outputs the optimal drilling parameter to change and the optimal drilling parameter value to a display for manual adjustment by a driller.

Abstract: Shale reactivity is evaluated by testing a preserved test plug of shale sample in a triaxial test machine, the test plug being prepared by collecting a downhole shale sample and keeping it all times immersed in a preserving mineral oil so as to avoid dehydration, then applying radial and axial pressure on the test plug surrounded by mineral oil up to equilibration to overburden pressure, the test fluid being then contacted with the sample and the interaction of fluid and sample being evaluated by axial and radial deformations as measured by a triaxial detector apparatus sensitive to vertical and radial strains occurring across the shale sample, while the shale sample is subjected to any of a set of different conditions including a temperature or thermal potential, a hydraulic potential and/or a chemical potential. Only one fluid is tested on each sample.

Abstract: A method for evaluating drilling fluids to be used with clay-rich rocks such as shales which comprises collecting shales so as to preserve the downhole hydration condition and then submitting such preserved shale to Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis, so as to obtain the derivative curve of mass with respect to temperature, then immersing a sample of the same piece of rock in the drilling fluid of which the interaction with the clay-rich rock is to be ascertained and obtaining TGA analysis at successive periods of time of immersion of the sample, so as to determine the modifications undergone by the sample immersed in the drillling fluid. From the modifications undergone by the sample it is possible to evaluate the adequacy of the drilling fluid to be contacted with the clay-rich rock.