Abstract: A system includes different types of downhole sensing tools deployed in a borehole, wherein the different types of downhole sensing tools are optimized to identify a downhole condition based on a predetermined downhole evaluation plan that accounts for sensing tool availability and performance constraints. The system also includes at least one processing unit configured to analyze measurements collected by the different types of downhole sensing tools, wherein the collected measurements are analyzed together to identify the downhole condition. The system also includes at least one device that performs an operation in response to the identified downhole condition.

Abstract: Two control strategies may be implemented to optimize mud circulation in a drilling mud circulation system. In a networked control strategy, the mud circulation system does not involve any centralized controller yet all the local controllers can exchange information in real-time via a central data storage. The master-slave control strategy involves a centralized optimizer, and the subsystems are treated as slave systems and are driven by a visual master control system.

Abstract: A drilling assembly control system is designed to control drill bit orientation such that a well path is followed that minimizes oscillations and deviations. When a deviation from the intended well path is detected, a predictive module models the deviated path. Using the modeled path, an optimization module utilizes a cost function and various constraints to analyze alternative correction paths in order to determine which correction path provides the most non-tortuous return to the intended well path.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method includes operating a mud circulation system having drilling mud flowing therethrough and performing a plurality of measurements from a plurality of sensors coupled to the mud circulation system. The method includes modeling, in real-time, drilling mud flow dynamics using a mathematical dynamics model and predicting physical states of the drilling mud with the mathematical dynamics model. Further, the method described herein includes inputting the measurements into the mathematical dynamics model and adapting the mathematical dynamics model based, at least in part, on discrepancies between the model physical state predictions and the measurements. The method further includes changing an operational parameter of the mud circulation system based on at least one value derived from the adapted mathematics dynamics model.

Abstract: A system that includes a drillstring with a bottomhole assembly (BHA). The system also includes at least one stabilizer or reamer integrated with the BHA, wherein each of the at least one stabilizer or reamer includes a position adjustment assembly. The system also includes a processing unit that provides control signals to each position adjustment assembly, wherein the control signals are based on a cost function.

Abstract: A stochastic control method includes determining a property of a solid present in a drilling fluid circulating within a mud circulation system and identifying a mud circulation model that dictates operation of the mud circulation system. The mud circulation model is based on one or more models of one or more uncertainties encountered during a wellbore drilling operation. The method further includes determining an accuracy of the mud circulation model based on a difference between the determined property of the solid present in the drilling fluid and a solid property of the drilling fluid as provided by the mud circulation model, and programming a controller of the mud circulation system based on the mud circulation model to modify operation of the mud circulation system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enhancing workflow performance in the oil and gas industry may estimate the properties of drilling muds (e.g., density and/or viscosity) located downhole with methods that utilize real-time data, estimated drilling mud properties, and mathematical models. Further, the methods described herein may optionally account for the uncertainties induced by sensor readings and dynamic modeling.

Abstract: A method of estimating a state of a rotary steerable drilling system comprising applying a control input to a rotary steerable drilling system, sensing an actual output of the rotary steerable drilling system, inputting the control input into a mathematical model of the rotary steerable drilling system, receiving an estimated output of the rotary steerable drilling system from the mathematical model, generating an error compensation signal based on a difference between the actual output and the estimated output, and applying the error compensation signal to the mathematical model.

Abstract: Vibrational behavior of a wellbore operation can be characterized as a vibrational map relating a modeled or sensed vibration level of the operation's equipment to operational parameters of the wellbore operation. The operational parameters can be controllable by settings of the equipment. The map can include multiple contour lines, each representing a set of adjacent coordinates of operational parameters that have the same vibrational level. Tracing a contour line can include determining vibration at a pre-tracing coordinate, adjusting the operational parameters until the vibration level to be mapped is reached at a tracing origin coordinate, then varying the operational parameters while keeping the vibration level constant until the tracing origin or a bound of the operational parameters is reached. Vibration levels having multiple, non-intersecting contour lines can be found by repeating tracing from a different pre-tracing coordinate.

Abstract: A system includes different types of downhole sensing tools deployed in a borehole, wherein the different types of downhole sensing tools are optimized to identify a downhole condition based on a predetermined downhole evaluation plan that accounts for sensing tool availability and performance constraints. The system also includes at least one processing unit configured to analyze measurements collected by the different types of downhole sensing tools, wherein the collected measurements are analyzed together to identify the downhole condition. The system also includes at least one device that performs an operation in response to the identified downhole condition.

Abstract: A system that includes a drillstring with a bottomhole assembly (BHA). The system also includes at least one stabilizer or reamer integrated with the BHA, wherein each of the at least one stabilizer or reamer includes a position adjustment assembly. The system also includes a processing unit that provides control signals to each position adjustment assembly, wherein the control signals are based on a cost function.

Abstract: A method includes generating kth, (k+1)th, . . . , (kfinal)th control inputs for actuating flow control devices of a production well and/or an injection well of a well system during corresponding sampling steps k, (k+1), . . . , kfinal, actuating the flow control devices during the kth step using the kth control input, measuring a position of a fluid front and a dynamic state of the well system during the kth step; predicting a dynamic state of the well system at each step (k+1), . . . , kfinal using a state predictor, updating the (k+1)th, . . . , (kfinal)th control inputs based on the predicted dynamic states, optimizing the (k+1)th, . . . , (kfinal)th control inputs using a desired cost function, actuating the flow control devices during the (k+1)th step using the optimized value for the (k+1)th step, and measuring the position of the fluid front and a dynamic state of the well system during the (k+1)th step.

Abstract: A method of evaluating a subterranean formation includes conveying a tool along a borehole. The tool includes a transmitter that transmits a drive pulse and a receiver that receives at least one formation response to the drive pulse. The method further includes calculating a signal-to-noise ratio of the at least one formation response and comparing the signal-to-noise ratio to a programmable threshold. The method further includes determining, based on the comparing, an adjusted drive pulse to transmit and transmitting the adjusted drive pulse. The method further includes and receiving at least one formation response to the adjusted drive pulse and deriving formation data from the at least one formation response to the adjusted drive pulse. The method further includes displaying a representation of the formation based on the formation data.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented in this disclosure for evaluating whether to apply fluid flowback during a fracture closure stage of a hydraulic fracturing operation of a reservoir formation. Information collected prior to the fracture closure stage of the hydraulic fracturing operation can be first gathered. Based on the collected information, it can be determined whether to perform fluid flowback during the fracture closure stage following a treatment stage of the fracturing operation. Based on the determination, a rate of the fluid flowback can be adjusted and optimized in real-time during the fracture closure stage.

Abstract: In some aspects, the present invention comprises a system and method for optimizing the control scheme used for drilling operations based on the complex and large data sets available in realtime during operation of a wellsite and based on existing model data available at the wellsite for past similar drilling operations. Such optimizations typically require downtime to quantify how the realtime values will factor into the control model, but the present invention allows for such optimization in realtime in a closed-loop system that will reduce the non-productive time associated with reservoir operations.

Abstract: A method for controlling drilling fluid properties, in some embodiments, comprises determining a predictive model for a fluid circulation system that routes drilling fluid downhole to a drill bit to remove debris from said drill bit; determining a cost function associated with the fluid circulation system; using the predictive model and the cost function to determine a set of input values for the predictive model; operating a controlled device according to at least some of the set of input values, said controlled device changes properties of the drilling fluid in the fluid circulation system; and obtaining measurements of the properties.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling the downhole position and velocity of a work string using a downhole position and velocity controller may be configured or otherwise programmed to account for force compensation. For example, the work string may undergo significant length changes like thermal expansion and elongation or contraction due to inertial forces, self-weight, and wellbore pressure. Also, the downhole conditions (e.g., temperature, internal forces, self-weight, and wellbore pressure) can cause the work string to be overloaded and become damaged if fast or sudden manipulations occur. The dynamic model implemented with the downhole position and velocity controller may be configured to account for the downhole forces experienced by the work string due to downhole conditions to provide the position and velocity movements that should occur at the surface to achieve the desired position and velocity movements downhole.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for a nonlinear toolface control system for a rotary steerable drilling tool is disclosed. The method includes determining a desired toolface of a drilling tool, calculating a toolface error by determining a difference between a current toolface and the desired toolface, generating a model to describe the dynamics of the drilling tool, modify the model, based on at least one intermediate variable, to create a modified model, calculating a correction to reduce the toolface error, the correction based on the modified model, transmitting a signal to the drilling tool such that the signal adjusts the current toolface based on the correction, and drilling a wellbore with a drill bit oriented at the desired toolface.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for an advanced toolface control system for a rotary steerable drilling tool is disclosed. The method includes determining a desired toolface of a drilling tool, calculating a toolface error by determining a difference between a current toolface of the drilling tool and the desired toolface, decoupling a response of a first component of the drilling tool, calculating a correction to reduce the toolface error based on a model of the drilling tool containing information about a source of the toolface error, transmitting a signal to a second component of the drilling tool such that the signal adjusts the current toolface based on the correction, and drilling a wellbore with a drill bit oriented at the desired toolface.

Abstract: A method for generating a BHA design and component selection by creating a plurality of BHA configurations. A cost function, representative of each respective BHA configuration, is determined. Each cost function includes drilling process metrics. A final BHA configuration of the plurality of BHA configurations is selected having an optimal cost function value. The optimal cost function value may be defined as a cost function value that is less than cost function values of other respective cost functions for the plurality of BHA configurations.