Patents by Inventor Nathaniel Wicks

Nathaniel Wicks has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12297732
    Abstract: A method can include receiving sensor data; determining a rate of penetration drilling parameter value using a trained neural network and at least a portion of the sensor data; and issuing a control instruction for drilling a borehole using the determined rate of penetration drilling parameter value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathaniel Wicks, Yingwei Yu, Richard John Meehan, Darine Mansour
  • Publication number: 20250084752
    Abstract: A method for drilling a subterranean wellbore includes rotating a bottom hole assembly in the wellbore to drill and measuring a magnitude of a potentially damaging vibrational component. The measured magnitude is compared to a corresponding threshold and the drill string rotation may be perturbed to increase stick slip when the measured magnitude exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Ashley Bernard Johnson, Nathaniel Wicks, Amandine Battentier
  • Publication number: 20240410228
    Abstract: A position manager may receive time-based block position data of a travelling block above a drill floor on a floating drill rig, wherein the time-based block position data is received from a block position sensor on the drill floor. A position manager may apply a changepoint model to the time-based block position data to separate the time-based block position data into a plurality of segments. A position manager may determine a best segment of the plurality of segments. A position manager may generate a de-sensitized block position using the best segment of the plurality of segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: James Philip Belaskie, Nathaniel Wicks, Xianxiang Huang
  • Publication number: 20240401458
    Abstract: A friction manager may receive time data for hookload, weight-on-bit (WOB), and torque for a wellbore. A friction manager may use the time data for the hookload, the WOB, and the torque, identifying a section of steady-state motion in the wellbore. A friction manager may generate friction forces for the section of steady-state motion based on the time data for the hookload, the WOB, and the torque. A friction manager may adjust drilling activities based on the friction forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: James Philip Belaskie, Nathaniel Wicks, Xianxiang Huang, Brennan Daniel Goodkey
  • Patent number: 12158066
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus pertaining to scaling of the proportional gain and the integral gain in PI controllers of an autodriller based on drilling context. For example, a proportional gain and an integral gain are each determined for utilization by a PI controller of an autodriller controlling operation of equipment to be utilized for a drilling operation to drill a borehole into a subterranean formation. During the drilling operation, the integral gain is updated in real-time utilizing current values of drilling parameters that change with respect to time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathaniel Wicks, Jian Wu, Benjamin Peter Jeffryes
  • Patent number: 12119775
    Abstract: A motor controller to control rotational speed of an output shaft of an electric motor. The motor controller includes a proportional controller and a time-optimal controller. The proportional controller controls the rotational speed when a present rotational position of the shaft is between a target rotational position and a switching point, inclusively. The time-optimal controller controls the rotational speed when the present rotational position is not between the target rotational position and the switching point. Also introduced herein are aspects pertaining to determining the switching point in a manner that minimizes overshooting the target rotational position while maximizing expediency at which the target rotational position is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jian Wu, Ramakrishna Madhireddy, Nathaniel Wicks
  • Publication number: 20240178773
    Abstract: A motor controller to control rotational speed of an output shaft of an electric motor. The motor controller includes a proportional controller and a time-optimal controller. The proportional controller controls the rotational speed when a present rotational position of the shaft is between a target rotational position and a switching point, inclusively. The time-optimal controller controls the rotational speed when the present rotational position is not between the target rotational position and the switching point. Also introduced herein are aspects pertaining to determining the switching point in a manner that minimizes overshooting the target rotational position while maximizing expediency at which the target rotational position is reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2024
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: Jian Wu, Ramakrishna Madhireddy, Nathaniel Wicks
  • Patent number: 11916507
    Abstract: A motor controller to control rotational speed of an output shaft of an electric motor. The motor controller includes a proportional controller and a time-optimal controller. The proportional controller controls the rotational speed when a present rotational position of the shaft is between a target rotational position and a switching point, inclusively. The time-optimal controller controls the rotational speed when the present rotational position is not between the target rotational position and the switching point. Also introduced herein are aspects pertaining to determining the switching point in a manner that minimizes overshooting the target rotational position while maximizing expediency at which the target rotational position is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jian Wu, Ramakrishna Madhireddy, Nathaniel Wicks
  • Publication number: 20240044210
    Abstract: Methods, computing systems, and computer-readable media for dynamically adjusting drilling parameters during a drilling operation. The approach involves receiving, in real time, drilling parameter measurements and response measurements during a drilling operation. If the response measurements are below the lower limit of a window or trending downwards, the approach determines a new drilling parameter value that will increase the response measurement. The approach dynamically adjusts the drilling parameter value above the sectional limit, while still respecting hard limits. When the measured value improves, the approach returns the limit for the drilling parameter to the sectional limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: James Belaskie, Robert Hughes Jr., Nathaniel Wicks, James Foley, Rafael Guedes de Carvalho, Teddy Cheryl Michael Nkounkou
  • Publication number: 20240026769
    Abstract: A method may include generating an optimal operational window (OOW) that specifies operational parameter values for drilling operations using equipment at a rig site, based on data indicative of rig state and formation characteristics, and based on mutation-based optimization of the operational parameter values; and instructing a control system to perform the drilling operations according to the OOW using the equipment at the rig site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Wei Chen, Zhengxin Zhang, Yuelin Shen, Tien Hiep Nguyen, Gregory Skoff, Xianxiang Huang, Zhenyu Chen, Tao Yu, Nathaniel Wicks
  • Patent number: 11814943
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling slide drilling based on torque and rotational distance of a top drive connected with an upper end of a drill string. A method may comprise operating a processing device that receives torque measurements indicative of torque output by the top drive, receives rotational distance measurements indicative of rotational distance imparted by the top drive, causes the top drive to rotate the drill string while the drill string is off-bottom, determines a reference torque based on the torque measurements received while the drill string is rotated off-bottom, causes the top drive to alternatingly rotate the drill string based on the reference torque to perform slide drilling, determines a reference rotational distance based on the rotational distance measurements received during the slide drilling, and causes the top drive to alternatingly rotate the drill string based on the reference rotational distance to perform the slide drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technoloyg Corporation
    Inventors: Nathaniel Wicks, Ginger Hildebrand
  • Patent number: 11814942
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for optimizing a stick-slip algorithm for controlling a driver of a drill string. A method may include commencing operation of a control system for controlling the driver. The control system may have a processor and a memory storing a computer program code, which may include the stick-slip algorithm. The operating control system may receive a plurality of different numerical parameters, and for each of the different numerical parameters, incorporate the numerical parameter into the stick-slip algorithm and execute the stick-slip algorithm to determine a control command that causes the driver to rotate the drill string to perform drilling operations while reducing amplitude of rotational waves travelling along the drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin Peter Jeffryes, Nathaniel Wicks, Jian Wu
  • Patent number: 11808134
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using high rate telemetry to improve drilling operations. A method may include performing drilling operations with a wired drill pipe (WDP) string in an oil and/or gas well. The drilling operations may include pumping drilling fluid to a mud motor of the WDP string through an internal passage of the WDP string and vertically moving the WDP string via a drawworks while controlling the drawworks to change speed of the WDP string based on downhole data received by wellsite surface equipment via electrical conductors integral to WDP of the WDP string. The received downhole data may include downhole pressure data that is generated downhole by a pressure sensor and is indicative of pressure of the drilling fluid in the internal passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Nathaniel Wicks, Joergen Johnsen, Rui Pan
  • Patent number: 11808133
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing slide drilling and for determining operational parameters to be utilized during slide drilling. An example method includes commencing operation of a processing device, whereby the processing device determines a reference rotational distance of a top drive to be utilized during slide drilling. The processing device outputs a control command to the top drive to cause the top drive to rotate a drill string. The processing device also determines the reference rotational distance based on rotational distance measurements indicative of rotational distance achieved by the top drive and torque measurements indicative of torque applied to the drill string by the top drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Nathaniel Wicks, Ying Yu Fang, Jian Wu, Ginger Hildebrand, Steven Duplantis, Kam Lui
  • Patent number: 11624666
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for including obtaining raw surface data for present values of torque (TTD) generated by a top drive operably coupled with a drillstring, obtaining raw surface data for present values of rotational speed (?) of the top drive corresponding to the TTD, obtaining inertia (JTD) of the top drive, and estimating torque TST of the drillstring based on the obtained TTD data, the obtained data, and the obtained JTD data. The estimated drillstring torque TST may be utilized to determine a surface torque oscillation performance index (STOPI).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jian Wu, Ramakrishna Madhireddy, Nathaniel Wicks
  • Publication number: 20220397029
    Abstract: A method can include receiving sensor data; determining a rate of penetration drilling parameter value using a trained neural network and at least a portion of the sensor data; and issuing a control instruction for drilling a borehole using the determined rate of penetration drilling parameter value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Nathaniel Wicks, Yingwei Yu, Richard John Meehan, Darine Mansour
  • Publication number: 20220178241
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling slide drilling based on torque and rotational distance of a top drive connected with an upper end of a drill string. A method may comprise operating a processing device that receives torque measurements indicative of torque output by the top drive, receives rotational distance measurements indicative of rotational distance imparted by the top drive, causes the top drive to rotate the drill string while the drill string is off-bottom, determines a reference torque based on the torque measurements received while the drill string is rotated off-bottom, causes the top drive to alternatingly rotate the drill string based on the reference torque to perform slide drilling, determines a reference rotational distance based on the rotational distance measurements received during the slide drilling, and causes the top drive to alternatingly rotate the drill string based on the reference rotational distance to perform the slide drilling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Nathaniel Wicks, Ginger Hildebrand
  • Patent number: 11352871
    Abstract: Apparatus and operational methods thereof, including a top drive, a rotation sensor, and a processing device. The top drive connects with an upper end of a drill string. The rotation sensor facilitates rotational distance measurements indicative of rotational distance achieved by the top drive. The processing device causes the top drive to impart rotational oscillations alternatingly in opposing directions to the upper end of the drill string while maintaining a downhole toolface orientation during a slide drilling operation, such that each rotational oscillation rotates the upper end of the drill string through a base rotational distance. The processing device also causes the top drive to change the downhole toolface orientation by an offset rotational distance by adding the offset rotational distance and an overshoot rotational distance to the base rotational distance of an instance of the rotational oscillations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jahir Pabon, Nathaniel Wicks
  • Patent number: 11187714
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing downhole rotational data. An example method includes commencing operation of a processing device to continually calculate a downhole oscillation index by receiving downhole rotational speed data indicative of downhole rotational speed of at least a portion of a drill string during drilling operations, calculating a fundamental oscillation time period of the drill string, calculating a time length of a time window based on the fundamental oscillation time period, and processing the downhole rotational speed data encompassed within the time window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jian Wu, Nathaniel Wicks, Ramakrishna Madhireddy
  • Publication number: 20210348494
    Abstract: Apparatus and operational methods thereof, including a top drive, a rotation sensor, and a processing device. The top drive connects with an upper end of a drill string. The rotation sensor facilitates rotational distance measurements indicative of rotational distance achieved by the top drive. The processing device causes the top drive to impart rotational oscillations alternatingly in opposing directions to the upper end of the drill string while maintaining a downhole toolface orientation during a slide drilling operation, such that each rotational oscillation rotates the upper end of the drill string through a base rotational distance. The processing device also causes the top drive to change the downhole toolface orientation by an offset rotational distance by adding the offset rotational distance and an overshoot rotational distance to the base rotational distance of an instance of the rotational oscillations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Jahir Pabon, Nathaniel Wicks