Abstract: A method of geosteering in a wellbore construction process uses an earth model that defines boundaries between formation layers and petrophysical properties of the formation layers in a subterranean formation. Sensor measurements related to the wellbore construction process are inputted to the earth model. An estimate is obtained for a relative geometrical and geological placement of the well path with respect to a geological objective using a trained stochastic clustering and pattern matching agent. An output action based on the sensor measurement for influencing a future profile of the well path with respect to the estimate.

Abstract: A method for determining a depth of a target layer in a subterranean formation involves obtaining sequences of downhole and offset data. The downhole and offset data are discretized, and labels assigned to the discretized data. The sequences of labeled downhole and offset data are compared to determine a subsequence alignment. A depth for the target layer can thereby be determined.

Abstract: A method of geosteering in a wellbore construction process uses an earth model that defines boundaries between formation layers and petrophysical properties of the formation layers in a subterranean formation. Sensor measurements related to the wellbore construction process are inputted to the earth model. An estimate is obtained for a relative geometrical and geological placement of the well path with respect to a geological objective using a trained reinforcement learning agent. An output action based on the sensor measurement for influencing a future profile of the well path with respect to the estimate.

Abstract: A method for autonomous geosteering for a well-boring process uses a trained function approximating agent. A geological objective is determined. Then, using the trained function approximating agent, a sequence of control inputs is determined to steer a well-boring tool towards the geological objective. The trained function approximating agent is adapted to enact the sequence of control inputs upon receiving a signal from a measurement from the well-boring process.

Abstract: A method for producing a simulation environment for training a function approximating agent uses an earth model that defines boundaries between formation layers and petrophysical properties of the formation layers in a subterranean formation. A toolface input corresponding to a set of model coefficients produced by the earth model is provided to a drilling attitude model, which produces a drill bit position. The drill bit position is fed to the earth model for determining an updated set of model coefficients for a predetermined interval and a set of signals representing physical properties of the subterranean formation. The signals are provided to a sensor model to produce at least one sensor output. A reward is determined from the sensor output. The simulation environment for training the function approximating agent can be used for automating a geosteering process.

Abstract: A method of geosteering in a wellbore construction process uses an earth model that defines boundaries between formation layers and petrophysical properties of the formation layers in a subterranean formation. Sensor measurements related to the wellbore construction process are inputted to the earth model. An estimate is obtained for a relative geometrical and geological placement of the well path with respect to a geological objective using a trained stochastic clustering and pattern matching agent. An output action based on the sensor measurement for influencing a future profile of the well path with respect to the estimate.

Abstract: A method of geosteering in a wellbore construction process uses an earth model that defines boundaries between formation layers and petrophysical properties of the formation layers in a subterranean formation. Sensor measurements related to the wellbore construction process are inputted to the earth model. An estimate is obtained for a relative geometrical and geological placement of the well path with respect to a geological objective using a trained Kalman filtering agent. An output action based on the sensor measurement for influencing a future profile of the well path with respect to the estimate.

Abstract: A method of geosteering in a wellbore construction process uses an earth model that defines boundaries between formation layers and petrophysical properties of the formation layers in a subterranean formation. Sensor measurements related to the wellbore construction process are inputted to the earth model. An estimate is obtained for a relative geometrical and geological placement of the well path with respect to a geological objective using a trained greedy Monte Carlo agent. An output action based on the sensor measurement for influencing a future profile of the well path with respect to the estimate.

Abstract: A drilling tool in accordance to one or more aspects includes a processor and a steering device. The processor determines a demand attitude and an instantaneous drilling tool attitude, evaluates a control law to derive a control law tool face, and converts the control law tool face to an equivalent tool face. The steering device applies the equivalent tool face to control a drill attitude of the drilling tool.

Abstract: A feedback control system for steering a tool along a well-plan. Optimum steering instructions may be generated by a recursive optimization of multiple objectives. These objectives can include accuracy and quality. The quality objective can include the objective of drilling a smooth borehole by minimizing strain energy and torsion. The accuracy objective can include the objective of minimizing the deviation of the borehole trajectory during the real-time drilling process from a predefined well-plan. The trajectory control problem, therefore, can be a multi-objective problem where, in some embodiments, the weightings of the individual objectives can be adjusted along the process.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating a well-plan with respect to geological targets. The well plan can be optimized for strain energy and torsion, to generate a smooth borehole. The resultant path can be constrained for curvature which is a design parameter and can produces a path feasible for a directional steering tool to achieve. The method can be constructed as a convex optimization problem, and/or provide a unique solution by interior point methods.

Abstract: A drilling tool in accordance to one or more aspects includes a processor to determine a demand attitude and an instantaneous drilling tool attitude, evaluate a control law to derive a control law tool face, and to convert the control law tool face to an equivalent tool face, and a steering device to apply the equivalent tool face to control a drill attitude of the drilling tool.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling drilling, the method comprising ascertaining a current position and attitude of a drilling structure, obtaining a desired end point for the drilling structure, creating an optimized geometric Hermite curve path for the drilling structure from the current position and attitude of the drilling structure to the desired end point for the drilling structure and controlling a drilling of the drilling structure from the current position and attitude of the drilling structure to the desired end point for the drilling structure along the optimized geometric Hermite curve path.

Abstract: Downhole seismic sources that may be compatible measurement-while-drilling systems. The downhole seismic sources are integrated into drill string components, including drill collars of the bottom hole assembly. The downhole seismic sources may generate a low swept frequency signal suitable for imaging around the drill-string and ahead of the drill bit. Integrated downhole seismic systems including a downhole seismic source, receivers and optionally data processing capabilities. The integrated systems may be configured to determine the distance and orientation of bed boundaries, including ahead of the drill bit up to about 200 m to 500 m in depth. Methods for downhole seismic, including single well and cross-well seismic. The methods may include obtaining seismic information ahead of the drill bit.

Abstract: An attitude hold controller method includes receiving at a navigable apparatus a demand inclination and a demand azimuth with respect to a global coordinate system and determining at the navigable apparatus a demand attitude vector according to the received demand inclination and the demand azimuth. Determining at the navigable apparatus a current navigable apparatus attitude vector. Evaluating a control law using the current navigable apparatus vector and the navigable apparatus demand attitude to derive a control law tool face, converting the control law tool face to an equivalent tool face, and applying the equivalent tool face with the navigable apparatus to control the navigable apparatus attitude.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling drilling, the method comprising ascertaining a current position and attitude of a drilling structure, obtaining a desired end point for the drilling structure, creating an optimized geometric Hermite curve path for the drilling structure from the current position and attitude of the drilling structure to the desired end point for the drilling structure and controlling a drilling of the drilling structure from the current position and attitude of the drilling structure to the desired end point for the drilling structure along the optimized geometric Hermite curve path.