Abstract: The invention concerns a computer implemented method for underbalanced drilling. In one embodiment, the method includes determining a plurality of gas injection rate versus bottom hole pressure curves for a plurality of liquid injection rates for a specified minimum and maximum gas injection rate and a minimum and maximum liquid injection rate. Next, the method determines a set of four interception curves including a minimum motor equivalent liquid rate interception curve, a minimum vertical liquid velocity intercept curve, a minimum horizontal liquid velocity intercept curve, and a maximum motor equivalent liquid rate intercept curve for a specified minimum and maximum mud motor rate range and a minimum horizontal and vertical annulus velocity.

Abstract: A system for real-time steering of a drill bit includes a drilling arrangement and a computing device in communication with the drilling arrangement. The system iteratively, or repeatedly, receives new data associated the wellbore. At each iteration, a model, for example an engineering model, is applied to the new data to produce an objective function defining the selected drilling parameter. The objective function is modified at each iteration to provide an updated value for the selected drilling parameter and an updated value for at least one controllable parameter. In one example, the function is modified using Bayesian optimization The system iteratively steers the drill bit to obtain the updated value for the selected drilling parameter by applying the updated value for at least one controllable parameter over the period of time that the wellbore is being formed.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a method, apparatus, and computer program product configured to performing automated downhole wellbore trajectory control for correcting between an actual wellbore trajectory path and a planned wellbore trajectory path. For example, in one embodiment, a PID controller is configured to obtain real-time data gathered during the drilling operation, determine whether the actual wellbore trajectory path deviates from the planned wellbore trajectory path, and automatically initiate the downhole wellbore trajectory control to change the actual wellbore trajectory path to a modified correction path that is determined using a minimum incremental wellbore energy method.

Abstract: Multiple projected rate of penetration (ROP) values can be determined for purposes of adjusting well tools and well characteristics. For example, surface data can be determined based on a surface sensor signal. Downhole data can be determined based on a downhole sensor signal. A first value indicating a first projected ROP of a drill bit can be determined by providing the surface data as input to a first machine-learning model. A second value indicating a second projected ROP of the drill bit can be determined by providing the downhole data as input to a second machine-learning model. A third value indicating a third projected ROP of the drill bit can be determined by providing the first value and the second value input to a third machine-learning model. An operating characteristic of a well tool can be adjusted based on the third value.

Abstract: A method for determining annular fluid expansion (“AFE”) within a borehole with a sealed casing string annulus. The method may include defining a configuration of the borehole. The method may further include defining a production operation and a borehole operation. The method may also include determining AFE within the borehole when performing the production operation. The method may further include determining AFE within the borehole when performing the borehole operation based on the AFE within the borehole when performing the production operation.

Abstract: A method comprises determining a measure of drilling efficiency, such as a friction factor or mechanical specific energy, of a drill bit used in a drilling operation of a wellbore and performing video analytics of at least one video that includes a substantially complete view of the wear surfaces of a drill bit to determine drill bit wear of the drill bit that is a result of the drilling operation of the wellbore. The method includes determining a cause of the drill bit wear based on the measure of drilling efficiency and the drill bit wear determined by performing video analytics. Based on correlation or modeling of drill bit wear and the measure of drilling efficiency, drill bit wear can be predicted and some types of drilling dysfunction mitigated in subsequent drilling runs.

Abstract: The disclosure presents processes and methods for determining a packoff event at a location in a borehole undergoing a drilling operation. The packoff event can be represented by a packoff risk indicator (PRI) that presents, for example, a percentage risk of the packoff event occurring. The PRI can be utilized to initiate a remediation operation prior to the packoff event becoming more severe, such as a stuck drill string. In some aspects, the generation of the PRI can utilize an uncertainty model to provide a range of input parameters and an uncertainty parameter used by other systems to evaluate the risk of the potential packoff event has on borehole operations. In some aspects, the generation of the PRI can utilize machine learning algorithms or deep neural network algorithms to pre-process the input parameters to improve the accuracy of the PRI and of the models used to generate the PRI.

Abstract: The invention concerns a computer implemented method for underbalanced drilling. In one embodiment, the method includes determining a plurality of gas injection rate versus bottom hole pressure curves for a plurality of liquid injection rates for a specified minimum and maximum gas injection rate and a minimum and maximum liquid injection rate. Next, the method determines a set of four interception curves including a minimum motor equivalent liquid rate interception curve, a minimum vertical liquid velocity intercept curve, a minimum horizontal liquid velocity intercept curve, and a maximum motor equivalent liquid rate intercept curve for a specified minimum and maximum mud motor rate range and a minimum horizontal and vertical annulus velocity.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for rig monitoring and in particular, to receiving data from a plurality of sensors in real-time, mapping the data from the plurality of sensors with a micro-activity and a macro-activity, generating a message based on the mapping of the data from the plurality of sensors with the micro-activity and the macro-activity, selecting a parameter to be compared with a bit depth, tuning the parameter and the bit depth with a corresponding model based on the message, generating a parameter uncertainty array and a bit depth uncertainty array based on the tuning of the parameter and the bit depth, and generating dynamic uncertainty ellipses based on the parameter uncertainty array and the bit depth uncertainty array.

Abstract: A method comprises drilling a borehole and capturing data during drilling of the borehole, wherein the data comprises at least one value of at least one operational parameter of the drilling. A specific energy formula is modified and used to determine at least one of an efficiency and a quality of drilling of a borehole. Modifying the specific energy formula is based on data captured during drilling of the borehole. The specific energy formula comprises at least one of a mechanical specific energy formula and a hydromechanical specific energy formula. An adjusted specific energy value for the drilling is calculated based on the modified specific energy formula. At least one of the efficiency and the quality of the drilling of the borehole is determined based on the adjusted specific energy value. Also disclosed is a system comprising a machine-readable medium having program code executing the method.

Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing a well system design including determining a volume change of trapped annular regions based on a plurality of initial temperatures and a plurality of final temperatures and an initial pressure. Analyzing the trapped annular regions to determine an enclosure volume change, a fluid expansion volume, and an annular pressure buildup for a safe well system and generating a graphical representation of the bounds of the safe well system envelop.

Abstract: System and methods for optimizing wellbore tubular design are provided. Design parameters for a wellbore tubular component are determined based on different types of axial loads expected during a downhole operation. The design parameters include load conditions at load points along the tubular component. An equivalent axial load is calculated for each load point, based on the corresponding load conditions. Design limits for the different types of axial loads are determined based on associated design parameters. A counter-load pressure is determined for at least one load point selected for each type of axial load, based on the corresponding equivalent axial load for each load point and a corresponding design limit for each type of axial load. At least one of the design limits is adjusted for the different types of axial loads, based on the counter-load pressure of the selected load point for each type of axial load.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include well operation evaluation systems and methods to analyze a broomstick chart of a well operation. The method includes receiving data indicative of a well operation involving deploying a conveyance to a predetermined location. The method also includes determining one or more conditions that impact deployment of the conveyance to the predetermined location. The method further includes determining a likelihood of occurrence of the one or more conditions. The method further includes determining one or more operations which, when performed by one or more tools used during the well operation, overcome the one or more conditions.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include well operation evaluation systems and methods to analyze a broomstick chart of a well operation. The method includes receiving data indicative of a broomstick chart of a well operation. The method also includes diagnosing an issue during the well operation based on the broomstick chart. The method further includes predicting an impact on the well operation as a result of the issue. The method further includes determining a likelihood of occurrence of the impact. The method further includes determining a solution to overcome the issue.

Abstract: Certain aspects and features relate to a system that includes a drilling tool, a processor, and a non-transitory memory device that includes instructions that are executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include receiving input data that corresponds to characteristics of at least one of drilling fluid, a drillstring, or a wellbore. The operations also include calculating at least one dynamic sideforce and at least one dynamic, hydraulic force based at least in part on the input data. The operations also include determining an equilibrium solution for an output value using the at least one dynamic sideforce and at least one dynamic, hydraulic force. The operations also include applying the output value to the drilling tool for controlling operation of the drilling tool.

Abstract: The embodiments include systems and methods to determine torque and drag of a string. A method includes analyzing a plurality of continuous segments of a string deployed in a wellbore, and determining a deflection of the plurality of continuous segments from a node of the string and a tortuosity deflection of the wellbore. In response to a determination that deflection of the plurality of continuous segments from the node of the string is greater than the tortuosity deflection of the wellbore, the method includes applying a soft string model to determine a torque and a drag of the string. In response to a determination that deflection of the plurality of continuous segments from the node of the string is not greater than the tortuosity deflection of the wellbore, the method includes applying a stiff string model to determine a torque and a drag of the string.

Abstract: The disclosure presents processes for improving the design phase of plastic material lined tubular structures used downhole of a borehole. A plastic material lined tubular structure model is utilized for tubular structures that have a metal layer, a grout layer, and a plastic material layer. The model can use a modified wall thickness for the metal layer. A strength model can be applied to the modified critical dimensions, e.g., wall thickness parameters. A thermal model can be applied to the tubular structure to determine pressure and temperature parameters. The strength model and the thermal model outputs can be utilized by a stress analyzer to determine loads, safety factors, and design limit parameters. The plastic material lined tubular structure model can enable more efficient use of tubular structures, designing a longer operational lifetime, such as in acidic environments, or the use of thinner structures while maintaining a satisfactory operational lifetime.

Abstract: The disclosure presents processes for improving the design phase of tubular structures to be used downhole in a borehole. A hybrid collapse strength model can be utilized that uses a linear collapse strength model for an initial percentage range based on the initial wall thickness of the tubular structure. A standards collapse strength model can be used once a wall thickness threshold is not satisfied. In some aspects, a transition collapse strength model can be used prior to the standards collapse strength model to avoid discontinuities in the analysis. The hybrid collapse strength model can enable more efficient use of tubular structures, designing a longer operational lifetime, or the use of thinner structures while maintaining a satisfactory operational lifetime. Lower operational costs of the borehole can be achieved through using less expensive tubular structures and through a reduction of costs associated with replacing a section of casing within the borehole.

Abstract: A system is described for controlling wellbore drilling operations autonomously using satisficing parameters. The system can determine a wellbore-drilling envelope defining a zone for satisficed values of drilling parameters for a drilling operation. The system can receive real-time data for the drilling parameters and can compare the real-time data to the wellbore-drilling envelope. The system can output a command for automatically controlling the drilling operation in response to comparing the real-time data to the wellbore-drilling envelope.

Abstract: A system for designing a casing string for a well. The system comprises a processor, a non-transitory memory, a thermodynamic modeling application stored in the non-transitory memory that, when executed by the processor, models carbon dioxide (CO2) material in the well using a carbon dioxide equation of state (EoS) to determine thermodynamic properties of the CO2 material, and a downhole environment modeling application stored in the non-transitory memory that, when executed by the processor determines temperatures of and pressures at well components at each of a plurality of points of a casing string design based in part on the thermodynamic properties of the CO2 material determined by the thermodynamic modeling application, and provides the temperatures of well components and pressures in the casing string at each of the plurality of points of the casing string to a casing string strength analysis application executing on the computer system.