Abstract: An intuitive automated geosteering interpretation method and system that creates a geological model of a subterranean formation using an adaptive combined heatmap is provided. The adaptive combined heatmap is generated from individual heatmaps that each correspond to a specific type of drilling data (e.g. sensor readings) and then combined with adaptive weightings. An example of an automated method of drilling a target well using a well plan, includes: (1) generating at least two individual heatmaps for a subterranean formation using target well drilling data from a target well and offset well data from at least one offset well, wherein each of the individual heatmaps correspond to a specific type of drilling data, (2) generating an adaptive combined heatmap from the individual heatmaps, (3) determining a path of the target well in the subterranean formation based on the adaptive combined heatmap, and (4) updating the well plan according to the path.

Abstract: A geosteering subsystem has been designed to detect patterns in measurements that correlate to geological events. A geological event may correspond to a potential control point that geosteering operations may use to make geosteering decisions. The subsystem evaluates obtained measurements against predetermined patterns that correlate to geological events. When a pattern is detected in the measurements, the subsystem labels the depth and corresponding formation property measurements as a potential control point. Once detected, the subsystem can pass on the potential control point for interpretation using various methods such as manual interpretation, performed by a human operator, and automatic interpretation, performed by geosteering software.

Abstract: A geosteering subsystem has been designed to detect patterns in measurements that correlate to geological events and use statical analysis to interpret the geological events corresponding to control points and update a geological model based on the statistical analysis-based interpretations. The subsystem evaluates obtained measurements against predetermined patterns that correlate to geological events. If a pattern is detected, the subsystem labels the corresponding wellbore position and/or measurements as a control point and passes on the measurements for interpretation. The subsystem generates interpretations of the control point based on the measurements and historic control points. For each interpretation, the subsystem generates a pseudo log based on offset logs. The subsystem then generates a posterior probability for each interpretation based on evaluating the corresponding pseudo log with respect to the measurements and formation knowledge.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for estimating one or more downhole qualities of a drilling apparatus by obtaining axial acceleration data. The axial acceleration data may be acquired by measuring an axial acceleration of a bottom hole assembly. The axial acceleration may then be used to estimate one or more of a downward weight on a drill bit of the drilling apparatus or a rate of penetration of the drill bit.

Abstract: A curvature cruise controller has been designed to maintain a desired curvature when drilling a curve section of a wellbore. The curvature cruise controller utilizes a model-based controller (such as an LQR controller) to generate steering inputs based on the desired curvature and attitude setpoints and real time measurements. The model-based controller is configured with a wellbore propagation model that characterizes the tool's response dynamics. The curvature cruise controller utilizes real time drilling operation parameters measurements to tune the model-based controller.

Abstract: A method may include dividing a wellplan into one or more section using a section detection algorithm, receiving a depth measurement of a drill bit or a bottom hole assembly located in a wellbore, utilizing the section detection algorithm and the depth measurement to identify a section of the wellplan from the one or more sections of the wellplan, and identifying a target based at least in part on the identified section. The method may further include determining one or more steering commands based at least in part on the target and a control algorithm and steering the bottom hole assembly to the target using the one or more steering commands.

Abstract: A variety of methods, systems, and apparatus are disclosed, including, in one embodiment a method of steering a drilling bit including: determining at least one control command to a drilling system, wherein the control command includes a combination of one or more nominal control commands output from a feedforward controller and one or more control command error values output from a feedback controller operating in an error space; and directing the drill bit of the drilling system in the wellbore based on at least the control command to extend the wellbore towards a planned depth-based wellbore trajectory.

Abstract: Current disclosure proposes calibration methodology that uses the knowledge learned from historical data and real-time data to update a simplified physics-based borehole propagation model for real time steering control of a directional drilling system. The proposed methodology updates model parameters of the simplified physics-based model in real time through a process of setting up and optimizing an objective function, which indicates the difference between the estimated trajectory and the feedback from the real-time data. Penalizing terms, which prevent the parameters from deviating drastically from the prior knowledge of the parameter, and various components of the objective function are learned from the historical data. As a result, the updated model can accurately estimate and predict the system behavior allowing an input sequence of the system to be accurately mapped to the output response.

Abstract: A method of designing a cement blend for a wellbore isolation barrier from datasets indicative of drilling a wellbore. The drilling datasets may include drilling equipment data, bottom hole assembly data, and mud system data. A drilling path record comprising depth segments with averaged data values of drilling data can be generated by processing the drilling datasets. A design process can determine a stress state for each depth segment of the drilling path record and design a cement blend with mechanical properties exceeding the stress state. The design process can determine an optimized cement design comprising the cement blend for each depth segment of the drilling path record.

Abstract: A variety of methods, systems, and apparatus are disclosed, including, in one embodiment a method of steering a drilling bit including: determining at least one control command to a drilling system, wherein the control command includes a combination of one or more nominal control commands output from a feedforward controller and one or more control command error values output from a feedback controller operating in an error space; and directing the drill bit of the drilling system in the wellbore based on at least the control command to extend the wellbore towards a planned depth-based wellbore trajectory.

Abstract: Pump-off detection, and actions to avert a pump-off event from occurring, are described that may be implemented in a wireline control system while performing a pump-down operation to position a downhole tool within a wellbore. As part of the pump-down operation, the downhole tool is attached to a wireline coupling the tool to a wireline control device located at the surface above the wellbore.

Abstract: Systems and methods for stochastically projecting a well trajectory of a bottom hole assembly in a subsurface formation, where the bottom hole assembly includes one or more transducers, a trajectory controller coupled to the bottom hole assembly, an information handling system coupled to the transducers, and the information system includes a processor, and a non-transitory computer readable medium for storing one or more instructions that, when executed, causes the processor to receive a first one or more system model parameters from a system model parameter probability distribution; receive a first one or more steering inputs; receive a first one or more values corresponding to the bottom hole assembly initial conditions from the one or more transducers at a first position within a subsurface formation; and stochastically project a trajectory of the bottom hole assembly from the first position within the subsurface formation to a second position within the subsurface formation.

Abstract: A method or system for increasing drilling accuracy. The method and system may comprise generating one or more measurements of at least a first drilling parameter and a second drilling parameter, determining a relationship between the first drilling parameter and the second drilling parameter, creating one or more constraints from the relationship, and minimizing a cost function using the one or more constraints. The method and system may further comprise calculating one or more control commands based at least in part on the minimizing the cost function and the one or more constraints and updating a drilling operation according to the one or more control commands.

Abstract: A system for regulating a pump down operation may include a controller, a motor drive, a parameter estimation unit and a controller design unit. In examples, the controller may be configured to identify a difference between a downhole tension set-point to an actual downhole tension. The motor drive may be configured to adjust a line speed set point of the motor drive based at least in part on the difference from the controller to create an actual line speed from the motor drive to follow the downhole tension set-point. The parameter estimation unit may be configured to produce a fluid drag coefficient, a friction coefficient, and a line speed delay constant. The controller design unit may be configured to send one or more control gains to the controller based at least in part on the fluid drag coefficient, the friction coefficient, and the line speed delay constant.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to systems and methods for improving mud motor trajectory controls. Systems and methods are provided for receiving control data from a mud motor trajectory controller, predefining a plurality of control modes based on the control data from the mud motor trajectory controller, achieving desired slide rotate ratios and toolface angles by solving an established objective function that mathematically represents operational preferences and system constraints for a selected control mode of the plurality of control modes, generating a modulation procedure that converts the slide-rotate ratios to a binary slide and rotate control sequence, and applying the modulation procedure to generate the binary slide and rotate control sequence.

Abstract: A well path for a directional drilling device may be updated by determining a perturbation for a new well path from a current bottom-hole assembly position to a target using the initial well plan (or any well path of reference) as a reference. An initial well plan may be determined for a directional drilling device along with a current actual borehole position of a drilling device along with other parameters such as attitude. With this, a perturbation to the well plan based on the current actual borehole position of a drilling device and a subterranean target maybe determined. Based on this perturbation an updated borehole path may be determined.

Abstract: Certain aspects and features relate to a system that monitors for kick and lost circulation in the riser string of an offshore drilling rig. The system compensates for annulus outflow fluctuation induced by wave (heave) motion in order to reduce false alarms, resulting in fewer drilling operation disruptions. The system includes a sensor or sensors disposable with respect to a drilling rig subject to rig motion. A processor receives a real-time position signal indicative of the rig motion from the sensor and applies a state observer to the position signal to determine annular flow parameters. The system models an annular flow for the wellbore to produce a modeled flow signal that reflects a position of the drilling rig relative to influx flow. The system uses the modeled flow to determine kick-loss-alarm parameters that take into account the heave motion.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a steering model may comprise estimating an initial condition for one or more variables in the steering model and calibrating the steering model with a Markov Chain Monte Carlo Simulation (MCMC). A drilling system may comprise a bottom hole assembly, a drill string connected to the bottom hole assembly, and an information handling system connected to the bottom hole assembly. The information handling system may be configured to process one or more measurements from the bottom hole assembly, calibrate a steering model based at least in part on the one or more measurements, adjust a control logic based at least in part on the steering model, and adjust the bottom hole assembly based at least in part on the control logic.

Abstract: A drilling optimization method including perturbing one or more drilling control parameters with a periodic or a stochastic signal during a drilling process, estimating at least one drilling performance measure to optimize the drilling process based on the perturbed one or more drilling control parameters, perturbing the at least one drilling performance measure with a periodic or a stochastic perturbation source through demodulation, determine a next best estimate of the one or more drilling control parameters to optimize the at least one drilling performance measure, perturbing the next best estimate by a periodic or a stochastic perturbation source through modulation, and feeding the perturbation next best estimates of the one or more drilling control parameters back to the drilling process.

Abstract: Methods of subterranean cementing involving cement compositions comprising particulate foamed elastomers and associated methods are provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise introducing a cement composition into a subterranean location, wherein the cement composition comprises a hydraulic cement, a particulate foamed elastomer, and an aqueous fluid; and allowing the cement composition to set in the subterranean location.