Abstract: A method of using a quill to steer a bit when elongating a wellbore, with the method including receiving real-time data associated with elongating the wellbore, wherein the real-time data associated with elongating the wellbore comprises data associated with: actual toolface orientation; surface-measured mud motor ?P; surface-measured quill torque; surface-measured weight-on-bit (“WOB”); and surface-measured quill position; learning, based on the real-time data, relationships between: surface-measured mud motor ?P and surface-measured torque; changes in surface-measured WOB and surface-measured torque; and changes in surface-measured quill position and actual toolface orientation; accessing, after learning the relationships, a desired toolface orientation; comparing, by the controller, the desired toolface orientation and the actual toolface orientation; and affecting, by the controller and based on the comparison and the learned relationships, a first change of the quill position and one or more of: mud moto

Abstract: A system and method of directionally steering a bottom hole assembly (“BHA”) by receiving data indicative of a directional trend of the BHA and a projection to bit depth; determining a location of the BHA based on the received data; comparing the location of the BHA to a planned drilling path to identify an amount of deviation; automatically creating a modified drilling path based on the amount of deviation and a predicted trend of a downhole parameter; detecting a trend of the downhole parameter while drilling along the modified drilling path; and automatically creating a further modified drilling path when the trend of the downhole parameter is a reversal of the predicted trend of the downhole parameter. The predicted trend of the downhole parameter is an increase of a d-exponent factor or a d-exponent-corrected factor with an increase in depth.

Abstract: A system and method of directionally steering a bottom hole assembly (“BHA”) by receiving data indicative of a directional trend of the BHA and a projection to bit depth; determining a location of the BHA based on the received data; comparing the location of the BHA to a planned drilling path to identify an amount of deviation; automatically creating a modified drilling path based on the amount of deviation and a predicted trend of a downhole parameter; detecting a trend of the downhole parameter while drilling along the modified drilling path; and automatically creating a further modified drilling path when the trend of the downhole parameter is a reversal of the predicted trend of the downhole parameter. The predicted trend of the downhole parameter is an increase of a d-exponent factor or a d-exponent-corrected factor with an increase in depth.

Abstract: A system and method of directionally steering a bottom hole assembly (“BHA”) from a drilling rig to a target location including by receiving data indicative of a directional trend of the BHA and a projection to bit depth; determining a location of the BHA based on a directional trend and the projection; identifying an amount of deviation from a drilling path; automatically creating a modified drilling path that intersects the planned drilling path based on the amount of deviation exceeding a first threshold amount of deviation and being less than a second threshold amount of deviation, automatically creating a modified drilling path that does not intersect the planned drilling path in response to the amount of deviation exceeding the second threshold amount of deviation, and determining a curve profile of the modified drilling path having the smallest rate of curvature to avoid drilling overshoot; and steering the BHA.

Abstract: A system and method of directionally steering a bottom hole assembly (“BHA”) from a drilling rig to a target location including by receiving data indicative of a directional trend of the BHA and a projection to bit depth; determining a location of the BHA based on a directional trend and the projection; identifying an amount of deviation from a drilling path; automatically creating a modified drilling path that intersects the planned drilling path based on the amount of deviation exceeding a first threshold amount of deviation and being less than a second threshold amount of deviation, automatically creating a modified drilling path that does not intersect the planned drilling path in response to the amount of deviation exceeding the second threshold amount of deviation, and determining a curve profile of the modified drilling path having the smallest rate of curvature to avoid drilling overshoot; and steering the BHA.

Abstract: A method of modifying a slide drill segment while implementing the slide drill segment includes receiving downhole data from a BHA during slide drilling of a slide drill segment. The method also includes calculating, based on the downhole data, a build rate and altering, while performing the slide drill segment, sliding instructions based on the build rate and the downhole data. The method also includes implementing the altered sliding instructions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of automatically altering proposed sliding instructions to comply with operating parameters is described.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for producing a three-dimensional visualization of a drill plan and drilling motor with a toolface are provided for drill steering purposes. A drilling motor with a toolface in communication with a sensor system is provided. A controller in communication with the sensor system is operable to generate a depiction of the drill plan and a depiction of the drilling motor, and to combine these depictions in a three-dimensional visualization of the downhole environment. This visualization is used by a user to steer the drill.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for controlling activities on a drilling rig are described. The methods include installing a control system operably coupled to the drilling rig and having a user interface, receiving operational guidelines from the user interface that include a plurality of control limits associated with operational parameters of the rig, monitoring current values of the operational parameters, and automatically applying the control limits to the operational parameters during operation of the rig.

Abstract: A rig control apparatus, system, and method according to which a mud pump is ramped up toward a full-operational pumping pressure to circulate drilling mud via a drill string between a surface location and a downhole tool, the downhole tool being connected to the drill string and positioned within a wellbore, the flow of the drilling mud between the surface location and the downhole tool is stabilized prior to the mud pump reaching the full-operational pumping pressure, data is transmitted via mud-pulse telemetry from the downhole tool to the surface location when the flow of the drilling mud between the surface location and the downhole tool is stabilized, and the mud pumps are ramped up further to the full-operational pumping pressure.

Abstract: A method of modifying a slide drill segment while implementing the slide drill segment is described. The method includes receiving downhole data from a BHA during a rotary drilling segment; identifying, based on the downhole data, a first build rate and sliding instructions for performing a slide drill segment; implementing at least a portion of the sliding instructions to perform at least a portion of the slide drill segment; receiving additional downhole data from the BHA during the slide drill segment; calculating, based on the additional downhole data, a second build rate that is different from the first build rate; altering, while performing the slide drill segment, the sliding instructions based on the second build rate and the additional downhole data; and implementing the altered sliding instructions to perform at least another portion of the slide drill segment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of automatically altering proposed sliding instructions to comply with operating parameters is described.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for controlling activities on a drilling rig are described. The methods include installing a control system operably coupled to the drilling rig and having a user interface, receiving operational guidelines from the user interface that include a plurality of control limits associated with operational parameters of the rig, monitoring current values of the operational parameters, and automatically applying the control limits to the operational parameters during operation of the rig.

Abstract: A rig control system according to which an automated sequence engine includes a sequence template module configured to provide a template that includes a plurality of data fields outlining operational steps and associated parameters to perform a drilling process, and a recipe learning module configured to generate a recipe for entry into the data fields. The recipe learning module is configured to retrieve a data set related to a drilling rig's performance of the drilling process to drill a wellbore segment, and to score the data set based on a result of the drilling rig's performance of the drilling process and/or a characteristic of the wellbore segment. In some embodiments, the recipe learning module is further configured to categorize the data set based on a characteristic of the drilling rig and/or the wellbore segment. The recipe is based on the data set, the scoring, the categorizing, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for controlling activities on a drilling rig are described. The methods include installing a control system operably coupled to the drilling rig and having a user interface, receiving operational guidelines from the user interface that include a plurality of control limits associated with operational parameters of the rig, monitoring current values of the operational parameters, and automatically applying the control limits to the operational parameters during operation of the rig.

Abstract: A rig control system according to which an automated sequence engine includes a sequence template module configured to provide a template that includes a plurality of data fields outlining operational steps and associated parameters to perform a drilling process, and a recipe learning module configured to generate a recipe for entry into the data fields. The recipe learning module is configured to retrieve a data set related to a drilling rig's performance of the drilling process to drill a wellbore segment, and to score the data set based on a result of the drilling rig's performance of the drilling process and/or a characteristic of the wellbore segment. In some embodiments, the recipe learning module is further configured to categorize the data set based on a characteristic of the drilling rig and/or the wellbore segment. The recipe is based on the data set, the scoring, the categorizing, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A rig control apparatus, system, and method according to which a mud pump is ramped up toward a full-operational pumping pressure to circulate drilling mud via a drill string between a surface location and a downhole tool, the downhole tool being connected to the drill string and positioned within a wellbore, the flow of the drilling mud between the surface location and the downhole tool is stabilized prior to the mud pump reaching the full-operational pumping pressure, data is transmitted via mud-pulse telemetry from the downhole tool to the surface location when the flow of the drilling mud between the surface location and the downhole tool is stabilized, and the mud pumps are ramped up further to the full-operational pumping pressure.

Abstract: A system and method for calculating a path during drilling of a BHA between first and second survey points. The method includes calculating an amount of first incremental progress made by the BHA since the first survey point; calculating a first estimate of a first current location based on the first survey point and the amount of first incremental progress; causing at least one drilling parameter to be modified in order to alter a drilling direction of the BHA based on the first estimate; calculating an amount of second incremental progress made by the BHA; calculating a second estimate of the second current location based on the amount of second incremental progress and an aggregation of data received from the BHA, including data associated with the first survey point; and causing at least one drilling parameter to be modified in order to alter the drilling direction of the BHA.

Abstract: Methods and systems for drilling to a target location include a control system that receives an input comprising a planned drilling path to a target location and determines a projected location of a bottom hole assembly of a drilling system. The projected location of the bottom hole assembly is compared to the planned drilling path to determine a deviation amount. A modified drilling path is created to the target location as selected based on the amount of deviation from the planned drilling path, and drilling rig control signals that steer the bottom hole assembly of the drilling system to the target location along the modified drilling path are generated to intersect the planned drilling path if the amount of deviation from the planned path exceeds a first threshold amount of deviation.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for producing a three-dimensional visualization of a drill plan and drilling motor with a toolface are provided for drill steering purposes. A drilling motor with a toolface in communication with a sensor system is provided. A controller in communication with the sensor system is operable to generate a depiction of the drill plan and a depiction of the drilling motor, and to combine these depictions in a three-dimensional visualization of the downhole environment. This visualization is used by a user to steer the drill.