Multivariate Control for Managed-Pressure-Drilling Systems by Use of High-Speed Telemetry

SPE Journal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (02) ◽  
pp. 459-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Asgharzadeh Shishavan ◽  
Casey Hubbell ◽  
Hector D. Perez ◽  
John D. Hedengren ◽  
David S. Pixton ◽  
...  

Summary With the recent advance in high-speed data communication offered by wired-drillpipe (WDP) telemetry, it is now possible to design automated control systems that directly use downhole data (e.g., pressure) to optimize drilling procedures. This research couples drilling hydraulics, rate of penetration (ROP), and rotational-speed (rev/min) control into a single controller for managed-pressure-drilling (MPD) systems. This novel multivariate controller improves drilling performance during normal drilling operations and enhances safety during abnormal drilling conditions such as unwanted gas-influx situations. New advances in drilling automation have made the closed-loop control of downhole weight on bit (WOB) and drillstring rotational speed (rev/min) possible. This study uses two feedback controllers that control the downhole WOB and rev/min by use of surface data. A multivariate nonlinear model-predictive controller (NMPC) uses downhole and surface measurements to simultaneously regulate the bottomhole-assembly (BHA) pressure and maximize the ROP. For this purpose, NMPC provides the necessary set points for the WOB and rev/min feedback controllers and manipulates the choke-valve opening and pump-flow rates. Controller performance is enhanced by means of a nonlinear estimator that works continuously online with the NMPC and provides the necessary estimated parameter values (such as annulus density, friction factor, and gas influx) for precise and efficient drilling control. The designed NMPC controller has a multipriority approach that is described in the following three scenarios: during unexpected gas influx, the NMPC gives priority to BHA pressure control and attenuates the influx effectively by means of a novel kick-attenuation method that switches the control objective from BHA pressure to choke-valve pressure; during connection procedures when adding a new stand, ROP is stopped and the NMPC focuses on maintaining the BHA pressure constant; and during normal drilling operation, which involves changes in the rock formation and differential pressures, NMPC gives priority to ROP maximization while maintaining rev/min, WOB, and BHA pressure within specified bounds. Preliminary results suggest that this multivariate controller for ROP and BHA-pressure control decreases drilling costs, reduces operator workload, and minimizes risk significantly. Specific improvements in drilling performance include higher ROP, effective kick attenuation, and more-uniform cuttings. The use of a multivariate NMPC allows for better ROP optimization and BHA-pressure control than is possible with the use of two independent controllers. These benefits are demonstrated across the three scenarios mentioned previously. In simulation, this technology delivers significant performance improvements during MPD and furthers the development of automated-driller systems.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud El-Husseiny ◽  
Taher El-Fakharany ◽  
Samir Khaled

Abstract Managed pressure drilling (MPD) has a reputation for enhancing drilling performance. However, in this study, we use it as a technology for making undrillable wells drillable. In the deepwater of the Mediterranean of Egypt, a gas field has been producing for few years. Water broke through in one well, thus, we must drill a new well to compensate for the reduction in production. Years of production led to pressure depletion, which makes it difficult to drill this well conventionally. In this study, we will discuss the combination of MPD and wellbore strengthening (WS). In addition, we will discuss the challenges we met while drilling and how we tackled them, and the best practices and recommendations for similar applications. The 12¼" × 13½" hole section passed depleted sands, followed by a pressure ramp. First, we drilled the depleted sands and confirmed the pressure ramp top. To strengthen the sand, we spotted a stress-cage pill of 645 bbls with a total concentration of 29 ppb. In addition, we conducted a formation integrity test (FIT), but its value was lower than the required value to drill to the section target depth (TD). Then, we switched to MPD and increased the mud weight. MPD in annular pressure control mode (AP) enabled us to walk the edge as near as possible to the impossible. Drilling this section was challenging due to the narrow mud weight window (MWW). We faced kick-loss cycles, where we had high-gas levels (from 20% to 55%) while drilling with a loss rate from 60 to 255 bph, at the same time. The 8½″ × 9½″ hole section will cover a depleted reservoir. Therefore, we decided to use the MPD to drill this section. To widen the MWW, we decided to stress-caging the hole, as we drill. We loaded the active-mud system with stress-cage materials totaling 39 ppb. We drilled the hole section while keeping the bottom hole pressure (BHP) at 14.6 ppg. We drilled using MPD by maintaining 525-psi surface back pressure (SBP). We used the SBP mode (semi-auto mode) to add connections, resulting in minor background gases and minor losses. This study discusses the application of a novel combination of MPD and WS. It emphasizes how MPD can integrate with other technologies to offer a practical solution to future drilling challenges in deepwater-drilling environments.


Author(s):  
Q Zhang ◽  
J Wang

A study of a modified drill point design with plane rake faces is presented. The critical geometries that uniquely define the drill point design are analysed based on the international standard. The study shows that the modified drill design yields positive normal rake angle on the entire lips and point relieving in the chisel edge region. An experimental study of drilling a high tensile steel using 7–13 mm high-speed steel (HSS) drills with titanium nitride (TiN) coatings has been carried out to assess the new drill point design. It shows that the modified plane rake faced (PRF) drills can reduce the thrust force by as much as 46.9 per cent with an average of 23.8 per cent, as compared to the conventional twist drills under the corresponding cutting conditions, while the reduction in torque is also significant with the maximum of 24.9 per cent. These drilling performance improvements are comparable to those from using the multi-facet drills that were claimed as one of the most heartening drill developments in several decades for drilling force reduction, while the PRF drills can be easily sharpened using the conventional twist drill grinders. The drill-life tests amply demonstrate the superiority of the PRF drills over the conventional twist drills.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 1902
Author(s):  
Martin Oberascher ◽  
Aun Dastgir ◽  
Jiada Li ◽  
Sina Hesarkazzazi ◽  
Mohsen Hajibabaei ◽  
...  

Smart rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems can automatically release stormwater prior to rainfall events to increase detention capacity on a household level. However, impacts and benefits of a widespread implementation of these systems are often unknown. This works aims to investigate the effect of a large-scale implementation of smart RWH systems on urban resilience by hypothetically retrofitting an Alpine municipality with smart rain barrels. Smart RWH systems represent dynamic systems, and therefore, the interaction between the coupled systems RWH units, an urban drainage network (UDN) and digital infrastructure is critical for evaluating resilience against system failures. In particular, digital parameters (e.g., accuracy of weather forecasts, or reliability of data communication) can differ from an ideal performance. Therefore, different digital parameters are varied to determine the range of uncertainties associated with smart RWH systems. As the results demonstrate, smart RWH systems can further increase integrated system resilience but require a coordinated integration into the overall system. Additionally, sufficient consideration of digital uncertainties is of great importance for smart water systems, as uncertainties can reduce/eliminate gained performance improvements. Moreover, a long-term simulation should be applied to investigate resilience with digital applications to reduce dependence on boundary conditions and rainfall patterns.


Author(s):  
Janik Schaude ◽  
Maxim Fimushkin ◽  
Tino Hausotte

AbstractThe article presents a redesigned sensor holder for an atomic force microscope (AFM) with an adjustable probe direction, which is integrated into a nano measuring machine (NMM-1). The AFM, consisting of a commercial piezoresistive cantilever operated in closed-loop intermitted contact-mode, is based on two rotational axes, which enable the adjustment of the probe direction to cover a complete hemisphere. The axes greatly enlarge the metrology frame of the measuring system by materials with a comparatively high coefficient of thermal expansion. The AFM is therefore operated within a thermostating housing with a long-term temperature stability of 17 mK. The sensor holder, connecting the rotational axes and the cantilever, inserted one adhesive bond, a soldered connection and a geometrically undefined clamping into the metrology circle, which might also be a source of measurement error. It has therefore been redesigned to a clamped senor holder, which is presented, evaluated and compared to the previous glued sensor holder within this paper. As will be shown, there are no significant differences between the two sensor holders. This leads to the conclusion, that the three aforementioned connections do not deteriorate the measurement precision, significantly. As only a minor portion of the positioning range of the piezoelectric actuator is needed to stimulate the cantilever near its resonance frequency, a high-speed closed-loop control that keeps the cantilever within its operating range using this piezoelectric actuator further on as actuator was implemented and is presented within this article.


Author(s):  
H Long ◽  
A A Lord ◽  
D T Gethin ◽  
B J Roylance

This paper investigates the effects of gear geometry, rotational speed and applied load, as well as lubrication conditions on surface temperature of high-speed gear teeth. The analytical approach and procedure for estimating frictional heat flux and heat transfer coefficients of gear teeth in high-speed operational conditions was developed and accounts for the effect of oil mist as a cooling medium. Numerical simulations of tooth temperature based on finite element analysis were established to investigate temperature distributions and variations over a range of applied load and rotational speed, which compared well with experimental measurements. A sensitivity analysis of surface temperature to gear configuration, frictional heat flux, heat transfer coefficients, and oil and ambient temperatures was conducted and the major parameters influencing surface temperature were evaluated.


2012 ◽  
Vol 580 ◽  
pp. 155-159
Author(s):  
Xiang Ming Wang ◽  
Jin Chao Wang ◽  
Dong Hua Sun

In this paper, the real-time EtherCAT technology is introduced in detail, which including operating principle, communication protocol and the superiority performance of EtherCAT i.e. synchronicity, simultaneousness and high speed. To show how to design a slave system that considering the characteristics of application, the method of developing systems based no EtherCAT technology are proposed. Finally, a data acquisition system based on EtherCAT technology is designed. Application of EtherCAT technology can improve the real-time characteristics of data communication in wind power system.


Author(s):  
Luca Bertocchi ◽  
Matteo Giacopini ◽  
Daniele Dini

In the present paper, the algorithm proposed by Giacopini et. al. [1], based on a mass-conserving formulation of the Reynolds equation using the concept of complementarity is suitably extended to include the effects of compressibility, piezoviscosity and shear-thinning on the lubricant properties. This improved algorithm is employed to analyse the performance of the lubricated small end and big end bearings of a connecting rod of a high performance motorbike engine. The application of the algorithm proposed to both the small end and the big end of a con-rod is challenging because of the different causes that sustain the hydrodynamic lubrication in the two cases. In the con-rod big end, the fluid film is mainly generated by the relative high speed rotation between the rod and the crankshaft. The relative speed between the two races forms a wedge of fluid that assures appropriate lubrication and avoids undesired direct contacts. On the contrary, at the con-rod small end the relative rotational speed is low and a complete rotation between the mating surfaces does not occurs since the con-rod only oscillates around its vertical axis. Thus, at every revolution of the crankshaft, there are two different moments in which the relative rotational speed between the con-rod and the piston pin is null. Therefore, the dominant effect in the lubrication is the squeeze caused by the high loads transmitted through the piston pin. In particular both combustion forces and inertial forces contribute to the squeeze effect. This work shows how the formulation developed by the authors is capable of predicting the performance of journal bearings in the unsteady regime, where cavitation and reformation occur several times. Moreover, the effects of the pressure and the shear rate on the density and on the viscosity of the lubricant are taken into account.


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