[CCoE Notice] Master's Defense- July 24th, 2014

[Grayson, Audrey A]

Downhole Automation Using Spline, Catenary and Clothoid Curves Based on Minimum Wellpath Energy

Ping Yi
Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering
                    Defense Date: Thursday, July 24th Time: 4:00 pm  Room 125 in the ERP, bldg. 9
Committee Members: Dr. Robello Samuel, Dr. Guan Qin, Dr. Gangbing Song

Nowadays, complex wells are constructed to achieve maximum production. In this process, several optimization methods can be used for downhole automation. However, they have no clear criterions for defining the quality of the wellbore. Furthermore, the conventional curves used may not be ideal choices for automation when the well is drilled out of alignment with the planned well path. In this study, a new downhole drilling automation integrating with algorithms is tested and applied in this research.
This experimental downhole drilling automation is the assembly of sensor, actuator, pipe and bit. The basic working flow is straightforward and efficient. Orientation sensor receives real path data and compares it with designed path data. If it is deviated from designed path, a new well path with minimum energy will be calculated based on our algorithms. Correcting signals will be sent to actuator which controls the bit direction. In order to drill more accurately, real time drilling data is double checked with designed path data and trajectory correction data at each survey point. Balanced average methods, minimum curvature and natural curve model are used to obtain well trajectories respectively.
In this study, spline, catenary and clothoid curves are used to bring the deviated well back to the original planned path. When these curves are designed in the well path, the transition between the tangent and build sections or tangent and drop sections will be smooth.
This research presents a new downhole drilling automation for correcting well path that incorporates curvature bridging. The results of this study also provide quantifications and comparisons of the borehole quality drilled in unconventional curves which will decrease torque and drag and thus decrease energy to drill the well.

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