System and apparatus for directing a survey of a well

Abstract

An apparatus receives survey instructions from a directed unit and measurement data from a measurement unit. The apparatus directs a survey workflow comprising a plurality of stages, determines the completion of at least one of the stages based upon at least one of the measurement data and the survey instructions, provides workflow information, selects survey data from the measurement data, and stores the survey data in a memory. The apparatus sends the workflow information to the directed unit.

1 . A system for directing a survey of a well, comprising:
 (a) a directed unit communicatively coupled with a survey unit, the directed unit configured to receive survey instructions from a driller, send the survey instructions to the survey unit, receive workflow information from the survey unit, and present the workflow information to the driller;   (b) a measurement unit communicatively coupled with the survey unit, the measurement unit configured to acquire measurement data and send the measurement data to the survey unit;   (c) the survey unit communicatively coupled with the directed unit and the measurement unit, the survey unit comprising:
 (i) a receiver configured to receive the survey instructions from the directed unit and the measurement data from the measurement unit; 
 (ii) a processor communicatively coupled with the receiver; 
 (iii) a memory communicatively coupled with the processor, the memory having stored thereon:
 (1) a data structure for storing survey data; 
 (2) statements and instructions for execution by the processor to: direct a survey workflow comprising a plurality of stages; determine the completion of at least one of the stages based upon at least one of the measurement data and the survey instructions; provide workflow information; select survey data from the measurement data; and store the survey data in the data structure; and 
 
 (iv) a transmitter communicatively coupled with the processor, the transmitter configured to send the workflow information to the directed unit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the directed unit is further configured to received the survey data from the survey unit and present the survey data to the driller; and   (b) the transmitter of the survey unit is further configured to send the survey data to the directed unit.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the system further comprises a monitoring unit communicatively coupled with the survey unit, the monitoring unit configured to receive survey data and workflow information from the survey unit, and present received survey data and workflow information to a user; and   (b) the transmitter of the survey unit is further configured to send the survey data and the workflow information to the monitoring unit.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the measurement unit comprises:
 (a) a first measurement device configured to acquire measurement data comprising the inclination and azimuth of a bottom hole assembly of a drill string; and   (b) a second measurement device configured to acquire measurement data comprising the depth and rotary motion of a drill bit of the drill string and the status of a mud pump for providing drilling fluid to drive the drill bit.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first measurement device is a measurement while drilling system. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the second measurement device is an electronic data recording system. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the survey workflow comprises the following stages:
 (a) verifying that the depth of the drill bit measured by the second measurement device matches the depth of the drill bit recorded by the driller;   (b) turning on the mud pump;   (c) pulling the drill bit off of the bottom of the well;   (d) waiting for a stabilization period;   (e) turning the mud pump off;   (I) waiting for a down period;   (g) turning on the mud pump;   (h) waiting for a synchronization period; and   (i) acquiring survey data.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for directing a survey of a well, comprising:
 (a) a receiver configured to receive survey instructions from a directed unit and measurement data from a measurement unit;   (b) a processor communicatively coupled with the receiver;   (c) a memory communicatively coupled with the processor, the memory having stored thereon:
 (i) a data structure for storing survey data; and 
 (ii) statements and instructions for execution by the processor to: direct a survey workflow comprising a plurality of stages; determine the completion of at least one of the stages based upon at least one of the measurement data and the survey instructions; provide workflow information; select survey data from the measurement data; and store the survey data in the data structure; and 
   (d) a transmitter communicatively coupled with the processor, the transmitter configured to send the workflow information to the directed unit.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to send the survey data to the directed unit. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to send the survey data and the workflow information to a monitoring unit. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the measurement data comprises the inclination and azimuth of a bottom hole assembly of a drill string, the depth and rotary motion of a drill bit of the drill string, and the status of a mud pump for providing drilling fluid to drive the drill bit. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the survey workflow comprises the following stages:
 (a) verifying that the depth of the drill bit measured by the measurement unit matches the depth of the drill bit recorded by a driller;   (b) turning on the mud pump;   (c) pulling the drill bit off of the bottom of the well;   (d) waiting for a stabilization period;   (e) turning the mud pump off;   (f) waiting for a down period;   (g) turning on the mud pump;   (h) waiting for a synchronization period; and   (i) acquiring survey data.   
     
     
         13 . A computer readable medium having statements and instructions stored thereon for execution by an apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a receiver configured to receive survey instructions from a directed unit and measurement data from a measurement unit;   (b) a processor communicatively coupled with the receiver;   (c) a memory communicatively coupled with the processor, the memory having stored thereon a data structure for storing survey data; and   (d) a transmitter communicatively coupled with the processor, the transmitter configured to send the workflow information to the directed unit;   the statements and instructions for execution by the processor to: direct a survey workflow comprising a plurality of stages; determine the completion of at least one of the stages based upon at least one of the measurement data and the survey instructions; provide workflow information; select survey data from the measurement data; and store the survey data in the data structure.   
     
     
         14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to send the survey data to the directed unit. 
     
     
         15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to send the survey data and the workflow information to a monitoring unit. 
     
     
         16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the measurement data comprises the inclination and azimuth of a bottom hole assembly of a drill string, the depth and rotary motion of a drill bit of the drill string, and the status of a mud pump for providing drilling fluid to drive the drill bit. 
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the survey workflow comprises the following stages:
 (a) verifying that the depth of the drill bit measured by the measurement unit matches the depth of the drill bit recorded by a driller;   (b) turning on the mud pump;   (c) pulling the drill bit off of the bottom of the well;   (d) waiting for a stabilization period;   (e) turning the mud pump off;   (f) waiting for a down period;   (g) turning on the mud pump;   (h) waiting for a synchronization period; and   (i) acquiring survey data.