Assessment, monitoring and control of drilling operations and/or geological-characteristic assessment

Abstract

In monitoring/control of drilling operation a dimensionality of a full-scale model (e.g., characterizing variables related to cuttings transport, gas migration and/or the like) is reduced and data from a plurality of geographically distributed (e.g., depth varying) sensors is received, and a surrogate model is used to estimate variables in real-time. Use of the surrogate model may enable, e.g., particle-filtering processes to be employed during the estimation while still allowing for real-time estimations, avoiding excessive use of reasonable computational resources (e.g., memory and processing speeds) and/or the like. Operating controls or the like may then be set based on the estimated variables. For example, drilling control parameters may be adjusted based on estimated variables to avoid lost circulation, kicks, stuck pipe, and catastrophic events, optimize drilling parameters such as rate of penetration, improve drilling success probabilities and efficiency and/or the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for assessing operations at a resource drill site, the system comprising:
 an input receiver that receives inputs in real-time or near real-time from a plurality of sensors, wherein the plurality of sensors are located in a borehole penetrating an earth formation and the plurality of sensors comprise a first sensor located at a first depth respective to a ground level and a second sensor located at a second depth respective to the ground level, the first depth being different from the second depth;   an estimator that estimates a value for each variable of one or more variables related to a geophysical characteristic associated with the resource drill site, the estimation being based on the inputs received by the input receiver, wherein the estimator applies one or more geophysical models to determine the estimated value for each variable of the one or more variables related to the geophysical characteristic; and   a real-time estimate output that outputs the value for each variable of the one or more variables related to the geophysical characteristic in real-time or in near real-time.   
     
     
         2 . The system for assessing operations at the resource drill site as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a geophysical model generator that generates the one or more geophysical models by reducing a dimensionality one or more corresponding full-scale models. 
     
     
         3 . The system for assessing operations at the resource drill site as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more geophysical models comprise one or more models for cutting transport and/or gas migration. 
     
     
         4 . The system for assessing operations at the resource drill site as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors are located along a wired drill string. 
     
     
         5 . The system for assessing operations at the resource drill site as recited in  claim 1 , the system further comprising:
 a predictor that predicts additional inputs from the plurality of sensors based on the one or more geophysical models;   an analyzer that compares the predicted additional inputs to corresponding received inputs; and   a model adjustor that adjusts the one or more geophysical models based on the comparison.   
     
     
         6 . The system for assessing operations at the resource drill site as recited in  claim 1 , the system further comprising:
 a space definer that defines one or more spaces representing potential values for one or more unknown variables in the one or more geophysical models;   a particle sample that generates a plurality of particles, each particle being associated with a value for each unknown variable of the one or more unknown variables, the value for each unknown variable of the one or more unknown variables being based on a sampling from the defined one or more spaces;   a model output analyzer that analyzes application of the model for each particle of the plurality of particles; and   a particle weight assigner that assigns a weight to each particle of the plurality of particles based on the analysis performed by the model output analyzer.   
     
     
         7 . The system for assessing operations at the resource drill site as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more geophysical models comprise a plurality of geophysical models, each geophysical model representing a different operational state associated with the resource drill site. 
     
     
         8 . The system for assessing operations at the resource drill site as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more geophysical models comprise a plurality of geophysical models, wherein a first geophysical model assumes a reliable operation of each sensor of the plurality of sensors, and wherein the second geophysical model assumes that at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is not reliably operating. 
     
     
         9 . A method for assessing operations at a resource drill site, the method comprising:
 receiving inputs in real-time or near real-time from a plurality of sensors, wherein the plurality of sensors are located along a borehole penetrating the earth and the plurality of sensors comprise a first sensor located at a first depth respective to a ground level and a second sensor located at a second depth respective to the ground level, the first depth being different from the second depth;   estimating a value for each variable of one or more variables related to a geophysical characteristic associated with the resource drill site, the estimation being based on the inputs, wherein the value for each variable of the one or more variables related to the geophysical characteristic are estimated, at least in part, by applying one or more geophysical models; and   outputting the value for each variable of the one or more variables related to the geophysical characteristic in real-time or in near real-time.   
     
     
         10 . The method for assessing operations at the resource drill site as recited in  claim 9 , the method further comprising generating the one or more geophysical models by reducing a dimensionality of one or more corresponding full-scale models. 
     
     
         11 . The method for assessing operations at the resource drill site as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the one or more geophysical models comprise one or more models for cutting transport and/or gas migration. 
     
     
         12 . The method for assessing operations at the resource drill site as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of sensors are located along a wired drill string. 
     
     
         13 . The method for assessing operations at the resource drill site as recited in  claim 9 , the method further comprising:
 predicting additional inputs from the plurality of sensors based on the one or more geophysical models;   comparing the predicted additional inputs to corresponding received inputs; and   adjusting the one or more geophysical models based on the comparison.   
     
     
         14 . The method for assessing operations at the resource drill site as recited in  claim 9 , the method further comprising:
 defining one or more spaces representing potential values for one or more unknown variables in the one or more geophysical models;   generating a plurality of particles, each particle being associated with a value for each unknown variable of the one or more unknown variables, the value for each unknown variable of the one or more unknown variables being based on a sampling from the defined one or more spaces;   analyzing an application of the model for each particle of the plurality of particles; and   assigning a weight to each particle of the plurality of particles based on the analysis performed by the model output analyzer.   
     
     
         15 . The method for assessing operations at the resource drill site as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the one or more geophysical models comprise a plurality of geophysical models, each geophysical model representing a different operational state associated with the resource drill site. 
     
     
         16 . The method for assessing operations at the resource drill site as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the one or more geophysical models comprise a plurality of geophysical models, wherein a first geophysical model assumes a reliable operation of each sensor of the plurality of sensors, and wherein the second geophysical model assumes that at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is not reliably operating.