Systems and methods for monitoring well conditions during drilling operations

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring real-time conditions in a well during drilling of the well. The process includes receiving technical parameters in real-time as input to a processor adapted for employing the technical parameters in calculating kick tolerance and/or kick intensity of the well. The processor calculates kick tolerance and/or kick intensity of the well using the technical parameters as well as static values. The kick tolerance and/or kick intensity are displayed to a user in a user interface connected to the processor. The processor further determines when a predetermined alarm set point for at least one of the kick tolerance and/or kick intensity is achieved, corresponding to a condition requiring remedial action. The system enables the user to take the required remedial action to influence well operations or update the value of at least one technical parameter employed in calculating kick tolerance and/or kick intensity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for monitoring conditions in a well during drilling of the well in which technical parameters relevant to the conduct of well drilling operations are generated, the process comprising:
 (a) receiving the technical parameters in real-time as input to a processor adapted for employing the technical parameters in calculating kick tolerance and/or kick intensity of the well;   (b) calculating kick tolerance and/or kick intensity of the well in the processor using the technical parameters;   (c) displaying the kick tolerance and/or kick intensity to a user as calculated in the processor in a user interface connected to the processor;   (d) determining when a predetermined alarm set point for at least one of the kick tolerance and/or kick intensity is achieved in the processor, wherein the predetermined alarm set point corresponds to a condition requiring remedial action; and   (e) notifying a user of achievement of the predetermined alarm set point, thereby enabling the user to take the required remedial action to influence well operations or update the value of at least one technical parameter employed in calculating kick tolerance and/or kick intensity.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the technical parameters are selected from the group consisting of mud density in, bit depth, hole depth, cement unit pump combined rate, mud weight out, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving static values as input to the processor; and   calculating kick tolerance and/or kick intensity of the well using a combination of the technical parameters and the static values;   wherein the static values are selected from the group consisting of leak off test value, annulus by bottom hole assembly volume factor, bottom hole assembly length, total vertical depth of deepest run casing, total vertical depth of current hole section, maximum pore pressure and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the kick tolerance and/or kick intensity is displayed to the user in the user interface at a real-time data support center remote from the well site. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is in communication with a source of the technical parameters. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the source of the technical parameters is one or more sensors associated with the well during drilling. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the processor calculates kick tolerance and/or kick intensity on a frequency between once per 0.2 seconds and once per 30 seconds. 
     
     
         8 . A system for monitoring conditions in a well being drilled, the system comprising:
 (a) a computer processor in communication with a source of technical parameters relevant to the conduct of a well drilling operation, wherein the computer processor is configured to execute computer readable instructions to:
 i. receive the technical parameters in real-time; 
 ii. calculate kick tolerance and/or kick intensity of the well using the technical parameters; 
 iii. communicate signals representing the kick tolerance and/or kick intensity to a user interface connected to the processor; 
 iv. determine when a predetermined alarm set point for at least one of the kick tolerance and/or kick intensity is achieved, wherein the predetermined alarm set point corresponds to a condition requiring remedial action; and 
 v. communicate signals when it is determined that the predetermined alarm set point is achieved; and 
   (b) the user interface connected to the processor wherein the user interface is capable of displaying the kick tolerance and/or kick intensity calculated by the processor and/or alerting a user when it is determined that the predetermined alarm set point is achieved.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a user input device in communication with the processor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising sensors associated with the well and in communication with the processor for collecting the technical parameters during drilling. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the technical parameters are received by the processor from a process control system selected from the group consisting of a distributed control system, a programmable logic controller, a remote terminal unit and a supervisory control and data acquisition unit.