Characterizing responses in a drilling system

Abstract

Computing systems, computer-readable media, and methods may include determining at least one automated sequence to be performed during a portion of a drilling operation by a drilling system. The at least one automated sequence may include performing one or more actions to cause a response in the drilling system. The method may include performing, during the drilling operation, the at least one automated sequence. Further, the method may include measuring, during the performance of the at least one automated sequence, one or more responses in the drilling system. The one or more responses may be measured within a wellbore undergoing the drilling operations and at a surface of the wellbore. The method may include modifying a model of the drilling system based at least in part of the one or more responses that were measured during the performance of the at least one automated sequence.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 determining at least one automated sequence to be performed during a portion of a drilling operation by a drilling system, wherein the at least one automated sequence comprises performing one or more actions to cause a response in the drilling system;   performing, during the drilling operation, the at least one automated sequence;   measuring, during the performance of the at least one automated sequence, one or more responses in the drilling system, wherein the one or more responses are measured within a wellbore undergoing the drilling operations and at a surface of the wellbore; and   modifying a model of the drilling system based at least in part of the one or more responses that were measured during the performance of the at least one automated sequence.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 altering one or more operational parameters in the drilling operations based at least in part on the one or more responses in the drilling system.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more operational parameters comprise flow rate of drilling mud, rotational speed of a drill string, motion of a bottom hole assembly, and safety limits of the drilling system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more responses are measured by sensors positioned at one or more locations comprising a surface location of the drilling system, a location within the wellbore, a location on a drill string, and a location in a bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one automated sequence comprises one or more of:
 a sequence of taking off, bottom pick up, slack off, and torque references at different rates;   a sequence for shutting down flow rate and revolutions per minute (RPM) at an end of a connection, and bringing up flow rate and RPM at a start of a connection;   a sequence of moving a block up and down to characterize sheave friction and remove an effect from weight on bit (WOB) and hookload calculations;   a sequence of staging up the WOB at a constant RPM to identify a point at which the rotational system becomes unstable and enters into fully developed stick-slip;   a sequence that moves the block down at varying rates; and   a sequence that sweeps through a range of surface RPM's off bottom to identify the locations of lateral BHA resonances.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one automated sequence comprises one or more of:
 a sequence of characterizing a relationships between the one or more operational parameters and bottom hole assembly (BHA) vibrations during the drilling operations;   a sequence where a slider system cycles torque to improve weight transfer and control toolface with downhole feedback in a form of a BHA toolface;   a sequence that varies weight when drilling with a motor and rotating and measuring pressure; and   a sequence that automatically modulates pump stroke rates.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one automated sequence comprises one or more of:
 a sequence of monitoring a change in surface hookload at a range of flow rates circulating with rotation off bottom;   a sequence that pumps drilling mud at different flow rates;   a sequence that dynamically tunes an autodriller gain settings based upon a real-time derived bit-rock interaction model;   a sequence that varies the flow rate and measures motor speed;   a sequence that varies the flow rate and the weight on bit (WOB) and measuring motor speed and pressure; and   a sequence that varies at least one of rotation speed or flow and measuring temperature at along a drill string.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 storing the one or more responses in the drilling system.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 determining, prior to performing the at least one automated sequence, that the at least one automated sequence requires an update based at least partially on a change in conditions in the drilling operation; and   updating the at least one automated sequence in response to the change in the condition in the drilling operation.   
     
     
         10 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions for causing one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
 determining at least one automated sequence to be performed during a portion of a drilling operation by a drilling system, wherein the at least one automated sequence comprises performing one or more actions to cause a response in the drilling system;   performing, during the drilling operation, the at least one automated sequence;   measuring, during the performance of the at least one automated sequence, one or more responses in the drilling system, wherein the one or more responses are measured within a wellbore undergoing the drilling operations and at a surface of the wellbore; and   modifying a model of the drilling system based at least in part of the one or more responses that were measured during the performance of the at least one automated sequence.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 10 , the method further comprising:
 altering one or more operational parameters in the drilling operations based at least in part on the one or more responses in the drilling system.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more operational parameters comprise flow rate of drilling mud, rotational speed of a drill string, motion of a bottom hole assembly, and safety limits of the drilling system. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more responses are measured by sensors positioned at one or more locations comprising a surface location of the drilling system, a location within the wellbore, a location on a drill string, and a location in a bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one automated sequence comprises one or more of:
 a sequence of taking off, bottom pick up, slack off, and torque references at different rates;   a sequence for shutting down flow rate and revolutions per minute (RPM) at an end of a connection, and bringing up flow rate and RPM at a start of a connection;   a sequence of moving a block up and down to characterize sheave friction and remove an effect from weight on bit (WOB) and hookload calculations;   a sequence of staging up the WOB at a constant RPM to identify a point at which the rotational system becomes unstable and enters into fully developed stick-slip;   a sequence that moves the block down at varying rates; and   a sequence that sweeps through a range of surface RPM's off bottom to identify the locations of lateral BHA resonances.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one automated sequence comprises one or more of:
 a sequence of characterizing a relationships between the one or more operational parameters and bottom hole assembly (BHA) vibrations during the drilling operations;   a sequence where a slider system cycles torque to improve weight transfer and control toolface with downhole feedback in a form of a BHA toolface;   a sequence that varies weight when drilling with a motor and rotating and measuring pressure; and   a sequence that automatically modulates pump stroke rates.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one automated sequence comprises one or more of:
 a sequence of monitoring a change in surface hookload at a range of flow rates circulating with rotation off bottom;   a sequence that pumps drilling mud at different flow rates;   a sequence that dynamically tunes an autodriller gain settings based upon a real-time derived bit-rock interaction model;   a sequence that varies the flow rate and measures motor speed;   a sequence that varies the flow rate and the weight on bit (WOB) and measuring motor speed and pressure; and   a sequence that varies at least one of rotation speed or flow and measuring temperature at along a drill string.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 10 , the method further comprising:
 storing the one or more responses in the drilling system.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 10 , the method further comprising:
 determining, prior to performing the at least one automated sequence, that the at least one automated sequence requires an update based at least partially on a change in conditions in the drilling operation; and   updating the at least one automated sequence in response to the change in the condition in the drilling operation.   
     
     
         19 . A system, comprising:
 one or more memory devices storing instructions; and   one or more processors coupled to the memory devices and configured to execute the instructions to perform a method comprising:
 determining at least one automated sequence to be performed during a portion of a drilling operation by a drilling system, wherein the at least one automated sequence comprises performing one or more actions to cause a response in the drilling system; 
 performing, during the drilling operation, the at least one automated sequence; 
 measuring, during the performance of the at least one automated sequence, one or more responses in the drilling system, wherein the one or more responses are measured within a wellbore undergoing the drilling operations and at a surface of the wellbore; and 
 modifying a model of the drilling system based at least in part of the one or more responses that were measured during the performance of the at least one automated sequence. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , the method further comprising:
 altering one or more operational parameters in the drilling operations based at least in part on the one or more responses in the drilling system.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more operational parameters comprise flow rate of drilling mud, rotational speed of a drill string, motion of a bottom hole assembly, and safety limits of the drilling system. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more responses are measured by sensors positioned at one or more locations comprising a surface location of the drilling system, a location within the wellbore, a location on a drill string, and a location in a bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one automated sequence comprises one or more of:
 a sequence of taking off, bottom pick up, slack off, and torque references at different rates;   a sequence for shutting down flow rate and revolutions per minute (RPM) at an end of a connection, and bringing up flow rate and RPM at a start of a connection;   a sequence of moving a block up and down to characterize sheave friction and remove an effect from weight on bit (WOB) and hookload calculations;   a sequence of staging up the WOB at a constant RPM to identify a point at which the rotational system becomes unstable and enters into fully developed stick-slip;   a sequence that moves the block down at varying rates; and   a sequence that sweeps through a range of surface RPM's off bottom to identify the locations of lateral BHA resonances   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one automated sequence comprises one or more of:
 a sequence of characterizing a relationships between the one or more operational parameters and bottom hole assembly (BHA) vibrations during the drilling operations;   a sequence where a slider system cycles torque to improve weight transfer and control toolface with downhole feedback in a form of a BHA toolface;   a sequence that varies weight when drilling with a motor and rotating and measuring pressure; and   a sequence that automatically modulates pump stroke rates.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one automated sequence comprises one or more of:
 a sequence of monitoring a change in surface hookload at a range of flow rates circulating with rotation off bottom;   a sequence that pumps drilling mud at different flow rates;   a sequence that dynamically tunes an autodriller gain settings based upon a real-time derived bit-rock interaction model;   a sequence that varies the flow rate and measures motor speed;   a sequence that varies the flow rate and the weight on bit (WOB) and measuring motor speed and pressure; and   a sequence that varies at least one of rotation speed or flow and measuring temperature at along a drill string.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 19 , the method further comprising:
 determining, prior to performing the at least one automated sequence, that the at least one automated sequence requires an update based at least partially on a change in conditions in the drilling operation; and   updating the at least one automated sequence in response to the change in the condition in the drilling operation.