Method and System for Prioritizing and Allocating Well Operating Tasks

Abstract

A method for managing well construction operations includes accepting as input to a computer a list of tasks required to complete construction of at least one wellbore, the list of tasks having at least an initial chronological order. Measurements of at least one parameter related to at least one task on the list of tasks is entered into the computer. The list of tasks is prioritized by at least one of changing a chronological order of performance or a length of time to complete at least one of the tasks based on measurements of the at least one parameter. The prioritizing is performed to optimize at least one well construction performance parameter. The prioritized list is displayed to at least one user of the computer.

1 .- 26 . (canceled). 
     
     
         27 . A method comprising:
 receiving a plan for directional drilling of a wellbore, wherein the plan comprises a sequence of procedures and associated planned well states;   receiving measurements that comprise measurements made in the wellbore during the directional drilling of the wellbore;   calculating drilling response parameters for the directional drilling of the wellbore using the measurements to determine an actual well state;   determining a difference between one of the planned well states and the actual well state;   responsive to the difference, dynamically generating an adjusted procedure;   issuing command signals according to the adjusted procedure;   receiving additional measurements during the directional drilling of the wellbore according to the command signals;   calculating drilling response parameters for the adjusted procedure using the additional measurements to determine an actual adjusted well state; and   using the actual adjusted well state to decide whether to return to the plan or to generate another adjusted procedure.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the measurements comprise one or more downhole tool measurements. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the command signals comprise corresponding drilling operating parameters. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the drilling operating parameters comprise one or more of a drilling fluid pump parameter, a rate at which a swivel or top drive is lowered into the wellbore parameter, an axial force or weight on a drill bit parameter, and a rotating speed of a drill bit parameter. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the drilling response parameters comprise one or more of a rate of axial elongation of the wellbore parameter, a torque applied to drill pipe parameter, a pressure of drilling fluid parameter, a well tortuosity parameter, a detected wellbore fluid influx or loss parameter, a drill bit wear rate parameter, a drilling motor performance parameter, and a vibration parameter. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the directional drilling of the wellbore according to the command signals comprises applying a torque to drill pipe by a drilling motor to perform the directional drilling. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the additional measurements comprise a measured spatial position of the wellbore at a well segment depth and vibration and torque of drill pipe and wherein the directional drilling comprises steering to reduce a difference between the measured spatial position of the wellbore at the well segment depth and a planned position. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  comprising determining that the measured vibration or torque exceeds a corresponding physical limitation threshold of drilling equipment and deciding to generate another adjusted procedure. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the issuing command signals issues command signals to a controller. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 27  wherein each of the actual well state and the actual adjusted well state is communicated to a dynamic procedure generator for generating adjusted procedures and to an procedure executor for issuing command signals. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the procedure executor is operatively coupled to the dynamic procedure generator for providing feedback to the dynamic procedure generator and wherein the dynamic procedure generator generates the other adjusted procedure using the feedback. 
     
     
         38 . A system comprising:
 a processor;   memory accessible to the processor;   instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to instruct the system to:
 receive a plan for directional drilling of a wellbore, wherein the plan comprises a sequence of procedures and associated planned well states; 
 receive measurements that comprise measurements made in the wellbore during the directional drilling of the wellbore; 
 calculate drilling response parameters for the directional drilling of the wellbore using the measurements to determine an actual well state; 
 determine a difference between one of the planned well states and the actual well state; 
 responsive to the difference, dynamically generate an adjusted procedure; 
 issue command signals according to the adjusted procedure; 
 receive additional measurements during the directional drilling of the wellbore according to the command signals; 
 calculate drilling response parameters for the adjusted procedure using the additional measurements to determine an actual adjusted well state; and 
 use the actual adjusted well state to decide whether to return to the plan or to generate another adjusted procedure. 
   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38  wherein the measurements comprise one or more downhole tool measurements. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 38  wherein the command signals comprise corresponding drilling operating parameters. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40  wherein the drilling operating parameters comprise one or more of a drilling fluid pump parameter, a rate at which a swivel or top drive is lowered into the wellbore parameter, an axial force or weight on a drill bit parameter, and a rotating speed of a drill bit parameter. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 38  wherein the drilling response parameters comprise one or more of a rate of axial elongation of the wellbore parameter, a torque applied to drill pipe parameter, a pressure of drilling fluid parameter, a well tortuosity parameter, a detected wellbore fluid influx or loss parameter, a drill bit wear rate parameter, a drilling motor performance parameter, and a vibration parameter. 
     
     
         43 . A method comprising:
 determining a chronological sequence of tasks wherein the tasks comprise a correction to directional drilling of a wellbore task and a casing operation task;   applying a torque to the drill pipe by a drilling motor to perform directional drilling;   measuring a spatial position of the wellbore at a well segment depth and vibration and torque of the drill pipe;   steering the directional drilling to reduce a difference between the measured spatial position of the wellbore at the well segment depth and a planned position;   determining that the measured vibration or torque exceeds a corresponding physical limitation threshold of the drilling equipment;   rescheduling a change in mud flow rate ahead of a directional drilling correction and adjusting an allotted time of the mud flow rate change; and   based at least in part on the rescheduling, rescheduling the casing operation.