Automatic Wellbore Activity Schedule Adjustment Method and System

Abstract

A method for scheduling wellbore construction activities includes entering a well plan into a computer. The well plan includes estimated start and stop times for a plurality of activities in a predetermined sequence. Progress of selected ones of the plurality of activities is measured during their performance. In the computer, expected ending time of at least one of the plurality of activities is recalculated based on progress thereof during that activity. In the computer, expected start and stop times are recalculated for each activity subsequent to the activity in progress based on the recalculated expected ending time. The recalculated start and stop times for each subsequent activity are displayed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for scheduling wellbore construction activities, comprising:
 entering a well plan into a computer, the well plan comprising estimated start and stop times for a plurality of activities in a predetermined sequence;   measuring progress of selected ones of the plurality of activities during their performance;   in the computer, recalculating expected ending time of at least one of the plurality of activities based on progress thereof during the at least one of the plurality of activities;   in the computer, recalculating expected start and stop times for each activity subsequent to the activity in progress based on the recalculated expected ending time; and   displaying the recalculated start and stop times for each subsequent activity.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the recalculated expected ending time comprises end of tripping time recalculated based on speed of at least a portion of a tripping activity. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the recalculated expected ending time comprises end of wellbore drilling. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the recalculated expected ending time comprises using planned performance from the current measurements to predict when the activity will complete. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the recalculated expected ending time comprises using a current speed projected to an end of a current activity. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the recalculated expected ending time comprises using a calculated maximum safe pipe movement speed to the end of a current activity. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the displaying comprises generating a time chart with respect to depth of the wellbore segmented into time segments allocated to each activity. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the displaying comprises generating a Gantt chart. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the recalculated expected ending time comprises using analogous information from offset well data. 
     
     
         10 . A system for scheduling wellbore construction activities, comprising:
 a computer having programmed therein a well plan, the well plan comprising estimated start and stop times for a plurality of activities in a predetermined sequence;   means for entering into the computer execution times and completion times of selected ones of the plurality of activities during their performance, wherein the computer is programmed to recalculate expected ending time of at least one of the plurality of activities based on progress thereof during the at least one of the plurality of activities, the computer programmed to recalculate expected start and stop times for each activity subsequent to the activity in progress based on the recalculated expected ending time; and   a display in signal communication with the computer for displaying the recalculated start and stop times for each subsequent activity to a user.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the recalculated expected ending time comprises end of tripping time recalculated based on speed of at least a portion of a tripping activity. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the recalculated expected ending time comprises end of wellbore drilling. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the recalculated expected ending time comprises using planned performance from the current measurements to predict when the activity will complete. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the recalculated expected ending time comprises using a current speed projected to an end of a current activity. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the recalculated expected ending time comprises using a calculated maximum safe pipe movement speed to the end of a current activity. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the computer is programmed to transmit to the display a time chart with respect to depth of the wellbore segmented into time segments allocated to each activity. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the computer is programmed to transmit to the display a Gantt chart. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the recalculated expected ending time comprises using analogous information from offset well data.