Drilling control and information system

Abstract

A drilling control and information system comprising: a rig site network including a drilling equipment controller and a drilling parameter sensor; a downhole sensor communicatively coupled to the rig site network; a data center communicatively coupled to the rig site network; a remote access site communicatively coupled to the data center; and an application communicatively coupled to the rig site network, wherein the application receives data from the drilling parameter sensor and the downhole sensor and issues an operating instruction to the drilling equipment controller.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for drilling control and information, comprising:
 a rig site network including a drilling equipment controller;   a downhole sensor coupled to a drill sting and communicatively coupled to the rig site network;   a data center communicatively coupled to the rig site network;   a remote access site communicatively coupled to the data center; and   a drilling application communicatively coupled to the rig site network, wherein the drilling application receives data from the downhole sensor and determines position of the drill string.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole sensor measures downhole pressure. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the drilling application is operable to calculate a true vertical depth using the measured downhole pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole sensor provides data indicating performance of a downhole directional drilling tool. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the drilling application is operable to evaluate the data received from the downhole sensor against a well plan. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the well plan is stored in the data center, the remote access site, and/or the rig site network. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the drilling application is operable to generate an operating instruction based on the evaluation of the data against the well plan. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole sensor is communicatively coupled to the rig site network via wired drill pipe. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole sensor is communicatively coupled to the rig site network via wireless communication. 
     
     
         10 . A method for determining position of a drill string in a wellbore comprising:
 integrating a drilling application into a rig site network that is communicatively coupled to a downhole sensor, a drilling equipment controller, and a drilling parameter sensor;   communicatively coupling the rig site network to a data center and to a remote access site;   transmitting data from the downhole sensor to the drilling application; and   analyzing the data transmitted by the downhole sensor with the drilling application to determine the position of the drill string within the wellbore.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the downhole sensor measures downhole pressure. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the drilling application is operable to calculate a true vertical depth using the measured downhole pressure. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the downhole sensor provides data indicating performance of a downhole directional drilling tool. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the drilling application evaluates the data received from the downhole sensor against a well plan. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the well plan is stored in the data center, the remote access site, and/or the rig site network. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the drilling application generates an operating instruction based on the evaluation of the data against the well plan. 
     
     
         17 . A method for drilling comprising:
 integrating a drilling application into a rig site network that is communicatively coupled to a downhole sensor, a drilling equipment controller, and a drilling parameter sensor;   communicatively coupling the rig site network to a data center and to a remote access site;   disposing a drill string into a wellbore, wherein the downhole sensor is coupled to the drill string;   transmitting downhole data from the downhole sensor to the drilling application; and   processing the downhole data with the drilling application to generate an operating instruction.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the operating instruction provides a true vertical depth of the drill string within the wellbore. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the downhole sensor provides data indicating performance of a downhole directional drilling tool and the drilling application evaluates the data received from the downhole sensor against a well plan. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the operating instruction is based on the evaluation of the data against the well plan.