Smart well control method and apparatus using downhole autonomous blowout preventer

Abstract

A method, a computer-readable medium, and a drilling rig are provided for responding to a well kick. The method may comprise monitoring downhole parameters in a wellbore. The method may further include, based on the downhole parameters, detecting a kick pressure signature. Next, the method may include, in response to detecting the kick pressure signature, automatically performing a well shut-in procedure. Lastly, the monitoring the downhole parameters, detecting the kick pressure signature, and automatically performing the well shut-in procedure may be performed by a computer without any human intervention.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An automated method for responding to a well kick, the method comprising: 
 monitoring downhole parameters in a wellbore;   based on the downhole parameters, detecting a kick pressure signature;   in response to detecting the kick pressure signature, automatically performing a well shut-in procedure.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring the downhole parameters, detecting the kick pressure signature, and automatically performing the well shut-in procedure are performed by a computer without any human intervention. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the automatically performing the well shut-in procedure includes activating one or more annular blowout preventers and modulating a drilling pump to achieve a shut-in fluid pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the modulating the drilling pump to achieve the shut-in fluid pressure further includes modulating a mud pump selector valve to control a content of a drilling fluid being pumped by the drilling pump and modulating one or more drillstring valves. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the kick pressure signature includes detecting a fluid pressure impulse that exceeds a normal drilling fluid pressure by a first amount for a threshold period of time, or detecting a fluid pressure impulse that exceeds the normal drilling fluid pressure by a second amount for any period of time. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first amount is 25% of the normal drilling fluid pressure, and the second amount is 50% of the normal drilling fluid pressure. 
     
     
         7 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform the method comprising:
 monitor downhole parameters in a wellbore;   based on the downhole parameters, detect a kick pressure signature;   in response to detecting the kick pressure signature, automatically perform a well shut-in procedure.   
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 7 , wherein monitoring the downhole parameters, detecting the kick pressure signature, and automatically performing the well shut-in procedure are performed by the computer without any human intervention. 
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 8 , wherein the automatically performing the well shut-in procedure includes activating one or more annular blowout preventers and modulating a drilling pump to achieve a shut-in fluid pressure. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 9 , wherein the modulating the drilling pump to achieve the shut-in fluid pressure further includes modulating a mud pump selector valve to control a content of a drilling fluid being pumped by the drilling pump and modulating one or more drillstring valves. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 7 , wherein detecting the kick pressure signature includes detecting a fluid pressure impulse that exceeds a normal drilling fluid pressure by a first amount for a threshold period of time, or detecting a fluid pressure impulse that exceeds the normal drilling fluid pressure by a second amount for any period of time. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 11 , wherein the first amount is 25% of the normal drilling fluid pressure, and the second amount is 50% of the normal drilling fluid pressure. 
     
     
         13 . A drilling rig comprising:
 a drilling computer;   a bottomhole assembly; and   a drilling pump   wherein the drilling computer is configured to:
 monitor downhole parameters in a wellbore; 
 based on the downhole parameters, detect a kick pressure signature; 
 in response to detecting the kick pressure signature, automatically perform a well shut-in procedure. 
   
     
     
         14 . The drilling rig of  claim 13 , wherein monitoring the downhole parameters, detecting the kick pressure signature, and automatically performing the well shut-in procedure are performed by the computer without any human intervention. 
     
     
         15 . The drilling rig of  claim 14 , wherein the automatically performing the well shut-in procedure includes activating one or more annular blowout preventers and modulating a drilling pump to achieve a shut-in fluid pressure. 
     
     
         16 . The drilling rig of  claim 15 , wherein the modulating the drilling pump to achieve the shut-in fluid pressure further includes modulating a mud pump selector valve to control a content of a drilling fluid being pumped by the drilling pump and modulating one or more drillstring valves. 
     
     
         17 . The drilling rig of  claim 13 , wherein detecting the kick pressure signature includes detecting a fluid pressure impulse that exceeds a normal drilling fluid pressure by a first amount for a threshold period of time, or detecting a fluid pressure impulse that exceeds the normal drilling fluid pressure by a second amount for any period of time. 
     
     
         18 . The drilling rig of  claim 17 , wherein the first amount is 25% of the normal drilling fluid pressure, and the second amount is 50% of the normal drilling fluid pressure.