Motor efficiency and degradation interpretation system

Abstract

A method can include receiving real-time data during a drilling operation performed by a drillstring that includes a mud motor and a bit characterized by an expected performance profile; determining actual performance of the drillstring based at least in part on the real-time data; predicting degraded performance of the drillstring based at least in part on the real-time data and a mud motor degradation model; and updating the expected performance profile based on a comparison of the actual performance and the degraded performance.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving real-time data during a drilling operation performed by a drillstring that comprises a mud motor and a bit characterized by an expected performance profile;   determining actual performance of the drillstring based at least in part on the real-time data;   predicting degraded performance of the drillstring based at least in part on the real-time data and a mud motor degradation model; and   updating the expected performance profile based on a comparison of the actual performance and the degraded performance.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mud motor degradation model predicts efficiency of the mud motor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mud motor degradation model accounts for degradation of a liner of the mud motor, wherein the liner comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein predicting the degraded performance comprises predicting a degradation rate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising generating a target range for degradation of the mud motor and/or generating a target range for efficiency of the mud motor. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising issuing a pull out of hole (POOH) notification if the degraded performance exceeds a degraded performance threshold. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising rendering a graphical user interface to a display that comprises a mud motor degradation graphic and a mud motor efficiency graphic. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising rendering a graphical user interface to a display that comprises a graphic of remaining useful life of at least the mud motor versus time for the drilling operation. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising rendering a graphical user interface to a display that comprises a graphic of mud flow rate, differential pressure, mud motor efficiency and a current status that is based at least in part on the real-time data. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein predicting degraded performance comprises utilizing a computed nominal RPM of the mud motor and a measured RPM of the mud motor, wherein the measured RPM of the mud motor is less than the computed nominal RPM of the mud motor, wherein the computed nominal RPM and the measured RPM are for an operational differential pressure and wherein the measured RPM is less than the computed nominal RPM due at least in part to degradation of the mud motor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the real-time data comprise surface data and downhole data. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising issuing a control signal based at least in part on the degraded performance, optionally wherein the issuing issues the control signal to an automated rate of penetration controller. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising, based at least in part on the degraded performance, identifying a potential type of failure. 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 a processor;   memory accessible to the processor;   processor-executable instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to instruct the system to:
 receive real-time data during a drilling operation performed by a drillstring that comprises a mud motor and a bit characterized by an expected performance profile; 
 determine actual performance of the drillstring based at least in part on the real-time data; 
 predict degraded performance of the drillstring based at least in part on the real-time data and a mud motor degradation model; and 
 update the expected performance profile based on a comparison of the actual performance and the degraded performance. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the mud motor degradation model predicts efficiency of the mud motor. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the mud motor degradation model accounts for degradation of a liner of the mud motor, wherein the liner comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions include issuing a control signal based at least in part on the degraded performance, optionally wherein the issuing issues the control signal to an automated rate of penetration controller. 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer, which includes a processor performs a method, the method comprising:
 receiving real-time data during a drilling operation performed by a drillstring that comprises a mud motor and a bit characterized by an expected performance profile;   determining actual performance of the drillstring based at least in part on the real-time data;   predicting degraded performance of the drillstring based at least in part on the real-time data and a mud motor degradation model; and   updating the expected performance profile based on a comparison of the actual performance and the degraded performance.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein predicting degraded performance comprises utilizing a computed nominal RPM of the mud motor and a measured RPM of the mud motor, wherein the measured RPM of the mud motor is less than the computed nominal RPM of the mud motor, wherein the computed nominal RPM and the measured RPM are for an operational differential pressure and wherein the measured RPM is less than the computed nominal RPM due at least in part to degradation of the mud motor. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , comprising issuing a control signal based at least in part on the degraded performance, optionally wherein the issuing issues the control signal to an automated rate of penetration controller.