Wired drill pipe (WDP) has been used in more than 100 wells worldwide to create a drillstring network that provides high bandwidth communications between the surface and tools deployed in the wellbore. This network operates independently of drilling fluid, enabling communications for the widest range of drilling applications, including drilling with foamed muds. In addition, the network provides real-time memory/wireline-quality data not only from tools in the bottom hole assembly but also from tools that may be arrayed at intermediate points along the drillstring. Real-time data like this improves decision making, opens the door for advanced drilling processes such as automated drilling, and gives visibility to downhole conditions where never before possible. Indeed, the numerous deployments in which wired drillpipe has been used have demonstrated that the network provides significant value to the drilling process in terms of drilling safety, efficiency and performance. Based on the learnings and experience gained across these operations, a new and enhanced version of the drillstring network has been developed. This second generation high-speed drillstring network includes improvements to the design of wired drillpipe, a new generation of distributed network electronics, and a graphical surface network controller. These enhancements and their utility with respect to improving drilling processes are discussed in detail. This paper is an update to SPE-167965 to include the latest field testing results. These improvements are designed to create a more stable, robust and reliable network system. Further, the enhanced graphical surface controller expands network diagnostic capabilities and reduces the learning curve for network users. Revisions to the wired drillpipe design will result in lower cost of ownership and more cost-effective deployment of the technology, further improving the value the system can provide.
High-bandwidth downhole data transmission via a wired or networked drill string system provides an alternative to conventional wireless telemetry to obtain real-time downhole data during well construction operations. With an unprecedented rate at three orders of magnitude faster (57,600 bps) than wireless systems, networked drillstrings offer twoway broadband communication. In addition, real-time pressure and temperature measurements are uniquely available from multiple discrete measurement stations along the drillstring.Industry-wide adoption of this technology necessitates the system to lower well construction expenditure through increased efficiency, improved wellbore quality and reduced risk exposure to be considered as a viable alternative to conventional strings. In addition, system reliability must be demonstrated with useful metrics. Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) is one such metric used in the industry to measure reliability. High values of a system MTBF generally indicate a reliable product when combined with other metrics.This paper provides historical trends of MTBF, and other reliability metrics in the case of high-speed networked telemetry drillstrings. The data and most conclusions are based on a reliability study from 65 wells that were drilled from 2008 to 2011. Results show increasing trends in reliability. Future improvements to network drillstring are discussed and their effect on reliability through these estimates is forecasted.
Managed pressure and underbalanced drilling operations are predominantly conducted through the use of surface measurements and are heavily assisted by modeling subsurface conditions as downhole measurements have limited availability. Downhole information is typically absent during periods without flow and when using compressible fluids such as aerated mud.Operational efficiency and wellsite safety would benefit by supplementing the models and surface data with direct measurements of subsurface conditions. Automation would be enabled and well control would meaningfully improve from self-sufficient downhole information by realizing the lowest pressures, while eliminating complex calculations and minimizing time spent on the choke.Along-string annular pressure measurement and evaluation provides new downhole capabilities. Initial field deployments have demonstrated their utility and viability, but downhole ECD calculations through normalization of the absolute pressure measurements to hydrostatic depth do not properly account the distributed pressure sensing. This paper proposes a new method for computing the along-string ECD values * , shows visualization for intuitive interpretation of the values and proposes a method for relative volume determination * . The new methodology with multiple sensors with non-hydrostatic pressure additions scaled by sensor depths show the need for two scale factors. Finally, an influx volume can be estimated across a wellbore section that is bounded by discrete drillstring pressure sensors. Examples are offered for pumping sweeps and a kick that is up the annulus and recommendations are offered for technologies that acquire pressure along the drillstring.Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD), Under Balanced Drilling (UBD) and other operations that manage a tight pressure window benefit from the procedures and practices offered. Recommendations relevant to integration of downhole data with surface control systems for closed-loop and automated wellsite operations are offered.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.