US-12624628-B2 - Systems and methods for automated coiled tubing drilling operations

US12624628B2US 12624628 B2US12624628 B2US 12624628B2US-12624628-B2

Abstract

Systems and methods presented herein facilitate automation of coiled tubing drilling (CTD) operations. For example, a computer-implemented method includes performing a drilling operation via a CTD system; detecting data relating to one or more operating parameters of the drilling operation via one or more sensors of the CTD system during the drilling operation; and automatically adjusting at least one adjustable operating parameter of the drilling operation based on the detected data during the drilling operation.

Inventors

Jordi Segura Dominguez
Andrei Casali
Azwan Hadi Keong
Pierre Ramondenc
Shunfeng Zheng

Assignees

SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240621

Claims (15)

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising: performing a drilling operation via a coiled tubing drilling system; detecting data relating to one or more operating parameters of the drilling operation via one or more sensors of the coiled tubing drilling system during the drilling operation; predicting an event associated with the drilling operation and a time of the predicted event, wherein the event comprises a stall of a motor associated with the coiled tubing drilling system and a coiled tubing of the coiled tubing drilling system becoming stuck; and automatically adjusting at least one adjustable operating parameter of the drilling operation based on the predicted event to prevent an occurrence of the predicted event at the predicted time, wherein the at least one adjustable operating parameter comprises a speed of an injector head of the coiled tubing drilling system, a pump pressure of a pump unit of the coiled tubing drilling system, and a pump rate of the pump unit, and wherein automatically adjusting the at least one adjustable operating parameter comprises auto-steering a bottom hole assembly (BHA) of the coiled tubing drilling system to minimize shock and vibration, and stuck risk to the BHA during tripping operations.
2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising: generating a drilling plan based at least in part on the detected data, the predicted event, and one or more objectives for the drilling operation; and automatically adjusting the at least one adjustable operating parameter of the drilling operation based on the drilling plan.
3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the drilling plan is generated by adding one or more wiper trips into the drilling plan or removing one or more wiper trips from the drilling plan.
4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising: adapting a drilling plan based at least in part on the detected data, the predicted event, and one or more objectives for the drilling operation; and automatically adjusting the at least one adjustable operating parameter of the drilling operation based on the drilling plan.
5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein automatically adjusting the at least one adjustable operating parameter comprises maintaining an optimum drilling fluid regime to minimize fluid losses and damage to a formation, and minimizing motor stalls through which the drilling operation progresses.
6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein automatically adjusting the at least one adjustable operating parameter comprises maintaining optimal performance of the motor or turbine of the coiled tubing drilling system.
7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein automatically adjusting the at least one adjustable operating parameter comprises minimizing a risk of the stall of the motor and the coiled tubing of the coiled tubing drilling system becoming stuck during the drilling operation, wherein the motor is a downhole motor of the BHA configured to drive rotation of a drill bit, the pump unit is configured to supply a fluid to drive rotation of the downhole motor, and the injector head is configured to feed the coiled tubing downhole during the drilling operation.
8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein automatically adjusting the at least one adjustable operating parameter comprises minimizing instabilities incurred by the BHA of the coiled tubing drilling system.
9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein automatically adjusting the at least one adjustable operating parameter comprises adjusting a flow rate through the drill bit of the coiled tubing drilling system.
10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein automatically adjusting the at least one adjustable operating parameter comprises optimizing emissions of the drilling operation.
11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one adjustable operating parameter further comprises each of: adjusting a speed of the coiled tubing of the coiled tubing drilling system; adjusting a pressure differential of the coiled tubing drilling system; adjusting a toolface of the coiled tubing drilling system; adjusting a bend angle of the coiled tubing drilling system; drilling to a target depth of a formation; and maintaining an optimum weight-on-bit of the coiled tubing drilling system.
12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein automatically adjusting the at least one adjustable operating parameter comprises auto-steering the BHA of the coiled tubing drilling system to reach a target formation during the drilling operation.
13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein automatically adjusting the at least one adjustable operating parameter comprises executing a prescribed operation sequence based on a detected drilling state.
14 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein automatically adjusting the at least one adjustable operating parameter comprises adjusting a surface drilling choke position to control a returned flow rate and to control a bottom hole pressure.
15 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the detected data relates to each of: the pump rate of the pump unit of the coiled tubing drilling system; a speed or weight of the coiled tubing of the coiled tubing drilling system; a wellhead pressure of a wellhead of the coiled tubing drilling system; a torque acting on the BHA; a weight-on-bit (WOB) of a drill bit of the coiled tubing drilling system; an annular bottom hole pressure; an internal bottom hole pressure within the coiled tubing of the coiled tubing drilling system; petrophysics information of a formation through which the drilling operation progresses; a returned flow rate from the wellbore; a returned gas flow rate from the wellbore; resistivity information of the formation through which the drilling operation progresses; gamma ray information of the formation through which the drilling operation progresses; equipment health parameters of equipment of the coiled tubing drilling system; equipment power consumption and/or emissions of equipment of the coiled tubing drilling system; and spectroscopy readings.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/509,798, entitled “Systems and Methods for Automated Coiled-Tubing Drilling Operations,” filed Jun. 23, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. BACKGROUND The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for automating coiled tubing drilling operations. This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as an admission of any kind. In many well applications, coiled tubing is employed to facilitate performance of many types of downhole operations. Coiled tubing offers versatile technology due in part to its ability to pass through completion tubulars while conveying a wide array of tools downhole. A coiled tubing system may comprise many systems and components, including a coiled tubing reel, a coiled tubing pipe, an injector head, a gooseneck, lifting equipment (e.g., a mast or a crane), and other supporting equipment such as pumps, treating irons, or other components. Coiled tubing has been utilized for performing well treatment and/or well intervention operations in existing wellbores such as hydraulic fracturing operations, matrix acidizing operations, milling operations, perforating operations, coiled tubing drilling operations, and various other types of operations. SUMMARY A summary of certain embodiments described herein is set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Certain embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods for automating coiled tubing drilling operations. For example, a computer-implemented method may include performing a drilling operation via a coiled tubing drilling system; detecting data relating to one or more operating parameters of the drilling operation via one or more sensors of the coiled tubing drilling system during the drilling operation; and automatically adjusting at least one adjustable operating parameter of the drilling operation based on the detected data during the drilling operation. In addition, a computer-implemented method may include performing a drilling operation via a coiled tubing drilling system; detecting data relating to one or more operating parameters of the drilling operation via one or more sensors of the coiled tubing drilling system during the drilling operation; and auto-geosteering a bottom hole assembly (BHA) of the coiled tubing drilling system to reach a target formation during the drilling operation. Various refinements of the features noted above may be undertaken in relation to various aspects of the present disclosure. Further features may also be incorporated in these various aspects as well. These refinements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. For instance, various features discussed below in relation to one or more of the illustrated embodiments may be incorporated into any of the above-described aspects of the present disclosure alone or in any combination. The brief summary presented above is intended to familiarize the reader with certain aspects and contexts of embodiments of the present disclosure without limitation to the claimed subject matter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various aspects of this disclosure may be better understood upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which: FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example coiled tubing drilling (CTD) system, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 illustrates a well control system including a surface processing system to control the CTD system of FIG. 1, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of operating parameters that may be used to automate CTD operations, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method of automating CTD operations, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of another method of automating CTD operations, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. These described embodiments are only examples of the presently disclosed techniques. Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise descript