89 patents
Utility
System and Method of Automating the Alteration of Drilling Parameters or an Automation Configuration
21 Dec 23
A method that includes storing automated drilling-related workflows (“ADRWs”) in an electronic database, with each including a set of instructions to be executed by a controller so that a task is executed from beginning to end.
Austin GROOVER, Scott COFFEY, Drew CURRAN, Adam LACROLIX
Filed: 1 Sep 23
Utility
Controlling Operating Parameters of a Surface Drilling Rig to Optimize Bottom-hole Assembly ("Bha") Drilling Performance
14 Dec 23
Method(s) and apparatus according to which: a bottom-hole assembly (“BHA”) and a drilling rig together attempt to drill a wellbore segment along a planned trajectory while a test scenario is executed on the drilling rig by varying operating parameter(s) of the drilling rig in a predetermined manner during a predetermined time interval; performance characteristic(s) monitored by sensor(s) of the BHA during the predetermined time interval are then received; the predetermined manner in which the operating parameter(s) of the drilling rig were varied during the predetermined time interval is/are then compared to the received performance characteristic(s) monitored by the sensor(s) of the BHA during the predetermined time interval; and based on said comparison, the operating parameter(s) of a drilling rig (e.g., another drilling rig) are controlled while a BHA (e.g., another BHA) operably associated with the drilling rig attempts to drill a wellbore segment along a similar planned trajectory.
Scott BOONE
Filed: 16 Aug 23
Utility
Tubular Management System Error Detection
16 Nov 23
A method for conducting subterranean operations can include engaging a tubular with a pipe handler, moving the tubular with the pipe handler to a new location, disengaging from the tubular at the new location, determining, via a rig controller, an estimated location of the tubular based on the new location at which the pipe handler disengaged from the tubular, determining, via a machine learning module of the rig controller and one or more imaging sensors, a deviation from the estimated location of the tubular.
Pradeep ANNAIYAPPA
Filed: 12 May 23
Utility
Torque Ring Selection
2 Nov 23
A method for making up a tool joint in a casing string that can include operations of installing a first casing collar on a first end of a first casing segment, determining a first selection distance that is measured between a shoulder of the first end of the first casing segment and a shoulder of the first casing collar, and selecting a first torque ring based on the first selection distance.
Eric Couch, Julio Romero, Bradley W. Riley, John D. Polen, David Hasler
Filed: 28 Apr 23
Utility
Methods and Apparatus to Create and Implement a Steering Command for a Rotary Steerable System
7 Sep 23
A method of identifying a steering command for a rotary steerable system (“RSS”) that includes identifying, by one or more processors, a solution arc for an upcoming drilling segment; automatically identifying, by the one or more processors and in response to the identification of the solution arc, the steering command for the RSS; and automatically identifying, by the one or more processor and in response to the identification of the steering command, downlink commands to be sent to the RSS.
Colin GILLAN, Mohammed ALSAQI
Filed: 2 Mar 22
Utility
Rig Task Management
29 Jun 23
Systems and methods for performing subterranean operations include receiving a digital rig plan which comprises a sequence of at least a subset of available rig tasks for a rig, executing a rig task in the digital rig plan that involves a fluid, monitoring at least one parameter of the fluid during execution of the rig task, and continuing or stopping the rig task based on the monitoring of the at least one parameter of the fluid.
Scott BOONE
Filed: 30 Nov 22
Utility
Energy Storage System Control
29 Jun 23
A method for managing a power system is provided and can include energizing an alternating current (AC) bus via one or more generators, rectifying energy from the AC bus to power a direct current (DC) bus, powering one or more loads electrically coupled to the DC bus, monitoring a DC voltage of the DC bus, detecting a magnitude and a rate of change of the DC voltage or AC frequency from a predetermined value, and transferring an amount of power between the DC bus or the AC bus, and an energy storage system electrically coupled to the buses to return the DC voltage or AC frequency substantially to the predetermined value, wherein the amount of power is based on the magnitude and rate of change.
Kevin R. WILLIAMS
Filed: 6 Dec 22
Utility
Digital Twin for Rig Operations
29 Jun 23
A method for simulating a rig operation that can include creating a digital twin of a rig based on a rig plan for assembling/disassembling a rig; simulating, via the digital twin, a list of tasks for assembly/disassembly of rig components to assemble/disassemble the rig at a rig site.
Pradeep ANNAIYAPPA, Malini MANOCHA
Filed: 15 Dec 22
Utility
Digital Twin for Rig Operations
29 Jun 23
A method for simulating a rig operation that can include creating a digital twin of a rig based on a rig plan for assembling/disassembling a rig; simulating, via the digital twin, a list of tasks for assembly/disassembly of rig components to assemble/disassemble the rig at a rig site.
Pradeep ANNAIYAPPA, Malini Manocha
Filed: 21 Dec 22
Utility
Performance Management
29 Jun 23
A method for performing a subterranean operation that can include operations for controlling, via an individual driller, execution of at least a portion of a digital rig plan that is an implementation of a digital well plan on a rig; determining, via a rig controller, a first performance score of the individual driller for controlling the execution of the portion; and adjusting, via the rig controller, a second performance score of the digital rig plan based on the first performance score of the individual driller, where the second performance score indicates performance of the digital rig plan to the digital well plan.
Scott Boone, Pradeep Annaiyappa
Filed: 29 Nov 22
Utility
Rig Equipment Management
29 Jun 23
Systems and methods for analyzing equipment used in subterranean operations include capturing one or more first images of equipment via an imagine sensor at a first time, capturing one or more second images of the equipment via the imaging sensor at a second time that is different than the first time, comparing, via a rig controller, the one or more first images to the one or more second images, identifying a difference in a surface of the equipment based on the comparing, and determining an integrity value of the equipment based on the difference.
Scott BOONE
Filed: 8 Dec 22
Utility
Digital Twin for Rig Operations
29 Jun 23
A method for simulating a rig operation that can include creating a digital twin of a rig based on a rig plan for assembling/disassembling a rig; simulating, via the digital twin, a list of tasks for assembly/disassembly of rig components to assemble/disassemble the rig at a rig site.
Pradeep ANNAIYAPPA, Malini MANOCHA
Filed: 21 Dec 22
Utility
Rig Activity Management
6 Apr 23
A method for conducting an operation that can include conducting an activity at a rig site, determining an expected characteristic of an individual performing a task within a red zone, wherein the red zone comprises one or more zones at the rig site, using one or more sensors to monitor the individual within the red zone while performing the task, determining, via a rig controller, an actual characteristic of the individual performing the task within the red zone based on sensor data from the one or more sensors, and comparing the actual characteristic to the expected characteristic to determine an individual risk score.
Scott BOONE
Filed: 22 Sep 22
Utility
Rig Activity Management
30 Mar 23
A method for analyzing an environment that can include conducting a subterranean operation within an environment, obtaining sensor data from one or more sensors configured to monitor the environment, identifying an actual well activity within the environment based on the sensor data, identifying an individual within the environment based on the sensor data, and calculating an adherence score for the actual well activity based at least in part on an adherence score of the individual performing a task in the environment.
Scott BOONE
Filed: 22 Sep 22
Utility
Gravity Toolface for Wellbores
30 Mar 23
A method for determining gravity toolface azimuth that can include rotating a logging tool about a center axis; positioning an accelerometer sensor within the logging tool at a first radial distance from the center axis; positioning an angular gyroscope sensor within the logging tool at a second radial distance from the center axis; receiving, at a controller, accelerometer sensor data from the accelerometer sensor and angular gyroscope sensor data from the angular gyroscope sensor as the logging tool rotates; determining, via the controller, a radial acceleration component of the accelerometer sensor from the accelerometer sensor data; determining, via the controller, a gain and an offset of the angular gyroscope sensor based on the radial acceleration component; and determining, via the controller, the gravity toolface azimuth of the logging tool as a function of time based on the gain, the offset, and the angular gyroscope sensor data.
Dmitry AVDEEV
Filed: 23 Sep 22
Utility
Well Activity Management
30 Mar 23
A method can include collecting sensor data from one or more data sources, determining actual well activity being performed at the rig, determining an estimated well activity for the rig, comparing the actual well activity to expected well activity in a digital well plan; and setting a confidence level for the estimated well activity, where the confidence level can indicate a degree of confidence in an accuracy of the estimated well activity.
Mohammad HAMZAH, Carlos ROLONG
Filed: 23 Sep 22
Utility
Rig Activity Management
30 Mar 23
A method for conducting operations in an environment that can include conducting an activity of a well plan within an environment, obtaining individual data from an electronic device on an individual, calculating an individual risk score of the individual for performing a task in support of the activity, and calculating an activity risk score for the activity based at least in part on the individual risk score.
Pradeep ANNAIYAPPA
Filed: 23 Sep 22
Utility
Detection and Management of Dysfunctions In Subterranean Operations
30 Mar 23
A method that can include receiving a digital well plan comprising tool non-specific operations, converting the digital well plan to a digital rig plan, the digital rig plan comprising a plurality of first task lists of tool-specific tasks for a specific rig, with each one of the plurality of first task lists performing at least one of the tool non-specific operations, inserting into the digital rig plan, via a rig controller, at least one alternative list of tool-specific tasks for performing at least one alternative operation, during execution of the digital rig plan, selecting, via the rig controller, the at least one alternative list of tool-specific tasks, and performing, at the rig, the at least one alternative list of tool-specific tasks in response to the selecting.
Malini MANOCHA, Pradeep ANNAIYAPPA
Filed: 23 Sep 22
Utility
Avoiding Collision with Offset Well(s) Having a Trajectory, or Trajectories, Closing on a Drilling Well
23 Mar 23
A method and apparatus for oil and gas operations according to which a bottom hole trajectory of a drilling well is surveyed using a survey tool located uphole from a drill bit positioned at a bottom hole location.
Colin GILLAN, Mohammad HAMZAH, Tatiana BORGES
Filed: 17 Sep 21
Utility
Capture and Use of Waste Energy
23 Feb 23
Systems and methods are disclosed that can include operating a first rig component at a first location, capturing waste energy from the first rig component at the first location, and redirecting the waste energy to another rig component, another location, or a combination thereof.
Brenton NORTON, Ashish GUPTA, Bhargavkumar PATEL
Filed: 18 Aug 22