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NAERINGSPH-Nærings-phd

Real time simulation enhancement of drilling operation measurements

Alternative title: Sanntids simulerings-baserte forbedringer av boreoperasjons målinger

Awarded: NOK 1.6 mill.

A commercial version of the model is complete and is being run as a digital twin in MPD operations. The model aims to estimate the pressure at the bottom of a borehole and to send control signals to equipment at the top so that the pressure down in the well could be controlled. Results from these runs are presented in paper "Using an Advanced Digital Twin to Improve Downhole Pressure Control" The model has also been further developed to be able to simulate gas kick, for use in training. This part of the model has now been approved by the IWCF (International Well Control Forum). A paper has also been written on how the model can be used to improve the estimate for the weight of the drill bit. Experience from drilling showed the need for a temperature model. This has been fully developed and will be verified with data from the NOV test rig. We have also published a journal article «A study of the heave-induced surge and swap pressures when a drillstring is in the slips of a floating vessel».

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A.1.1 Background: Measuring what is going on downhole during a drilling operation has proven to be very difficult. Today, the most commonly used method is to add a few sensors downhole and send the information up via mud pulse telemetry at a bit rate of a few bits per second. More advanced telemetry systems is knocking on the door to the industry, but is struggling to gain ground due to cost and lack of reliability. Today the industry is looking for ways to cut cost and there is an eagerness to advance from manual or remote controlled to more automated or autonomous systems. A key to achieve more automation is to understand what is going on downhole and fill the gap between the available sensor measurements. A.1.2 Objective The objective of the study is to look at what is available today of topside and downhole measurements and see if these can be utilized better to understand what is going on downhole A key to achieve this is to combine the measurements with a mathematical model of the downhole environment, and predict unmeasured states and parameters, or to fill in prediction in-between slow rate measurements. Different techniques such as Least Square methods or Kalman filters should be evaluated for this purpose. The study should look into utilizing existing models and measurement. In addition, and maybe most important, the study should investigate how this can be integrated real-time in the control systems. The thesis should also imply how the operation can benefit from these measurements. Finally, but not the least, the thesis should investigate the practical feasibility of the solution.

Funding scheme:

NAERINGSPH-Nærings-phd