FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN DRILLING AUTOMATION

Ziel

To provide major improvements to the Automated Guidance System for Directional Drilling (AGS). The AGS automatically controls drilling course, especially for development drilling of offshore oil and gas wells, and has recently entered commercial use.

The AGS provides automatic control of drilling course in oil and gas production. Present methods involve monitoring the drilling course by means of directional sensors. The information thus obtained is transmitted to the surface as digital data by inducing pressure pulses (mud pulsing) in the circulating drilling fluid. Correction of drilling course is achieved by mechanical operations performed at the surface. The unique feature of the AGS is that control is achieved locally and automatically. Information from a directional sensor is processed within the System by means of an onboard computer which operates a hydraulic servo-system in order to control drilling course. The System is autonomous and eliminates the need for surface intervention. This offers a wide range of benefits especially greatly increased drilling range. This arises by minimisation of wellbore tortuousity and the elimination of static friction by allowing automated steering with rotary drilling. The AGS is now in commercial use but its performance could be greatly improved by the provision of certain additional features, particularly:
i) means for altering the programmed course without the need to remove the drilling assembly from the wellbore; ii) improved means for programming the AGS and down-loading stored data, allowing these functions to be performed rapidly while the AGS is suspended above the rotary table.
iii) improved data handling for the analysis and presentation of data acquired by the AGS during drilling.
The project includes the design, manufacture and field testing of these new features.

Programm/Programme

ENG-THERMIE 1 - Programme (EEC) for the promotion of energy technology in Europe (THERMIE), 1990-1994

Thema/Themen

5.10 - TRANSPORT

Aufforderung zur Vorschlagseinreichung

Data not available

Finanzierungsplan

DEM - Demonstration contracts

Koordinator

Cambridge Drilling Automation Ltd

EU-Beitrag

Keine Daten

Adresse

St John's Innovation Centre Cowley Road
CB4 4WS Cambridge
Vereinigtes Königreich

Gesamtkosten