Automated Real-Time Hookload and Torque Monitoring

Abstract

Abstract Today important parameters to enable a reduction of lost and hidden lost time during drilling, like hook loads for pulling and slacking off the drill string, and torque for drill string rotation, are still taken manually. Analysing torque trends during drilling and reaming is hardly done. A key to reduce lost and hidden lost time by analysing drilling data is to automatically recognize ongoing operations in real time from this data. That allows the automatic identification and picking of pulling-up; slacking-off and rotating hook loads, as well as torque values without spending extra time or work force. Relevant parameters can be sampled and analysed automatically in real time from the rig sensor data stream without interfering drilling operations. This automated process allows monitoring changing torque and drag trends for each stand of drill string moved during drilling, tripping, or reaming operations. To monitor trends in the torque and drag development in real time, parameters may be combined with simulated hook load and torque curves in a graphical way. Simulated values are imported from engineering applications. This allows the user to react immediately, not only after hand taken values are manually entered into a graph. The possibility to broadcast all the data to computers worldwide enables a great level of cooperation. Instant measures against increasing torque and drag can be taken before reaching critical ranges on a stand per stand basis. Also excessive reaming and washing can be avoided as low torque and drag may be an indication for a good hole quality. This can save wellbore treatment time. The paper presents the development of the system, its validation against live well data from recent 20,000ft wells in the Vienna basin and the planned application of the system on an extended reach field development project offshore New Zealand.