Abstract
ABSTRACT Automation of drilling rig functions can improve efficiency by reducing personnel and operating costs while providing an additional benefit of increased safety. Methods which use existing drilling equipment provide the most economic means to implement this automation. One function which can be implemented in this way is automatic positioning of the traveling block. This paper examines general design requirements for achieving automatic positioning of the traveling block. It also presents details of a control system developed to provide controlled braking of the traveling block using previously installed eddy current brake systems. The system provides closed-loop braking control while monitoring the traveling block position, velocity and acceleration through its entire range of travel. Various parameters are constantly monitored to assure that the eddy current brake capacity limits are not exceeded at any time. The system smoothly stops the traveling block at positions selected by the operator, even with wide variations in load. Sensors may be added to prevent moving the traveling block to collide with pipe handling equipment. The advantages of closed-loop control utilizing eddy current brakes over kinetic energy monitoring and friction brake application will be detailed. The technical requirements for future extension of this system into a full automatic positioning controller are discussed. Field performance data will be presented to illustrate the benefits obtained from closed-loop control of the eddy current brake to position the traveling block.
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