Development of an Automated System for the Rapid Detection of Drilling Anomalies using Standpipe and Discharge Pressure

Abstract

Abstract The requirements for the early detection and the control of kicks, losses and other anomalous conditions while drilling are becoming increasingly important as the industry drills in more challenging environments both onshore and offshore due to greater challenges with respect to equipment stresses and pressure regimes. This paper will present the design and testing of a high fidelity and high certainty system for the early identification of anomalous conditions while drilling such as kicks, losses, washouts, drill string plugging and hole bridging without the need for traditional delta flow equipment and interpretation methods. An explanation of how the system minimizes false alarms and how visual and audible methods inform the operator of the different anomalies as they are detected will be included. Installation of the equipment on the rig will also be presented and compared to current delta flow methods both for managed pressure drilling operations and conventional drilling operations. Maintenance and reliability issues will also be discussed. Full scale testing and tests using collected field data will be presented to demonstrate the system operation. Further development and field testing will also be discussed.