Design Aid for Charting a Drilling Automation Roadmap

Abstract

Abstract 1202 PROGRAM ALARM This disturbing alarm, displayed to the men on location and in a remote center during the most critical part of the operation, signaled that the onsite computer system was no longer able to handle its automated multitasking requirements. The crew was forced to assume manual control to complete the operation, but not without continued assistance from onsite computers and engineers monitoring the event in the remote center. A short time later came the announcement heard by 600 million people around the world - "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed. " Neil Armstrong had safely landed the Apollo 11 Lunar Module on the Moon. Automation, perhaps the most game-changing opportunity in drilling today, is improving operational safety, efficiency, quality, and economics. More importantly, automation is making possible the execution of operations and activities difficult or even impossible for rig crews to complete using traditional methods. Notable recent success notwithstanding, the uptake of automation could be accelerated by the creation of industry-wide and segment-specific technology roadmaps to define short- and long-term goals and track progress. While most technology roadmaps are extensive and detailed documents, they must be built on a solid foundation that represents an overall view of the technology. Presented in this paper is a new design aid developed precisely for creating and displaying this view. For drilling automation in general and any number of specific operations and supporting technologies, the design tool can visually illustrate current and future (desired) states and the path(s) connecting the two. This visual approach also serves to catalyze discussion of this important topic. The design tool presented here is a radically different way to create a technology roadmap overview. It is based on the common ternary chart, a triangular diagram that graphically depicts the composition of three-component systems. For drilling automation, the three components are rig equipment automation, rigsite manpower, and engagement from remote operation centers. Proportions of the three variables total 100% by definition. Simply stated, this means that a reduction of personnel on board, for example, must be balanced by increased automation of rig equipment and/or a higher level of engagement from remote operation centers. The primary objective of this paper is to describe the underlying technology of this drilling-system automation design aid and to demonstrate how it can be used for real-world applications. There is no intent to present hard data that could be used directly to generate automation roadmaps for drilling.