A Graphical User Interface for Hard Rock Drilling Optimization System

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this paper is to present a novel graphical user interface for optimizing drilling operations in hard rock formations. The scope of the study includes presenting the developed Python graphical user interface (GUI) for a hard rock Drilling Optimization System (DOS) that incorporates various models and algorithms to simulate the rate of penetration (ROP) and optimize drilling parameters. The DOS was applied to real-world hard rock drilling data from a deep geothermal well in the Utah FORGE (Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy) site. To develop an interactive interface for users, the DOS for hard rock formations was created using the open-source Python library, tkinter. The DOS consists of various hard rock models including PDC ROP, PDC bit wear, drillstring vibration, PDC cutter temperature, mechanical specific energy (MSE), and a differential evolution algorithm (DEA). By integrating these models into the GUI, users can simulate drilling operations, optimize drilling parameters such as weight on bit (WOB) and revolution per minute (RPM), and determine the wear constant of a specific PDC bit. This interactive interface enhances user engagement and facilitates efficient drilling optimization. The study observed an improved ROP and reduced drilling time by optimizing WOB and RPM. The conclusions drawn from this study emphasize the importance of specialized techniques and tools for drilling in hard rock formations and highlight the potential for more efficient and sustainable drilling operations in the geothermal industry. The integration of various models and algorithms within the GUI DOS provides a novel, and practical approach to simulate and optimize drilling parameters. The results and conclusions of this research contribute to the state of knowledge in drilling practices, particularly in the context of optimizing drilling operations in challenging hard rock formations.