In a drilling system, a control system coupled to a drilling rig controls a bottom hole assembly (BHA) to drill a borehole through a geological formation along a drilling path. The control system determines a present position of the BHA and calculates a toolface vector to create a convergence path from the present position of the BHA to a desired target path. The control system also receives geological information and compensates the toolface vector to account for an estimated geologic formation drift. The control system causes at least one control parameter to be modified in order to alter a drilling direction of the BHA based on the calculated toolface vector and transmits the at least one control parameter to the drilling rig to target the BHA in accordance with the calculated toolface vector. The control system iteratively performs this process until convergence with the desired target path is achieved.

In a drilling system, a control system coupled to a drilling rig controls a bottom hole assembly (BHA) to drill a borehole through a geological formation along a drilling path. The control system determines a present position of the BHA and calculates a toolface vector to create a convergence path from the present position of the BHA to a desired target path. The control system also receives geological information and compensates the toolface vector to account for an estimated geologic formation drift. The control system causes at least one control parameter to be modified in order to alter a drilling direction of the BHA based on the calculated toolface vector and transmits the at least one control parameter to the drilling rig to target the BHA in accordance with the calculated toolface vector. The control system iteratively performs this process until convergence with the desired target path is achieved.

A method of drilling includes obtaining historical data for historical wells in a field, determining a set of drilling parameters, and determining a set of hole section sizes defining a wellbore geometry. For each combination of a parameter in the set of parameters and a hole section size in the set of hole section sizes, historical wells having average values of the parameter exceeding a threshold for the hole section size from the historical surface drilling data are selected. An expected output for each of a model to be trained by each of the selected historical wells is derived based on a rate of penetration while drilling. A final model is trained with the selected historical wells and expected outputs. An operating envelope is determined for each of the parameters in the set of parameters from the trained model. The operating envelopes may be used to guide drilling of a well in the field.

A method of drilling includes obtaining historical data for historical wells in a field, determining a set of drilling parameters, and determining a set of hole section sizes defining a wellbore geometry. For each combination of a parameter in the set of parameters and a hole section size in the set of hole section sizes, historical wells having average values of the parameter exceeding a threshold for the hole section size from the historical surface drilling data are selected. An expected output for each of a model to be trained by each of the selected historical wells is derived based on a rate of penetration while drilling. A final model is trained with the selected historical wells and expected outputs. An operating envelope is determined for each of the parameters in the set of parameters from the trained model. The operating envelopes may be used to guide drilling of a well in the field.

An apparatus and method for operating a new well includes receiving a plurality of data relating to drilling operations from a plurality of wells in a region, the data including data from a plurality of sensors at each of the plurality of wells and data regarding equipment used for the drilling operations at each of the plurality of wells. A plurality of parameters is calculated based on the collected data from the plurality of wells. At least one equipment and at least one operating parameter are identified to use for drilling operation of the new well within the region based on the received data and the calculated parameters. The identified at least one equipment and at least one operating parameter are applied to use for the drilling operation of the new well.

An apparatus and method for operating a new well includes receiving a plurality of data relating to drilling operations from a plurality of wells in a region, the data including data from a plurality of sensors at each of the plurality of wells and data regarding equipment used for the drilling operations at each of the plurality of wells. A plurality of parameters is calculated based on the collected data from the plurality of wells. At least one equipment and at least one operating parameter are identified to use for drilling operation of the new well within the region based on the received data and the calculated parameters. The identified at least one equipment and at least one operating parameter are applied to use for the drilling operation of the new well.

A system for mining material in a seam under an overburden layer using a geological model map of a geological formation, including a desired drilling end point at a predefined position relative to a geological boundary between the overburden layer and seam. A drill controller controls operation of a drill drilling a blast hole. A sensor pack senses, while drilling the blast hole, blast hole drilling operation parameters; and feeds the sensed parameters in real time to the drill controller. A data storage module stores a geological model of the geological formation and sensed parameters data. A processor module generates a geological model map including the desired drilling end point and locates the drill bit position relative to the geological boundary and such end point. The drill controller drills to the desired drilling end point and causes the drill to stop drilling upon reaching such end point.

A system for mining material in a seam under an overburden layer using a geological model map of a geological formation, including a desired drilling end point at a predefined position relative to a geological boundary between the overburden layer and seam. A drill controller controls operation of a drill drilling a blast hole. A sensor pack senses, while drilling the blast hole, blast hole drilling operation parameters; and feeds the sensed parameters in real time to the drill controller. A data storage module stores a geological model of the geological formation and sensed parameters data. A processor module generates a geological model map including the desired drilling end point and locates the drill bit position relative to the geological boundary and such end point. The drill controller drills to the desired drilling end point and causes the drill to stop drilling upon reaching such end point.

Certain aspects and features relate to a system that selects an output value for controlling a drilling tool using dynamic force analysis coupled to fluid effects as part of a model that estimates projected torque and drag. A drilling model according to aspects and features of the present disclosure takes into account pipe axial elasticity as it relates to dynamic, time-based, force analysis and couples this relationship with drilling fluid effects over time. In some examples, a system calculates at least one dynamic sideforce and at least one dynamic, hydraulic force for each interval of time. An equilibrium solution for an output value using the dynamic sideforce and dynamic, hydraulic force for each time interval can be applied to the drilling tool for each time interval during drilling operations.

Certain aspects and features relate to a system that selects an output value for controlling a drilling tool using dynamic force analysis coupled to fluid effects as part of a model that estimates projected torque and drag. A drilling model according to aspects and features of the present disclosure takes into account pipe axial elasticity as it relates to dynamic, time-based, force analysis and couples this relationship with drilling fluid effects over time. In some examples, a system calculates at least one dynamic sideforce and at least one dynamic, hydraulic force for each interval of time. An equilibrium solution for an output value using the dynamic sideforce and dynamic, hydraulic force for each time interval can be applied to the drilling tool for each time interval during drilling operations.