Reamer and Bit Interaction Model System and Method

Abstract

Teachings of the disclosure are directed to a reamer and/or bit interaction model system and method. The method may include receiving performance data regarding a cutting structure, and calculating a characteristic curve, using the performance data. The characteristic curve may be weight-based and/or torque-based. The method may also include storing the characteristic curve. In particular embodiments, the characteristic curve may include either weight on cutting structure or torque on the cutting structure, as a function of the rate of penetration.

1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving performance data regarding a cutting structure;   calculating, using the performance data, a characteristic curve regarding the cutting structure, the characteristic curve being either weight-based, or torque-based; and   storing the characteristic curve.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the characteristic curve includes either (weight on cutting structure/rock strength) or (torque on the cutting structure/weight on the cutting structure), as a function of (rate of penetration/rotary speed). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein calculating the characteristic curve comprises calculating a weight-based characteristic curve including varying weight on the cutting structure as a function of a rate of penetration of the cutting structure. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein calculating the characteristic curve comprises calculating a torque-based characteristic curve including varying torque on the cutting structure as a function of a rate of penetration of the cutting structure. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein calculating the characteristic curve comprises:
 calculating a weight-based characteristic curve including varying weight on the cutting structure as a function of a rate of penetration of the cutting structure; and   calculating a torque-based characteristic curve including varying torque on the cutting structure as a function of a rate of penetration of the cutting structure.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein calculating the characteristic curve comprises calculating a two dimensional curve fit that estimates values of performance of the cutting structure across a range of respective rates of penetration. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the two dimensional curve fit comprises a polynomial curve. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein storing the characteristic curve comprises storing coefficients of the curve fit. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the performance data is derived from a plurality of different types of information selected from the group consisting of computer models, actual downhole measurements, actual surface measurements, and marketing data. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the characteristic curve to compare a first bottom hole assembly that includes the first cutting structure, with a second bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the characteristic curve to compare a first bottom hole assembly that includes the first cutting structure, with a plurality of other bottom hole assemblies. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second bottom hole assembly includes a drill bit. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second bottom hole assembly includes a drill bit and a reamer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first cutting structure is associated with a first drill bit and the first bottom hole assembly further comprises a first reamer, and the second bottom hole assembly includes a second drill bit. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second bottom hole assembly further comprises a second reamer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first bottom hole assembly comprises a first drill bit of a first diameter, and the second bottom hole assembly comprises a second drill bit of a second diameter that is not equal to the first diameter. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting structure is associated with a bottom hole assembly that includes a drill bit and a plurality of independent reamers. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first cutting structure is associated with a drill bit of a bottom hole assembly, and the bottom hole assembly further comprises a reamer, and further comprising:
 calculating weight on bit as a function of weight on the bottom hole assembly; and   calculating weight on reamer as a function of weight on the bottom hole assembly.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first cutting structure is associated with a drill bit of a bottom hole assembly, and the bottom hole assembly further comprises a reamer, and further comprising:
 displaying weight on bit as a function of weight on the bottom hole assembly; and   displaying weight on reamer as a function of weight on the bottom hole assembly.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first cutting structure is associated with a drill bit of a bottom hole assembly, and the bottom hole assembly further comprises a reamer, and further comprising calculating a plurality of neutral point locations along the bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first cutting structure is associated with a drill bit of a bottom hole assembly, and the bottom hole assembly further comprises a reamer, and further comprising displaying a plurality of neutral point locations along the bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         22 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a first characteristic curve regarding a first cutting structure;   receiving a second characteristic curve regarding a second cutting structure;   calculating a system characteristic curve that combines the first characteristic curve and the second characteristic curve;   comparing the system characteristic curve with other characteristic curves; and   selecting a bottom hole assembly based upon the comparison.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the system characteristic curve includes weight on a system that includes the first and second cutting structures, as a function of a rate of penetration. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the first characteristic curve includes a weight on the first cutting structure, as a function of a rate of penetration of the first cutting structure;   the second characteristic curve includes a weight on the second cutting structure as a function of a rate of penetration of the second cutting structure; and   the system characteristic curve comprises a sum of the first and second characteristic curves.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising receiving lithology information regarding an earth formation, and wherein comparing the system characteristic curve with other characteristic curves comprises predicting, using the lithology information, relative performance of (i) a system that includes the first and second cutting structures, and (ii) other cutting structures associated with the other characteristic curves. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first cutting structure comprises a drill bit disposed adjacent an end of a drill string and the second cutting structure comprises a reamer disposed along the drill string. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein calculating the system characteristic curve comprises calculating a weight-based system characteristic curve including varying a weight on the system as a function of a rate of penetration of a system that includes the first and second cutting structures. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein calculating the system characteristic curve comprises calculating a torque based characteristic curve of the system that includes varying a torque of the system as a function of a rate of penetration of the system. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein calculating the system characteristic curve comprises:
 calculating a weight-based system characteristic curve including varying a weight on the system as a function of a rate of penetration of a system that includes the first and second cutting structures; and   calculating a torque based characteristic curve of the system that includes varying a torque on the system as a function of a rate of penetration of the system.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein calculating the system characteristic curve comprises calculating a two dimensional curve fit that estimates values of performance of the system across a range of respective rates of penetration. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the two dimensional curve fit comprises a polynomial curve. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein storing the system characteristic curve comprises storing coefficients of the curve fit. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second characteristic curves are derived from performance data that is derived from a plurality of different types of information selected from the group consisting of computer models, actual downhole measurements, actual surface measurements, and marketing data. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising using the system characteristic curve to compare a first bottom hole assembly that includes the first and second cutting structures, with a second bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the second bottom hole assembly includes a drill bit. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the second bottom hole assembly includes a drill bit and a reamer. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the first bottom hole assembly comprises a first drill bit of a first diameter, and the second bottom hole assembly comprises a second drill bit of a second diameter that is not equal to the first diameter. 
     
     
         38 . A method, comprising:
 receiving cutting structure selection criteria, the cutting structure selection criteria selected from the group consisting of Bit Series, Bit Class, Bit Application, Bit Technology, Bit Blade Count, Bit Cutter Size, Bit Profile Shape, Bit Diameter, Bit Chamfer Type, Bit Chamfer Size, Bit Material Number, Bit Type, Bit Cutting Structure Number, Reamer Type, Reamer Body, Reamer Opening Diameter, Reamer Pilot Hole Diameter, Reamer Arm Count, Reamer Blade Count, Reamer Layout, Reamer Cutter Size, Reamer Material Number, Reamer Project Name, connection size and connection Type;   displaying a plurality of cutting structures to a user that meet some or all of the cutting structure selection criteria;   receiving a selection from the user, the selection including a plurality of the displayed cutting structures for comparison;   comparing each cutting structure of the selection, using respective characteristic curves, the characteristic curves being either weight-based or torque-based; and   displaying results of the comparison to the user.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising receiving lithology information regarding an earth formation, and wherein comparing each cutting structure of the selection comprises predicting relative performance of each cutting structure of the selection, with respect to the lithology information. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising receiving a plurality of constraints for a proposed well, and wherein displaying results of the comparison to the user includes identifying each cutting structure of the selection that violates one or more of the constraints. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein each characteristic curve comprises a weight-based characteristic curve including varying a weight on the cutting structure as a function of a rate of penetration of the respective cutting structure. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein each characteristic curve comprises a torque based characteristic curve including varying a torque on the cutting structure as a function of a rate of penetration of the respective cutting structure. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein each characteristic curve comprises:
 a weight-based characteristic curve including varying a weight on the cutting structure as a function of a rate of penetration of the respective cutting structure; and   a torque based characteristic curve including varying a torque on the cutting structure as a function of a rate of penetration of the respective cutting structure.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein each characteristic curve comprises a two dimensional curve fit that estimates values of performance of the respective cutting structures across a range of respective rates of penetration. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the two dimensional curve fit comprises a polynomial curve. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein each characteristic curve is retrieved for comparison using the coefficients of the curve fit. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein each characteristic curve is derived from performance data that is derived from a plurality of different types of information selected from the group consisting of computer models, actual downhole measurements, actual surface measurements, and marketing data. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 38 , comparing each cutting structure of the selection using the respective characteristic curve comprises using the respective characteristic curves to compare a first bottom hole assembly that includes a particular cutting structure, with a second bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the second bottom hole assembly includes a drill bit. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the second bottom hole assembly includes a drill bit and a reamer. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the first cutting structure is associated with a first drill bit and the first bottom hole assembly further comprises a first reamer, and the second bottom hole assembly includes a second drill bit. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the second bottom hole assembly further comprises a second reamer. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the first bottom hole assembly comprises a first drill bit of a first diameter, and the second bottom hole assembly comprises a second drill bit of a second diameter that is not equal to the first diameter. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the first bottom hole assembly comprises a drill bit and a reamer, and further comprising:
 calculating weight on bit as a function of weight on the first bottom hole assembly; and   calculating weight on reamer as a function of weight on the first bottom hole assembly.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the first bottom hole assembly comprises a drill bit and a reamer, and further comprising:
 displaying weight on bit as a function of weight on the first bottom hole assembly; and   displaying weight on reamer as a function of weight on the first bottom hole assembly.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising calculating a plurality of neutral point locations along the first bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising displaying a plurality of neutral point locations along the first bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         58 . A system, comprising:
 an interface for receiving performance data regarding a cutting structure;   a processor for calculating, using the performance data, a characteristic curve regarding the cutting structure, the characteristic curve being either weight-based, or torque-based; and   a memory for storing the characteristic curve.   
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the characteristic curve includes either (weight on cutting structure/rock strength) or (torque on the cutting structure/weight on the cutting structure), as a function of (rate of penetration/rotary speed). 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein calculating the characteristic curve comprises calculating a weight-based characteristic curve including varying weight on the cutting structure as a function of a rate of penetration of the cutting structure. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein calculating the characteristic curve comprises calculating a torque-based characteristic curve including varying torque on the cutting structure as a function of a rate of penetration of the cutting structure. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein calculating the characteristic curve comprises:
 calculating a weight-based characteristic curve including varying weight on the cutting structure as a function of a rate of penetration of the cutting structure; and   calculating a torque-based characteristic curve including varying torque on the cutting structure as a function of a rate of penetration of the cutting structure.   
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the processor is further operable to use the characteristic curve to compare a first bottom hole assembly that includes the first cutting structure, with a second bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the processor is further operable to use the characteristic curve to compare a first bottom hole assembly that includes the first cutting structure, with a plurality of other bottom hole assemblies. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the first cutting structure is associated with a drill bit of a bottom hole assembly, and the bottom hole assembly further comprises a reamer, and wherein the processor is further operable to:
 calculate weight on bit as a function of weight on the bottom hole assembly; and   calculate weight on reamer as a function of weight on the bottom hole assembly.   
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the first cutting structure is associated with a drill bit of a bottom hole assembly, and the bottom hole assembly further comprises a reamer, and further comprising a graphical user interface operable to:
 display weight on bit as a function of weight on the bottom hole assembly; and   display weight on reamer as a function of weight on the bottom hole assembly.   
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the first cutting structure is associated with a drill bit of a bottom hole assembly, and the bottom hole assembly further comprises a reamer, and wherein the processor is further operable to calculate a plurality of neutral point locations along the bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the first cutting structure is associated with a drill bit of a bottom hole assembly, and the bottom hole assembly further comprises a reamer, and further comprising a graphical user interface being operable to display a plurality of neutral point locations along the bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         69 . A system, comprising:
 an interface being operable to receive a first characteristic curve regarding a first cutting structure;   the interface being operable to receive a second characteristic curve regarding a second cutting structure;   a processor being operable to calculate a system characteristic curve that combines the first characteristic curve and the second characteristic curve;   the processor being further operable to compare the system characteristic curve with other characteristic curves; and   the processor being further operable to select a bottom hole assembly based upon the comparison.   
     
     
         70 . The system of  claim 69 , wherein the system characteristic curve includes weight on a system that includes the first and second cutting structures, as a function of a rate of penetration. 
     
     
         71 . The system of  claim 69 , wherein:
 the first characteristic curve includes a weight on the first cutting structure, as a function of a rate of penetration of the first cutting structure;   the second characteristic curve includes a weight on the second cutting structure as a function of a rate of penetration of the second cutting structure; and   the system characteristic curve comprises a sum of the first and second characteristic curves.   
     
     
         72 . The system of  claim 69 , wherein calculating the system characteristic curve comprises calculating a weight-based system characteristic curve including varying a weight on the system as a function of a rate of penetration of a system that includes the first and second cutting structures. 
     
     
         73 . The system of  claim 69 , wherein calculating the system characteristic curve comprises calculating a torque based characteristic curve of the system that includes varying a torque of the system as a function of a rate of penetration of the system. 
     
     
         74 . The system of  claim 69 , wherein calculating the system characteristic curve comprises:
 calculating a weight-based system characteristic curve including varying a weight on the system as a function of a rate of penetration of a system that includes the first and second cutting structures; and   calculating a torque based characteristic curve of the system that includes varying a torque on the system as a function of a rate of penetration of the system.   
     
     
         75 . A system, comprising:
 an interface being operable to receive cutting structure selection criteria, the cutting structure selection criteria selected from the group consisting of Bit Series, Bit Class, Bit Application, Bit Technology, Bit Blade Count, Bit Cutter Size, Bit Profile Shape, Bit Diameter, Bit Chamfer Type, Bit Chamfer Size, Bit Material Number, Bit Type, Bit Cutting Structure Number, Reamer Type, Reamer Body, Reamer Opening Diameter, Reamer Pilot Hole Diameter, Reamer Arm Count, Reamer Blade Count, Reamer Layout, Reamer Cutter Size, Reamer Material Number, Reamer Project Name, connection size and connection Type;   a graphical user interface being operable to display a plurality of cutting structures to a user that meet some or all of the cutting structure selection criteria;   the interface being further operable to receive a selection from the user, the selection including a plurality of the displayed cutting structures for comparison;   a processor being operable to compare each cutting structure of the selection, using respective characteristic curves, the characteristic curves being either weight-based or torque-based; and   the graphical user interface being further operable to display results of the comparison to the user.   
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 75 , wherein the interface is further operable to receive lithology information regarding an earth formation, and wherein comparing each cutting structure of the selection comprises predicting relative performance of each cutting structure of the selection, with respect to the lithology information. 
     
     
         77 . The system of  claim 75 , wherein the interface is further operable to receive a plurality of constraints for a proposed well, and wherein displaying results of the comparison to the user includes identifying each cutting structure of the selection that violates one or more of the constraints.