Method and apparatus for directional drilling using wired drill pipe

Abstract

A method for drilling a wellbore includes rotating a drill string having a steerable drilling motor proximate a distal end thereof in a wellbore to a selected tool face angle. A torque applied to the drill string and a rotational orientation of the drill string is measured at spaced apart positions along the drill string. The drill string is rotated in a first direction until rotation at one of the selected positions is measured. Rotation of the drill string is reversed to a second direction until rotation of the drill string at the one of the selected positions is measured. Rotation of the drill string is reversed to the first direction until a torque measured at at least one position along the drill string corresponds to a torque measured when drill string rotation was reversed from the first direction.

1 . A method for drilling a wellbore, comprising:
 rotating a drill string having a steerable drilling motor proximate a distal end thereof in a wellbore to a selected tool face angle;   measuring a torque applied to the drill string at a plurality of spaced apart positions along the drill string and a rotation of the drill string;   rotating the drill string in a first direction until rotation of the drill string at one of the plurality of spaced apart positions is measured;   reversing rotation of the drill string to a second direction until rotation of the drill string is detected at the one of the plurality of spaced apart positions is measured; and   reversing rotation of the drill string to the first direction until a torque measured at at least one of the plurality of spaced apart positions along the drill string corresponds to a torque measured at the same one of the plurality of spaced apart positions when drill string rotation was reversed from the first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising measuring axial and torsional loading on the drill string at each of the plurality of spaced apart positions and determining a distribution along the drill string of force resisting rotation between the drill string and the wellbore. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the measuring rotation comprises measuring a rotary orientation of the drill string. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the measuring rotary orientation comprises at least one of measuring acceleration and measuring Earth's magnetic field direction. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining a neutral point of torque along the drill string using the measurements of torque or rotary displacement at the plurality of spaced apart positions along the drill string, or both. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining accumulation of drill cuttings in the wellbore using the measurements of torque or rotary displacement at the plurality of spaced apart positions, or both. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining changes in force resisting rotational and resisting axial movement of the drill string instantaneously or over time. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining changes in force resisting rotation and axial movement and relating the changes to accumulation of cuttings in the wellbore along the drill string instantaneously or over time using the measurements of torque and measurements of axial force at each of the plurality of spaced apart positions. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining changes in force resisting rotation and resisting axial movement and relating the changes to differential sticking between the drill string and the wellbore instantaneously or over time using the measurements of torque and measurements of axial force at each of the plurality of spaced apart positions. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining changes in force resisting rotation and resisting axial movement and relating the changes to well bore stability along the drill string instantaneously or over time using the measurements of torque and measurements of axial force at each of the plurality of spaced apart positions. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining changes in force resisting rotation and resisting axial movement and relating the changes to damage in the drill string along the drill string instantaneously or over time using the measurements of torque and measurements of axial force at each of the plurality of spaced apart positions. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining changes in force resisting rotation and resisting axial movement and relating the changes to inaccurate sensor reading at a repeater in the drill string instantaneously or over time using the measurements of torque and measurements of axial force at each of the plurality of spaced apart positions. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining changes in force resisting rotation and resisting axial movement and relating the changes to changes in properties of subsurface formations along the drill string instantaneously or over time using the measurements of torque and measurements of axial force at each of the plurality of spaced apart positions. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining changes in force resisting rotation and resisting axial movement and relating the changes to changes in drilling fluid properties instantaneously or over time using the measurements of torque and measurements of axial force at each of the plurality of spaced apart positions. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining changes in force resisting rotation and resisting axial movement and relating the changes to changes in drilling fluid flow rate instantaneously or over time using the measurements of torque and measurements of axial force at each of the plurality of spaced apart positions. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining neutral point changes resulting from changes in force resisting rotation and resisting axial movement and relating the changes to at least one of drill bit cutting efficiency, and steerable drilling motor efficiency instantaneously or over time using the measurements of torque and measurements of axial force at each of the plurality of spaced apart positions. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A wellbore drilling system, comprising:
 a plurality of torque sensors disposed at spaced apart locations along a drill string;   a steerable drilling motor coupled to the drill string proximate a longitudinal end thereof;   a tool face angle sensor disposed in the drill string proximate the steerable drilling motor;   a drill string rotation controller functionally coupled to a means for rotating the drill string disposed at an upper end of the wellbore; and   a processor in signal communication with the plurality of torque sensors and the tool face angle sensor, the processor in signal communication with the drill string rotation controller, the processor programmed to receive signals from the plurality of torque sensors and the tool face angle sensor, the processor programmed to operate the drill string rotation controller to rotate the drill string in a first direction until rotation of the drill string at one of the spaced apart locations is measured, the processor programmed to operate the drill string rotation controller to reverse rotation of the drill string to a second direction until rotation of the drill string is detected at the one of the selected locations is measured, the processor programmed to operate the drill string rotation controller to reverse rotation of the drill string to the first direction until a torque measured at at least one location along the drill string corresponds to a torque measured when drill string rotation was reversed from the first direction.   
     
     
         19 . The wellbore drilling system of  claim 18  further comprising a plurality of axial load sensors disposed on the drill string at the spaced apart positions, wherein the processor is programmed to determine a distribution along the drill string of coefficient of friction between the drill string and the wellbore using measurements from the torque sensors and the axial load sensors. 
     
     
         20 . The wellbore drilling system of  claim 18  further comprising a plurality of sensors for measuring a rotary orientation of the drill string disposed at spaced apart locations along the drill string. 
     
     
         21 . The wellbore drilling system of  claim 20  wherein the plurality of rotary orientation sensors comprises at least one of acceleration sensors and magnetic field sensors. 
     
     
         22 .- 34 . (canceled)