System and method for detecting a mode of drilling

Abstract

A system and method for surface steerable drilling are provided. In one example, the method includes monitoring operating parameters for drilling rig equipment and bottom hole assembly (BHA) equipment for a BHA, where the operating parameters control the drilling rig equipment and BHA equipment. The method includes receiving current inputs corresponding to performance data of the drilling rig equipment and BHA equipment during a drilling operation and determining that an amount of change between the current inputs and corresponding previously received inputs exceeds a defined threshold. The method further includes determining whether a modification to the operating parameters has occurred that would result in the amount of change exceeding the defined threshold and identifying that a problem exists in at least one of the drilling rig equipment and BA equipment if no modification has occurred to the operating parameters. The method includes performing a defined action if a problem exists.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control system for determining a mode of drilling, the system comprising:
 a computer system comprising a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and instructions executable by the processor for:
 receiving data from a plurality of sensors during drilling of a wellbore; 
 determining a slide drilling mode of operation responsive to detection of circulation of a drilling mud, a stationary bottom hole assembly (BHA), and an on bottom condition of the BHA, wherein detection of the stationary BHA comprises:
 determining a first toolface measurement; 
 determining a second toolface measurement, wherein the second toolface measurement is subsequent to the first toolface measurement; 
 determining a difference between the first toolface measurement and the second toolface measurement; and 
 determining that the BHA is stationary if the difference is less than a stationary threshold value. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions for determining circulation of a drilling mud comprise instructions for:
 measuring a standpipe pressure; and   determining if the measured standpipe pressure exceeds or equals a standpipe pressure threshold therefor.   
     
     
         3 . The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the standpipe pressure threshold is within a range of 10 psi to 100 psi. 
     
     
         4 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the stationary threshold value for the toolface difference is between 5 and 15 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the stationary threshold value for the toolface difference is 15 degrees or lower. 
     
     
         6 . The control system of  claim 1 , the determination of that the BHA is stationary based at least in part on a rocking threshold value. 
     
     
         7 . The control system of  claim 6 , wherein the rocking threshold value is outside a range of 5-35 rotations per minute indicates a sliding condition. 
     
     
         8 . A control system for determining a mode of drilling, the system comprising:
 a computer system comprising a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and instructions executable by the processor for:
 receiving data from a plurality of sensors during drilling of a wellbore; 
 determining a slide drilling mode of operation responsive to detection of circulation of a drilling mud, a stationary bottom hole assembly (BHA), and an on bottom condition of the BHA, wherein detection of the stationary BHA comprises:
 determining a plurality of toolface measurements; 
 determining a quality calculation value of the plurality of toolface measurements; and 
 determining that the BHA is stationary if the quality calculation value of the toolface measurements exceeds a threshold quality value, wherein the threshold quality value is within a range of 0.50 to 1.00. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The control system of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions for determining circulation of a drilling mud comprise instructions for:
 measuring a standpipe pressure; and   determining if the measured standpipe pressure exceeds or equals a standpipe pressure threshold therefor.   
     
     
         10 . The control system of  claim 9 , wherein the standpipe pressure threshold is within a range of 10 psi to 100 psi. 
     
     
         11 . The control system of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for determining a difference between successive toolface readings and determining a stationary BHA condition exists when the difference is below a threshold therefor, wherein the threshold is lower than 15 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The control system of  claim 11 , wherein the threshold for the toolface difference is between 5 and 15 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The control system of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for determining that the BHA is stationary based at least in part on a rocking threshold value. 
     
     
         14 . The control system of  claim 13 , wherein the rocking threshold value is outside a range of 5-35 rotations per minute indicates a sliding condition. 
     
     
         15 . A control system for determining a mode of drilling, the system comprising:
 a computer system comprising a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and instructions executable by the processor for:   receiving data from a plurality of sensors during drilling of a wellbore;   determining a slide drilling mode of operation responsive to detection of a flow rate of drilling mud, a stationary bottom hole assembly (BHA), and an on bottom condition of the BHA, wherein detection of the on bottom condition comprises:
 determining a reference standpipe pressure, wherein the reference standpipe pressure is determined with the BHA near but not on bottom; 
 receiving a standpipe pressure measurement; 
 determining a difference between the reference standpipe pressure and the standpipe pressure measurement; and 
 determining an on bottom condition exists when the difference exceeds a threshold value. 
   
     
     
         16 . The control system of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions for determining circulation of a drilling mud comprise instructions for:
 measuring a standpipe pressure; and   determining if the measured standpipe pressure exceeds or equals a standpipe pressure threshold value.   
     
     
         17 . The control system of  claim 16 , wherein the standpipe pressure threshold value is within a range of 10 psi to 100 psi. 
     
     
         18 . The control system of  claim 15 , wherein instructions further comprise instructions for determining a difference between successive toolface readings and determining a stationary BHA condition exists when the difference is below a threshold therefor, wherein the threshold for the toolface difference is 15 degrees or lower. 
     
     
         19 . The control system of  claim 18 , wherein the threshold for the toolface difference is between 5 and 15 degrees. 
     
     
         20 . The control system of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for determining that the BHA is stationary based at least in part on a rocking threshold value.