Title: Control systems and methods to enable autonomous drilling

Abstract

A system or method for drilling includes autonomously controlling a rotary or percussive drilling process as it transitions through multiple materials with very different dynamics. The method determines a drilling medium based on real-time measurements and comparison to prior drilling data, and identifies the material type, drilling region, and approximately optimal setpoint based on data from at least one operating condition. The controller uses these setpoints initially to execute an optimal search to maximize performance by minimizing mechanical specific energy. Near-bit depth-of-cut estimations are performed using a machine learning prediction deployed in an embedded processor to provide high-speed ROP estimates. The sensing capability is coupled with a near-bit clutching mechanism to support drilling dysfunction mitigation.

Inventors:

Buerger, Stephen; Mazumdar, Anupam; Spencer, Steven James; Blada, Timothy James; Su, Jiann-Cherng; Wright, Elton K.; Foris, Adam; Raymond, David W.

Issue Date:

Tue Mar 22 00:00:00 EDT 2022

Research Org.:

Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

OSTI Identifier:

1892729

Patent Number(s):

11280173

Application Number:

17/157,614

Assignee:

National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC (Albuquerque, NM)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING

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E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING

E21B44/00 - Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems
E21B44/08 - in response to the amplitude of the movement of the percussion tool, e.g. jump or recoil
E21B49/003 - {by analysing drilling variables or conditions

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DOE Contract Number:  

NA0003525

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 01/25/2021

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English