Drilling Automation: Technologies, Terminology and Parallels With Other Industries

Abstract

Drilling Automation is a rapidly developing area of technology that is seeing growing interest within the drilling community. The SPE set up a new Technical Section devoted to the subject as it relates to downhole performance, and the IADC has created a committee with a focus on surface processes. As with any emerging technology, the associated jargon is evolving rapidly, and different terms are used by different groups to refer to similar concepts with the potential for confusion and misunderstanding. Automation efforts are being undertaken by numerous and diverse organizations and implementation of such interrelated offerings at the rig site need consistent interface criteria at each boundary to ensure efficient and safe operations. The purpose of the proposed paper is to describe some of the concepts already in operation and under development and to classify them into a number of key categories. The more significant interface requirements will be identified and key safety concerns will be highlighted. Parallels will be drawn with other industries to demonstrate analogues and suggest directions where and how further developments might be expected to lead. Introduction Recent developments in drilling machinery, sensor technology, control systems, computer and communications technology are leading to an explosion of development across the whole spectrum of control activities, from machine level to integrated operations. A number of companies have added specialized controls to drilling machines and integrated them on rigs or placed them in drillstrings. Some have developed models to better understand the drilling process or advise set points to optimise drilling performance; others have specialized use of advanced visualization techniques to improve the situational awareness of drilling teams and decision makers. The latest call is to integrate these enablers to automate the drilling process. This work will likely be incremental and iterative. In parallel with a major initiative spearheaded by the IADC, the SPE has formed a new technical section to help the industry understand the current state-of-the-art of controls and automation and to facilitate the development of safe, reliable and efficient automated processes. The aim of the section is to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and fostering communication. Terminology With so many different players involved in the drilling community and the rapid development of technologies, the authors believe that the importance of defining and agreeing on the basic terms and concepts of drilling automation cannot be underestimated. Having a commonly understood language is critical not only for the development of the interoperable technologies that will be required, but also to develop the trust and organizational structure that is required amongst the various players (contractors, service and operating companies) during the execution of a drilling project.

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