Deployment of Automated Hole Cleaning Advisor Increases Adoption of Drilling Automation Applications at a Global Scale

Abstract Modeling of cuttings transport has been profoundly enhanced to become the backbone of drilling automation applications dealing with well control. This paper presents the evolution and adoption of a world-leading physics-based drift flux cuttings transport model, its deployment as part of a drilling automation application validated across the globe in different environments, and the tangible benefits delivered to drilling operations. The drift flux cuttings transport model is part of a digital twin of the wellbore and equipment deployed in real-time to continuously assess the well condition. The model has evolved over the years to become a world-leading cuttings transport model. This paper presents the continuous development of technology following agile processes to promptly create tangible deliverables for drilling operations. The digital twin is part of a drilling automation application deploying a more holistic and automated hole cleaning advisor. The transient model is executed on demand to produce updated cuttings transport results and the associated context for it. Such results are converted into relevant information for drilling optimization engineers, hence simplifying the decision-making process. The adoption of the service is assessed globally and discussing the different regions. The automation application containing the physics-based cuttings transport model was deployed in several locations across the globe. Some of the most sensitive deliverables of this model are the concentration of cuttings, its behavior as they are transported to surface, and the estimation of time and flow rate to transport the cuttings to surface. This kind of context information has enabled users to make informed decisions to maintain the health of the operation and avoid stuck-pipe events. Users can better decide where and for how long to circulate the wellbore after drilling a section to reduce cleaning time without endangering the formation and avoiding stuck-pipe events. Furthermore, the hole cleaning application provides a central and concise visualization to highlight regions with high cuttings concentration and increasing risk of stuck-pipe events. The field deployments in Latin America, Asia Pacific, North Sea, Middle East, and North America Land are presented as example. Such deployments span across high-pressure, high-temperature environments, managed pressure drilling (MPD), long lateral sections, among others. The automated hole cleaning advisor assess the wellbore condition in real-time and enhances the ability of drilling operations to react to potential drilling risks related to poor hole cleaning, thus avoiding costly corrective actions. The integration of transient modeling with drilling automation enables a safer optimization of procedures.