Downhole Trajectory Automation of RSS Tools: Autonomous Drilling Becomes Reality

Abstract The ultimate goal of automated drilling is to be able to drill a well with any trajectory autonomously, and any human involvement being purely supervisory. This goal is evolutionary and began 20 years ago with the introduction of hold-vertical and inclination-hold modes. Since then, hold the inclination and azimuth mode for both push-the-bit and point-the-bit rotary steerable system (RSS) tools was developed and is widely used. More recently, downhole hold-the-curve mode has been introduced for push-the-bit RSS tools. The next in the line for automation is hold-the-curve mode for the point-the-bit RSS tools. This mode is currently in field testing phase with very successful results so far. This paper presents the path hold-the-curve technology transfer and firmware implementation has taken from one RSS system to another, from concept study to introduction to the field. The automation technology transfer is not a straightforward task because the two RSS systems are different in steering mechanism, the type and noise level of the sensors, the positions of the direction and inclination sensors, their filtering characteristics, and the current downhole control system implementation for both. The technology transfer and firmware implementation process was accelerated compared with the previous introduction to the field of the downhole automation module because the field has already drilled wells with this type of automation module albeit on a different RSS system. It was easy to transfer the knowledge of how the automated system works and the field personnel learned about the technology on the job, understood it well, and adopted it quickly. The field personnel were confident in using the automated system independently on the first field test and continued to drill the entire section to total depth in this mode.