Intelligent risk identification of gas drilling based on nonlinear classification network

During the transient process of gas drilling conditions,the monitoring data often has obvious nonlinear fluctuation features,which leads to large classification errors and time delays in the commonly used intelligent classification models.Combined with the structural features of data samples obtained from monitoring while drilling,this paper uses convolution algorithm to extract the correlation features of multiple monitoring while drilling parameters changing with time,and applies RBF network with nonlinear classification ability to classify the features.In the training process,the loss function component based on distance mean square error is used to effectively adjust the best clustering center in RBF.Many field applications show that,the recognition accuracy of the above nonlinear classification network model for gas production,water production and drill sticking is 97.32%,95.25%and 93.78%.Compared with the traditional convolutional neural network(CNN)model,the network structure not only improves the classification accuracy of conditions in the transition stage of conditions,but also greatly advances the time points of risk identification,especially for the three common risk identification points of gas production,water production and drill sticking,which are advanced by 56,16 and 8 s.It has won valuable time for the site to take correct risk disposal measures in time,and fully demonstrated the applicability of nonlinear classification neural network in oil and gas field exploration and development.

The characteristics of recycling gas drilling technology

Recycling gas drilling is a new drilling technology. This paper can be divided into three parts, with the purpose of introducing and analyzing the characteristics of this new technology. First, the major equipment characteristic of this technology was introduced. Secondly, compared with conventional gas drilling, Angel＇s model was used to analyze the wellbore flow characteristics. Due to the closed loop and the effect of back pressure caused by the equipment, the gas flow rate decreases dramatically during drilling. Apart from this, it is also found that the kinetic energy at the casing shoe is always smaller than that at the top of the collar. The proposing of the drilling limit concept points out the basic difference between the two gas drilling technologies. Lastly, according to the results of the theoretical analysis, gas supplement operations for the wellbore must be conducted. Thus, two gas supplement schemes are presented in this paper, to provide some guidance for field operations.

New development of theories in gas drilling

Theories established from engineering fundamentals have been of great value in supporting the design and execution of drilling operations in gas drilling where gas is used as a drilling fluid.This work presents an overview of new theories developed in recent years for special gas drilling operations including horizontal wells.These new theories are found in the areas of gas-mixture flow hydraulics in deviated and horizontal boreholes,hole cleaning of solids accumulation,hole cleaning of formation water,flow diverging for washout control,bit orifice optimization,and depression of formation water influx.This paper provides drilling engineers with updated mathematical models and methods for optimizing design to improve gas drilling performance.

An intelligent identification method of safety risk while drilling in gas drilling

In view of the shortcomings of current intelligent drilling technology in drilling condition representation, sample collection, data processing and feature extraction, an intelligent identification method of safety risk while drilling was established. The correlation analysis method was used to determine correlation parameters indicating gas drilling safety risk. By collecting monitoring data in the safety risk period of more than 20 wells, a sample database of a variety of safety risks in gas drilling was established, and the number of samples was expanded by using the method of few-shot learning. According to the forms of gas drilling monitoring data samples, a two-layer convolution neural network architecture was designed, and multiple convolution cores of different sizes and weights were set to realize the vertical and horizontal convolution computations of samples to extract and learn the variation law and correlation characteristics of multiple monitoring parameters. Finally, based on the training results of neural network, samples of different kinds of safety risks were selected to enhance the recognition accuracy. Compared with the traditional BP(error back propagation) full-connected neural network architecture, this method can more deeply and effectively identify safety risk characteristics in gas drilling, and thus identify and predict risks in advance, which is conducive to avoid and quickly solve safety risks while drilling. Field application has proved that this method has an identification accuracy of various safety risks while drilling in the process of gas drilling of about 90% and is practical.

Thermo-sensitive polymer nanospheres as a smart plugging agent for shale gas drilling operations

Emulsifier-free poly（methyl methacrylate-styrene） [P（MMA-St）] nanospheres with an average particle size of 100 nm were synthesized in an isopropyl alcoholwater medium by a solvothermal method. Then, through radical graft copolymerization of thermo-sensitive mono- mer N-isopropylacrylamide （NIPAm） and hydrophilic monomer acrylic acid （AA） onto the surface of P（MMA- St） nanospheres at 80 ℃, a series of thermo-sensitive polymer nanospheres, named SD-SEAL with different lower critical solution temperatures （LCST）, were prepared by adjusting the mole ratio of NIPAm to AA. The products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, particle size distribution, and specific surface area analysis. The temperature-sensitive behavior was studied by light transmittance tests, while the sealing performance was investigated by pressure transmission tests with Lungmachi Formation shales. The experimental results showed that the synthesized nanoparticles are sensitive to temperature and had apparent LCST values which increased with an increase in hydrophilic monomer AA. When the temperature was higher than its LCST value, SD- SEAL played a dual role of physical plugging and chemical inhibition, slowed down pressure transmission, and reduced shale permeability remarkably. The plugged layer of shale was changed to being hydrophobic, which greatly improved the shale stability

Distribution features of cuttings bed and sensitivity analysis of major drilling parameters for cuttings transport in gas drilling horizontal wells

In the current engineering methods for the gas horizontal drilling, the distribution features of cuttings bed remain an issue to be cleared, and the gas horizontal drilling is still in early stages of development. For on-site drilling, a 3-D transient model is established in this paper to simulate the distribution features and the transport mechanism of the cuttings bed, based on the gas-solid two-phase flow theory. The effects of major drilling parameters, such as the gas velocity, the drill pipe rotation, the cutting size and the eccentricity, on the cuttings transport efficiency are analyzed. The major findings of this study include that the cuttings begin to settle down and build up a fixed cuttings bed, in the most evident regions in front and behind the connector, the dominant parameter of the wellbore cleaning is the gas velocity, and, as the cutting size is increased, the thickness of the cuttings bed developed in the wellbore increases significantly. In addition, the eccentricity has some influence on the cuttings transport, and the drill pipe rotation has little effect on the cuttings transport.

An Artificial Intelligence Algorithm for the Real-Time Early Detection of Sticking Phenomena in Horizontal Shale Gas Wells

Sticking is the most serious cause of failure in complex drilling operations.In the present work a novel“early warning”method based on an artificial intelligence algorithm is proposed to overcome some of the known pro-blems associated with existing sticking-identification technologies.The method is tested against a practical case study(Southern Sichuan shale gas drilling operations).It is shown that the twelve sets of sticking fault diagnostic results obtained from a simulation are all consistent with the actual downhole state;furthermore,the results from four groups of verification samples are also consistent with the actual downhole state.This shows that the pro-posed training-based model can effectively be applied to practical situations.

Evolution and application of in-seam drilling for gas drainage

The presence of seam gas in the form of methane or carbon dioxide presents a hazard to underground coal mining operations.In-seam drilling has been undertaken for the past three decades for gas drainage to reduce the risk of gas outburst and lower the concentrations of seam gas in the underground ventilation.The drilling practices have reflected the standards of the times and have evolved with the development of technology and equipment and the needs to provide a safe mining environment underground.Early practice was to adapt equipment from other felds,with rotary drilling being the only form of drilling available.This form of drainage allowed various levels of gas drainage coverage but with changing emphasis,research and development within the coal industry has created specifc equipment,technology and practices to accurately place in-seam boreholes to provide effcient and effective gas drainage.Research into gas content determination established a standard for the process and safe levels for mining operations to continue.Surveying technology improved from the wire-line,single-shot Eastman survey instruments which was time-dependent on borehole depth to electronic instruments located in the drill string which transmitted accurate survey data to the drilling crew without time delays.This allowed improved directional control and increased drilling rates.Directional drilling technology has now been established as the industry standard to provide effective gas drainage drilling.Exploration was identifed as an additional beneft with directional drilling as it has the ability to provide exploration data from long boreholes.The ability of the technology to provide safe and reliable means to investigate the need for inrush protection and water drainage ahead of mining has been established.Directional drilling technology has now been introduced to the Chinese coal industry for gas drainage through a practice of auditing,design,supply,training and ongoing support.Experienced drilling crews can offer site specifc gas drainage drilling services utilising the latest equipment and technology.

Microscopic properties and sealing performance of new gas drainage drilling sealing material

The geological condition of Chinese coal mines are complex and high gassy,which account for ffty percent to seventy percent.Because of the abundant pores and cracks around the drainage drilling hole,the gas concentration attenuates rapidly,and the effective gas drainage period is short.The traditional sealing materials of yellow mud and cement-sand grout will readily shrink after the drilling hole is sealed,the sealing length is short and the sealing quality is not satisfactory.Currently widely used polyurethane material will shrink when it comes into contact with water,and the price is also very high.In this study,taking cement as a base material,a novel composite sealing material mixed by expansion admixture,additive,and fbrin and coupling agent was developed and the sealing performance and expansion property of the material were also studied and analyzed.The FEI Quanta TM 250 environmental scanning electron microscope was used to investigate the microstructure of material.The results revealed that the new composite sealing material had a desirable expansion performance and a defnite fluidity convenient for grouting.The solidifed material,combining closely with the drilling wall,possessed an adequate strength and was not easy to shrink.Compared to the conventional polyurethane,the gas drainage concentration by drilling sealing exceeded 40 percent,and the sealing capacity improves5 times,the sealing effect increases signifcantly.

Calculation and application of partition coefficients of light hydrocarbons in oil-based mud system

To find out the relationship between the oil-based mud,the formation fluid and the extracted gas,we use a thermodynamic approach based on static headspace gas chromatography technique to calculate the partition coefficients of 47 kinds of light hydrocarbons compounds between nC5 and nC8 in two kinds of oil-based mud-air systems,and reconstruct the original formation fluid composition under thermodynamic equilibrium.The oil-based drilling mud has little effect on the formation fluid compositions in the range of nC5-nC8(less than 1%for low-toxicity oil-based mud and less than 10%for oil-based mud).For most light hydrocarbon compositions,the partition coefficients obtained by vapor phase calibration and the direct quantitative methods have errors of less than 10%,and the partition coefficients obtained by direct quantitative method are more accurate.The reconstructed compositions of the two kinds of crude oil have match degrees of 91%and 89%with their real compositions,proving the feasibility and accuracy of reconstructing the composition of original formation fluid by using partition coefficients of light hydrocarbon compositions between nC5 and nC8.

Environmental Risk Assessment for Exploration and Extraction Processes of Unconventional Hydrocarbon Deposits of Shale Gas and Tight Gas:Pomeranian and Carpathian Region Case Study as Largest Onshore Oilfields

Shale gas and tight gas exploration and extraction processes create potential threats to the environment.In Poland,no comprehensive guidelines for environmental risk assessment have been prepared so far.This paper presents a proposal of environmental risk assessment methodology which can be used for corporate risk management procedures during exploration and extraction of unconventional hydrocarbons in Poland.The most frequent environmental threats that may occur during the exploration and exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbon deposits include degradation of soils through construction of drilling rigs and access roads,landforms change,local soil pollution caused by fuels,cleaning agents and materials used to prepare drilling fluids,rubble,cement,gravel,pollution of surface and underground water as a result of emergency discharges of sewage,infiltration of pollution from waste reservoirs,disturbance of hydrogeological equilibrium through significant water intake,noise and atmospheric pollution resulting from the combustion of fuels.To check the level of these threats' six exploration sites form Pomeranian and Carpathian region of Poland(3 wells of shale gas and 3 wells of tight gas) have been evaluated in detail,and the risk quantification has been made.Because of a local,short-term and reversible environment impact,the environmental risks for the exploration and extraction processes of unconventional hydrocarbons have been found to be medium or negligibly small.It is recommended that using the same methodology for other regions of Poland where we can find unconventional hydrocarbons and it can be enriched in dedicated application with spatial maps to give the investors a quick feedback on the potential environmental risks.