SPE

Society of Petroleum Engineers

SPE 23664
Directional Drilling Expert System
E.Martinez, Corpoven. S.A.
SPE Member
Copyright 1992, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Inc
This paper was presented at the Second Latin American Petroleum Engineering Conference, II LAPEC, of the Society of Petroleum Engineers held in Caracas, Venezuela, March 811,1992
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE Program Committee following review 01 information contained in an abstract submitted by the author{s). Contents of the paper,
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Write Publications Manager, SPE, P.O.Box 833836 RiChardson TX 750833836 U.S.A. Telex 730989 SPEDAL.

ABSTRACT.
Minimizing the cost of drilling a directional
well is a major concern for the drilling
engineer.
This
computerized
system
was
developed in order to provide the drilling
engineer with an advisory tool which recommends changes in the Bottom Hole Assemblies
(BHA). This results in better accuracy and
faster decision making; hence, considerable
savings in time and money.
The system involves five integrated modules:
A knowledge base where all the expertise
concerning the subject is stored.
.
A database with information from the BHAs
used in drilling of previous directional
wells and their statistical behavior.
A database with information' from the
theoretical behavior of BHAs commonly
used in directional drilling.
A
database
with
information
from
directional surveys performed over the
path of the bore hole.
Comp~terized
applications developed to
calculate and plot the path of the bore
hole.

This system was developed using an expert

systems technology, including a knowledge base
and a inference engine. The computerized
applications for plotting and calculating the
course were developed in a conventional way
using BASIC and PASCAL': Databases were all
developed in a relational model.

INTRODUCTION.
The
use
of
tools
that
permit
process
optimization, reduce the time spent between
operations, develop new techniques and provide
information updated and precise, are of high
priority in the Industry and are part of the
strategic
planning
of
many
successful
companies around the world.
Constant efforts are employed in incorporating
new technologies in order to improve the
processes,
specially those
including new
computational applications, as well as those
promoting the creative abilities of the
personnel.
Among other innovative techniques,
Expert
Systems have drawn special attention. The most
meaningful ambition is that these Intelligent
Systems can keep the knowledge as part of the
capital of the Corporations.
How can we define Expert systems?
This
question has generated great controversy, but
scientific and engineering circles agreed that
it can be an "AUTOMATIZED SYSTEM THAT USES
ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE,
AND
MIMICS
THE
RESPONSES OF A HUMAN EXPERT IN ONE SPECIFIC
FIELD OF THE KNOWLEDGE, BEING CAPABLE OF
SOLVING PROBLEMS IN THE ABSENCE OF THE HUMAN
EXPERT" .
The main difference between an Expert System
and a Conventional System is the capacity of
the former to deal with real life problems,
that presents challenges to the capacity of
the
brain
of a human being, and to solve

References and graphics at end of paper

223

ERNESTO R. MARTINEZ, CORPOVEN S.A.

conflictive tasks using processes that mimic

the thinking capabilities of an expert.
The Latin American oil Industry has not been
far behind other companies in this issue, many
expert systems have been developed in the last
three years, one of them is the principal
protagonist of this article, and it was called
SIEXPERD
(Expert
System
on
Directional
Drilling) .
Directional
drilling
is
a
technique
of
directing a well bore along a predetermined
course to a target located a given distance
from the vertical axis of the superficial
location. The Oil Industry has used this
technique where there exist topographical
obstacles (lakes or mountains) right up to the
point where the expectation of finding hydro~
carbons is greater or for more urgent tasks
like drilling a directional relief well so
that mud and water could be pumped in to kill
a wild and cratered well.
This assignment is not easy and
strict control over the drilling
in order to maintain the bore hole
allowable values that permit the
reach the objective.

requires a
parameters,
between the
drilling to

The Drilling Engineer must make decisions,

based on.his experience, which are decisive in
the success of ths well. Millions of dollars,
even human lives, depend on his judgement.
Based upon that,
and knowing that the
experience acquired by a few engineers must
be kept in the corporation, it was decided to
develop an Expert system based on this
background.
METHODOLOGY.
During the development of an Expert System the
scope of the project, and the available
resources, must be precisely structured in
order to achieve success.
The basic structure of the knowledge must be
built before the beginning of the information
or knowledge gathering phase or Elicitation.
This process of knowledge extraction must be
cautiously driven in order to avoid rejection
by the expert.
The analyst or knowledge
engineer must
formulate various models previous to beginning
the compilation of knowledge. The modeis in
reference are:
Behavioral Model: This reflects the procedure
that the expert uses for solving a problem and
the tools employed. (books, references to
other expert, data analsis, etc .. ). This
model
allows
the
knowledge
gathering
(elicitation) under
a
st.ructured scheme,
getting this way a more ordered knowledge
base, keeping out unnecessary elements.

SPE 23664

Fundamental or Basic Model:

This model
associates the elements that are distinctive
of directional drilling, (path model, tools,
special machines, etc .. ) and their relations.
This model is distinctive of the process, its
behavior and its components.
cognoscitive
Model
which
covers
the
experiences and the heuristics, gathered by
the expert, related with his specific work
area, and the problems that are supposed to be
solved by the Expert System.
DEVELOPMENT.

The main requirement of the project was the

development
of
a
drilling
engineer
computerized assistant, with the capacity of
making
suggestions
and
solving
problems
related with the directional control of the
bore hole.
The first task in the plan was to define the
boundary of our System.It was determined that
it would cover the following steps during the
work of the Engineer:
1. Planning and Design
2. Control of drilling parameters
3. And finally statistical Analysis.
This. is
the
general
structure
of
the
Behavioral Model, based on these activities,
experienced engineers were interviewed. Based
on their response, a frame was completed where
the tasks related with decision making during
a
Directional
Drilling
Procedure
were
identified.
Planning and Design is one of the most
critical steps involved during directional
drilling. During the planning the engineer
selects the course pattern, maximum lead
angle, kickoff and the drop off points, the
rate of angle increment and the rate of angle
reduction, and if we do not choose the
appropriate parameters it is almost certain
that we will be in trouble during the drilling
operation.
Designing consists of the selection of the
drill pipe and casing
diameters, weight,
type, Bottom Hole Assemblies, drill bits, etc.
The characteristics of these elements and the
possibility of changing them by others with
different attributes must correspond with the
changes in the course selected during the
planning.
In order to maintain control during the
process of drilling an oil well, the engineer
collects all data needed to get the position
of
the
bit
(under
the
uncertaintity
parameters), makes computations and compares
the results with the planned course.Using his
judgement and experience he makes the decision
needed to maintain or correct the course. One
of the most important responsibilities during

SPE 23664

DIRECTIONAL DRILLING EXPERT SYSTEM

, 3

of the bit during the drilling process and its

relative position with the planned route.

this stage is the early detection of problems,

the personnel on duty must be conscious of
this.

The
expert also makes
calculations and
outlines the course of the hole, so this
processes also should be covered by the
system.

One aspect strongly stated by the experts was

the necessity of graphic representation of the
course in order to give a quick report of the
status of the well.

Additionally
this
expert
system
has
uncertainty management mechanisms, in order to
get the most appropriate answer
in an
environment where many inputs are not facts
only assumptions or good estimates. In thi~
system the uncertainty factor expresses the
lack of confidence in the BHA's behavior. This
uncertainty
factor is inversely related to
the amount of data, or experience gathered by
the system, and directly related to the
variance span of the directional behavior in
previous drillings.

One of the most important parameters involved

in directional drilling control,
is the
selection of the Bottom Hole Assembly. This
consists of different elements combined to
guide the drilling string in direction and
slope. This was one of the greatest concerns
for the experts, because of the lack of
information found about the behavior of the
BHAs in different oil fields and at differ.ent
depths.
Depending on the type of profile the Basic:
Model used for this study was split in four
sections: J, Modified J, S and Modified S.

The application was developed using various

Software
tools:
Data
Base
Managers
Programming Languages, and Expert system~
Shells. The selection of these depends mainly
on th~se ~actors: ease of use, portabil i ty,
graph1cs a1ds, and size of the knowledge base.
Another factor considered was the necessity
that the system run at the well site as well
as at the office.

The S profile, for example, comprises six

stages: initial vertical section, start of
deviation, angle growth, maintenance of angle,
angle fall and final vertical section. Each
course section elements was studied isolately
from the other sections. This model is
analyzed and connected with the Behavioral
Model to obtain a structure that eases the
system development. The main purpose of this
is to identify when the expert uses heuristic
and when he uses a methodical strategy in
order to get optimal results.

In order to get those goals it was decided

that the hardware must be a microcomputer
under
MS-DOS,
and
of
course,
software
compatible with them: a data base manager
commonly used by our applications, Pascal
programming language for the graphics and
calculations and a PC Expert Shell, with
capacity to interface both of them and a
graphic front end.

This is important because this systematic

behavior can be easier and faster impl~mented
and we could focus our efforts 1n the
heuristic that usually are harder to express
by the expert and even harder to represent by
the analyst. On the other hand this analysis
ensures that all parameters used by the expert
are included in our design and irrelevant data
is excluded.

Once you are in the system it shows five

options: PLANNING, CALCULATIONS, GRAPHICS,
CONSULTATION, DATABASES, REPORTS AND HELP.
Those options are activated by means of a
mouse. At the bottom the user can see a window
that shows messages like those sent by the
help procedure or by the consultation.

The cognosc:i ti ve Model is a collection of

rules or Heur ist ics, used by the expert to
solve different situations found during the
operations. These rules are gathered from the
expert, from interviews, and guided tests
followed by a validation. This represents the
heart of our system.

The PLANNING option gives the engineer the

possibility of studying diverse alternatives:
profiles "s" or "J", changes in the Kickoff
point or Drop Off Point, in the Build Up or
Drop Off
Rates,
allowing
a
thoroughful
analysis.

This work focused the heuristics used by the

expert in order to optimize the
BHA's
selection,
and
those
that
regulate
the
decision of pulling out the drill string
instead of drilling ahead.

The GRAPHICS option permits the comparison

between the planned course and the actual
course, it can zoom in the area near the
bottom of the hole.
The CALCULATIONS option giv.es the user the
distance between the actual and the planned
courses, the angle and direction and their
trends.

This Expert System mimics processes used by

human experts, therefore it needs identical
sources of data, in order to obtain similar
results. Hence it was necessary to implement
databases
with
BHAs, ,. their
theoretical
behavior, their actual behaviors in previous
wells, well design data, and all measurements
and calculations required to get the position

The DATABASES option gives access to all the

data.
Here the data can be consulted,

225

ERNESTO R. MARTINEZ, CORPOVEN S.A.

REFERENCES.

modified, deleted or included. The databases

contains the following data:

Crafting Knowledge Based Systems

Wiley-Interscience 1990

BHAs
used
in
drilling
of
previous
directional wells and their statistical
behavior.

Rolston, David
Inteligencia Artificial y Sistemas Expertos
McGraw Hill 1990

BHA's theoretical behavior.

Directional surveys performed over the
path of the bore hole.

Zambrano, Alexander
sistemas Expertos
UDO 1990

The CONSULTATION option starts the inference

engine, making the analysis of the data using
the knowledge base rules; once it finds an
answer
for
the
situation,
it
makes
a
suggestion. If this recommendation includes
BHA's change the system examines the databases
and suggests the most suitable.

Mishkoff, Henry
Understanding Artificial Intelligence
Texas Instruments 1986
Chorafas, Dimitri
Appliying Expert Systems in Business
McGraw Hill 1987

The REPORTS options enable the user to print

the data, and calculations.
The HELP option provides assistance
user during the consultation.

Harnell, Tim
Sistemas Expertos
Anaya Multimedia 1986

to the

Harmon, Paul; King, David

Expert Systems
John Wiley & Sons, Inc 1985

CONCLUSIONS.
This system has been used at various wells in
different fields in eastern Venezuela operated
by CORPOVEN. The experience o~tained by this
activities have been valuable, first because
the system has gathered data related with the
actual behavior of' the BHAs used in those
areas, and this results in less uncertaintity,
and less time spent in the selection of BHAs
and the optimization of the course and the
pullout string times; second more personnel
have received training in the process, and are
more conscious about the parameters involved
in the determination of the adequate action
for rectifying a deviated course.

Wong, V.G.
Conocimiento Experto
U.L.A. 1989
Jackson, Peter
Introduction to Expert Systems
Addison Wesley 1986
Klahr, Philip;Watherman, Donald
Expert Systems: Techniques, Tools and Applications
Addison Wesley 1986

Other accomplishments of this assignment were

the experience and confidence acquired by the
data management group in expert systems
development, and the backing of the users and
management in present and future projects.
The use of a systemic approach and modelling
the behavior of the expert and the 'phisical
phenomenon together with the heuristics,
provides a well structured frame. This ensures
the quality of the product and its fast
development.
This work has been advantageous to all people
involved and a great experience.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
The author thanks
CORPOVEN S.A. for
work.

SPE 23664

PDVSA and its SUbsidiary

allOWing to publish this

226

SPE

MODELS

BEHAVIORAL
MODEL

ORGANIZATION

I
I

HEURISTIC

COOHOSCITIVE
MODEL

BASIC
MODEL

TOOLS

BOTTOM HOLE ASSEMB.

TRAJECTORY
MODEL

II

STEPS OR
ZONES

FIGURE 1. EXPERT SYSTEM MODEL FRAMEWORK

TYPE

S"

PR.OFILE

FIGURE 2. BASIC MODEL REPRESENTATION EXAMPLE: 'S' PROFILE

BEHAVIORAL

MODEL

DATA OATHEAINCl

C
0
U
R
S

CALCULATIONS

0
N

TRAJECTORIES
C()lflw.tPAAISON

R
0

EVALUA.TION

WELL
DATA

L
SOLUTIONS
SOLUTION

SELECT'ON

THEORETICAL
DATA

t:'lr;IlDP'\ RFHAVln12Al MnnPl I'=XAMl>1 t:'

227

2366 4

SPE

EXPERT

SYSTEM

KNOWLeOGe

APUCATION

SOVACI!

FIGURE 4. EXPERT SYSTEM KNOWLEDGE ACQUIsmON

SIEXPERD

REAL DATA
THEORETICAL
DATA

USER
IHTERFASE

REAL BHA'S
THEORETICAl. 8HA'S

FIGURE 5. DIRECTIONAL DRILLING EXPERT SYSTEM OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE

228

23664