Digital Well Construction with Mud Motor Applications

Abstract:

Understanding bottomhole assembly (BHA) tool behavior is critical for automating well construction. Mud motors, key BHA components, are widely used in _steering mode_ or paired with rotary steerable systems (RSS) in _power-only mode_. Their unmatched downhole power reduces surface power demands, making operations more sustainable. This paper explores mud motor physics, including torque discontinuities within the BHA, power section performance, and flow fluctuation effects. These insights are integrated into a novel mechanical specific energy (MSE) calculation, enabling autonomous well construction. The approach underpins AI and machine learning (ML) algorithms for optimizing drilling operations with hydromechanical power generators.