A distributed parameter systems view of control problems in drilling

Abstract

We give a detailed view of estimation and control problems raised by the drilling process where the distributed nature of the system cannot be ignored. In particular, we focus on the transport phenomena in Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) and UnderBalanced Operations (UBO), as well as the time-delay mechanisms of the mechanical stick-slip vibrations. These industrial challenges raise increasingly difficult control questions for hyperbolic systems.