The practical challenges of managing and processing measuring-while-drilling (MWD) data in real life situations-PPT Presentation

PPT Presentation

Pdf Summary

The presentation examines whether measuring-while-drilling (MWD) data can help forecast grouting needs and assess whether grouting improves ground conditions, using drilling data from secondary and tertiary holes.<br /><br />Although this is theoretically possible, practical challenges include ensuring consistent units and dimensions, cleaning irrelevant data, selecting parameters suited to the ground and investigation objectives, and matching detailed drilling measurements with less spatially specific grouting records. ISO 22476-15:2016 specifies MWD parameters and accuracy requirements but does not address data cleaning. Previous studies have proposed normalization and filtering methods; one reported that a derived fracturing index predicted grout consumption 85% of the time.<br /><br />The proposed workflow starts with accurate sensor-data conversion, accounting for drill-rod weight, and using manufacturer conversion curves for force and torque. An algorithm then classifies records into drilling, flushing, redrilling, and rod extraction. Exploratory analyses compare drilling parameters and their correlations, including Somerton Index and rotation speed, across two cases with different controls on drilling practice. The presentation also investigates correlations between drilling indices and grouting data.<br /><br />The authors emphasize that drilling is affected by many interacting factors, while grouting influences a volume of ground that is not captured by measurements from a single borehole. Preparing a suitable data lake is also time-consuming, and the differing detail of the two datasets makes reliable correlation difficult. A vector-based correlation approach proposed in earlier research is identified as a possible next step, but no validated forecasting method is presented. The authors invite others to share methods for testing against their data.

Keywords

measuring-while-drilling

MWD data

grouting prediction

ground condition assessment

drilling data

data cleaning

ISO 22476-15:2016

fracturing index

Somerton Index

vector-based correlation