Background

[0001] Configurations of systems, such as oil field drilling systems, can be planned during a planning stage. Often, a software application is used in the planning stage. The components that make up such systems can have a number of parameters that can be adjusted through the software application during the planning stage. It can be a challenge to provide a user with non-distracting tools to manipulate the adjustable parameters.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0002] Fig. 1 shows a computer system. [0003] Figs. 2-4 show embodiments of technique for manipulating parameters through a graphical user interface.

[0004] Figs. 5-8 show embodiments of a heads up display. [0005] Fig. 9 shows a flow chart.

Detailed Description

[0006] In one embodiment, a computer system environment 100, illustrated in Fig. 1, includes a computer housing 102 that contains a processor 104, such as a microprocessor; a random access memory 106 ("RAM"); a read only memory 108 ("ROM"); one or more storage devices 110, such as hard drives, optical drives, solid state drives, and other similar devices; interconnected by a bus 112. In one embodiment, one or more network interfaces 114 and one or more input/output ("I/O") interfaces 116 provide external interfaces for the processor 104 through the bus 112. In one embodiment, one or more cursor control devices 118, such as a mouse, a track pad, a graphics tablet, or the like, interface with the processor 104 through the I/O interface 116 and allow a user to manipulate a cursor. In one embodiment, one or more input devices 120, such as a keyboard, a keypad, or the like, interface with the processor 104 through the I/O interface 116 and allow the user to input characters, numbers, drawings, and the like. In one embodiment, one or more graphical user interfaces 122 interfaces with the processor 104 through the I/O interface 116 and allows the processor 104 to display text, graphics, and other information. In one embodiment, one or more output devices 124, such as printers, plotters, or the like, interface with the processor 104 through the I/O interface 116 and, for example, allow the production of hard copy output.

[0007] In one embodiment, the processor 104 interfaces with a local area network ("LAN") 126 through the network interface 114. In one embodiment, the processor 104 can communicate with other computers through the LAN 126. In one embodiment, the processor has access to the Internet 128 through the LAN 126.

[0008] In one embodiment, a computer program to implement the techniques described herein is stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium 130, such as a compact disk ("CD"), a digital versatile disc or digital video disc ("DVD"), an external solid state drive, or the like. In one embodiment, the medium 130 is loaded into a storage device 110, such as an optical drive, and the computer program is read from the medium and stored in the RAM 106, the ROM 108, or another storage device 110, such as a hard drive. In one embodiment, the computer program is compiled and linked, if necessary, and further prepared for execution. In one embodiment, and executable image of the computer program is stored in the RAM 106, the ROM 108, or another storage device 110, such as a hard drive. In one embodiment, the processor 104 executes the executable image, receive inputs from the cursor control 118 and input device 120, stores data in the RAM 106 and/or ROM 108, and produce outputs on the graphical user interface 122 and the output device 124.

[0009] In one embodiment, the computer program is used to design a work string to be used to drill a well to produce hydrocarbons. In one embodiment, the computer program produces an output on the graphical user interface 122. In one embodiment, the output includes a well schematic window 132 and a well data window 134. It will be understood that the output illustrated in Fig. 1 is merely illustrative and that the computer program can produce output in other formats and with additional data.

[0010] In one embodiment, illustrated in Fig. 2, the well schematic window 132 includes a graphical depiction 202 of a work string being planned, a depth area 204, and a component description area 206. In one embodiment, the graphical depiction 202 includes graphical depictions of various components in the work string. In one embodiment, the depth area 204 includes data about the depth in the well of the components in the work string illustrated in the graphical depiction 202. In one embodiment, the component description area 206 includes descriptive information about the components shown in the graphical depiction 202. For example, component 208 is illustrated in the graphical depiction area 202, described in the depth area 204 as extending from 19,748 feet to 19,753 feet of depth in the work string, and in the component description area as an 8 inch stabilizer that weighs 154.36 pounds per foot ("PPF"). Other components in the work string are similarly described. [0011] In one embodiment, in a conventional system, the values associated with a component are changed, for example, by selecting (e.g. clicking on) a component or a value associated with the component and making the desired change on windows that appear to facilitate the change.

[0012] In one embodiment, illustrated in Fig. 3, a component to be adjusted is selected by using the cursor control 118 to move a cursor 302 over a component or a label associated with the component, such as the information associated with the component shown in the depth area 202 or the component description area 206. In one embodiment, the cursor 302 is a pre-selection cursor that includes a "±" adjacent to the traditional cursor arrow. In one embodiment, when the processor 104 detects selection of a component it causes the display of the component and its associated labels to be highlighted on the graphical user interface 122. In one embodiment, the highlighting is accomplished with shading as shown in Fig. 3. In one embodiment, the highlighting is accomplished by changing the color of the component and its associated labels. In one embodiment, the highlighting is accomplished by causing the components and its associated labels to flash. In one embodiment, the highlighting is accomplished by a combination of these techniques.

[0013] In one embodiment, illustrated in Fig. 4, if the processor 104 detects a selection (such as a mouse click or a tap on a graphics tablet or the like) of one of the highlighted areas (see Fig. 3), the processor 104 causes a heads up display ("HUD") 402 to appear as a semi-transparent, or translucent, panel over the schematic image and associates the newly-displayed HUD with the component associated with the selected highlighted area. In one embodiment, the processor 104 changes the cursor from the pre-selection cursor 302 with the "±" shown in Fig. 3 to a post-selection cursor 404 without the "±" shown in Fig. 4, indicating that a selection has been made. In one embodiment, the processor 104 causes labels beneath the HUD to be un-highlighted to prevent them from interfering with the HUD image. For example, in Fig. 4, the "19,753.0 ft" label, which is associated with the drill collar at that depth, has been selected, and the processor has displayed a HUD 402 for that drill collar. The labels in the depth area 202 (depths 19298, 19784, 19753 (both instances), and 19788) are un- highlighted by changing their colors along with the colors of their reference lines to a lighter color or by greying them.

[0014] In one embodiment, illustrated in Fig. 5, the HUD consists of an identifier 502 (i.e., "Drill Collar") that identifies the type of component being manipulated. In one embodiment, the identifier includes information about the depth of the component (i.e., "Drill Collar - 19,753 ft") and/or other information about the component.

[0015] In one embodiment, the HUD includes a parameter identifier 504 and a current value of the parameter (i.e. Length: 450.0 ft) being manipulated. In one embodiment, the current value of the parameter identified by the parameter identifier 504 is stored, along with current values for other parameters associated with the selected component and other unselected components in the work string, in the RAM 106, the ROM 108, or in one of the storage devices 110.

[0016] In one embodiment, the HUD includes a parameter select control 506 by which the HUD can the parameter associated with the component being manipulated. In one embodiment, shown in Fig. 5, the parameter select control 506 includes an up button and a down button. In one embodiment, the up button cycles through the parameters in one direction (e.g., "top" to "bottom") and the down button cycles through the parameters in another direction (e.g., "bottom" to "top"). In one embodiment, the parameter select control 506 is a pull-down menu that, when selected, lists all of the parameters available for manipulation. In one embodiment, the parameter select control 506 is a single button that facilitates cycling through the parameters. [0017] In one embodiment, if the processor 104 determines that a new parameter has been selected using the parameter select control 506, the processor 104 changes the parameter identifier 504 to reflect the newly selected parameter.

[0018] In one embodiment, the HUD includes parameter-adjustment controls or, as illustrated in Fig. 5, panel-adjustment segments 508, each labeled with an adjustment amount by which the parameter can be adjusted. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the parameter-adjustment segments 508 are labeled +30, +100, +500, -30, -100, and -500.

[0019] In one embodiment, the parameter-adjustment segments 508 can perform other arithmetic operations on the current value of the parameter. For example, in one embodiment, the parameter- adjustment segments 508 are multipliers, labeled for example "X2," "X3," "X4," etc. As another example, the parameter-adjustment segments are divisors, labeled for example "/2," '73, " '74," etc.

[0020] In the example shown in Fig. 5, the panel-adjustment segments 508 are arranged in a ring. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the panel-adjustment segments 508 are arranged in a specific ring such that their inner perimeters all fall on the same circle 510 and their outer perimeters all fall on the same circle 512. In one embodiment, neither circle 510 nor circle 512 actually appears with the HUD 402.

[0021] In one embodiment, parameter-adjustment segments 508 that do not have valid label values are greyed out and disabled. That is, if applying the value of a parameter-adjustment segment 508 to the parameter would make the parameter invalid then the parameter-adjustment segment 508 is greyed out. For example, if the current length of a component being manipulated is 15ft then the "-30" and "-100" parameter-adjustment segments would be greyed out since applying that value would make the length less than 0, which is invalid. The same is true for the positive numbers if there is an upper limit on the length. For example, a parameter-adjustment segment 508 would be invalid if selecting it would make the component longer than the total length of the hole.

[0022] In the example shown in Fig. 5, the "-500" parameter-adjustment segment 508 has been greyed out. The "-500" parameter-adjustment segment 508 is disabled so that selecting it would produce no result.

[0023] In one embodiment, illustrated in Fig. 6, if the processor 104 detects that the cursor 402 has been moved over a parameter-adjustment segment 508, the processor 104 causes that parameter- adjustment segment 508 to be highlighted. In one embodiment, the processor 104 highlights the selected parameter-adjustment segment 508 by changing its color, changing its depth of shading, changing the color or the width of a line surrounding the selected parameter-adjustment segment 508, or another similar technique. In the example shown in Fig. 6, the processor 104 has increased the width of the line surrounding the selected parameter-adjustment segment 508 (the "+30" parameter- adjustment segment 508).

[0024] In one embodiment, illustrated in Fig. 7, if the processor 104 detects that the highlighted parameter-adjustment segment 508 has been selected by, for example, clicking on it, the processor 104 causes the stored current value of that parameter to be adjusted by the amount associated with the highlighted parameter-adjustment segment 508 and causes the display of the current value of the parameter with the parameter identifier 504 to reflect the new current value. In the example shown in Fig. 7, the current associated with the parameter identifier 504 has changed from "450.0" to "480.0" after the "+30" parameter-adjustment segment 508 has been selected.

[0025] In one embodiment, illustrated in Fig. 8, if the processor 104 detects N selections (e.g. clicks) on a highlighted parameter-adjustment segment 508, where N > 1, each of the separations separated by a period of time less than or equal to a multiple-selection threshold period of time, the processor 104 will cause the current stored value that parameter to be adjusted by N times the amount associated with the highlighted parameter-adjustment segment 508 and will cause the display of the current value of the parameter with the parameter identifier 504 to reflect the new current value without displaying the intermediate values. In one embodiment, the multiple-selection threshold period of time is between 0.1 seconds and 1 second. In one embodiment, the multiple-selection threshold period of time is between 0.05 seconds and 2 seconds. In one embodiment, the multiple-selection threshold period of time is between 0.25 seconds and .5 second. In the example shown in Fig. 7, the current value associated with the parameter identifier 504 has changed from "450.0" to "540.0" , without displaying the intermediate values (i.e., "480.0" and "510.0"), after the "+30" parameter-adjustment segment 508 has been selected 3 times with a delay of between 0.25 and 0.5 seconds between each selection.

[0026] In one embodiment, if the processor 504 determines that the cursor 402 has been moved away from the HUD 402, the processor 504 will cause the HUD 402 to disappear, causing the well schematic window 132 to appear similar to that shown in Fig. 2, except for any adjustments that were made.

[0027] In operation, one embodiment of which is illustrated in Fig. 9, the processor 104 detects positioning of a cursor, such as cursor 302, over a component in a system schematic 132 displayed on a graphical user interface 122 and, as a result, highlights the component (block 902), as illustrated in Fig. 3. In one embodiment, as discussed with respect to Fig. 4, the processor 104 detects selection of the component and, as a result, draws a translucent heads up display ("HUD") 402 over the highlighted component (block 904). As previously discussed with respect to Fig. 5, in one embodiment, the HUD includes a display of a parameter 504 associated with the component, a display of an original value for the parameter, and a plurality of parameter-adjustment controls 508, wherein each parameter- adjustment control 508 has associated with it an amount to adjust the value of the parameter. As previously discussed with respect to Fig. 4, in one embodiment, the processor 104 un-highlights a portion of the highlighted component, wherein the un-highlighted portion is under the HUD 402. As previously discussed with respect to Fig. 6, in one embodiment, the processor 104 detects positioning of the cursor over a HUD parameter-adjustment control 508 and, as a result, highlights the HUD parameter-adjustment control (block 906). As previously discussed with respect to Figs. 7 and 8, in one embodiment, the processor 104 detects selection of the HUD parameter-adjustment control and, as a result, replaces the display of the original value of the parameter for the component with a display of an adjusted value computed by adjusting the original value by the amount associated with the selected HUD adjustment button (block 908). In one embodiment, the processor detects positioning of the cursor away from the component and, as a result, removes the drawing of the HUD and un-highlights the component (block 910)

[0028] The word "coupled" herein means a direct connection or an indirect connection.

[0029] The verb "draw" herein means to represent on the graphical user interface 122 and is not to be limited to any particular graphical technique or software.

[0030] The text above describes one or more specific embodiments of a broader invention. The invention also is carried out in a variety of alternate embodiments and thus is not limited to those described here. The foregoing description of an embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.