US3646808A - Method for automatically monitoring and servicing the drilling fluid condition in a well bore - Google Patents

Method for automatically monitoring and servicing the drilling fluid condition in a well bore Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3646808A
US3646808A US67706A US3646808DA US3646808A US 3646808 A US3646808 A US 3646808A US 67706 A US67706 A US 67706A US 3646808D A US3646808D A US 3646808DA US 3646808 A US3646808 A US 3646808A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
volume
fluid
well bore
well
drilling fluid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US67706A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Loren W Leonard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3646808A publication Critical patent/US3646808A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B21/00—Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor
    • E21B21/08—Controlling or monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid, e.g. automatic filling of boreholes, automatic control of bottom pressure

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT This invention automatically monitors and services the drilling fluid condition of a well bore during drill pipe withdrawal by determining the amount of fluid required to replace the amount of steel removed therefrom. The required volume of fluid is then compared with the volume of fluid pumped into the borehole during the fluid refilling operation. The result of this comparison is used, among other things, to monitor kick or loss conditions which may occur during drill pipe withdrawal.
  • a volume of mud which is determined from the amount of steel withdrawn, which is in turn determined from the number of drill pipes and collars withdrawn.
  • the operation is assumed to be normal. If the amount of mud pumped into the borehole is less than the volume required to replace the amount of steel withdrawn, then some other fluid enters the borehole either from the formation itself or from another source. Such a gain of fluid is known as a kick condition. Conversely, if the volume of mud pumped into the hole is greater than the volume of mud required to replace the amount of steel withdrawn, then mud is being lost from the borehole to the formation or to another space.
  • the new method is economical, reliable in operation, and can be carried out even by a relatively unskilled driller within a minimum of time, thereby substantially reducing the cost and hazard of the trip. With the new method the driller is free to attend to chores connected with operations other than those required to refill the borehole.
  • a preferred method of this invention comprises: obtaining an electric count of the number of pipe stands pulled during each trip, multiplying the count by a scaling factor dependent upon the particular well characteristics to'obtain the volume of fluid required, comparing the volume required with a metered quantity of fluid pumped into the fill line in order for the fluid in the borehole to reach a normal reference fluid level, and using the result of this comparison to obtain an indication with respect to kick and loss conditions.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a suitable system for carrying out the preferred method of this invention.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates the use of a manual counter for providing a scaling factor into the system of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional well being drilled which typically includes a conductor casing 10, a wellhead I2, and conventional blowout preventers l4 and 16.
  • a pump 18, which can conveniently be the circulating centrifugal pump of the existing mud system that circulates the fluid or mud in a mud tank or pit 22 through a circulating fluid line 24, is selected to refill the borehole with mud.
  • the fill line 25 is connected to a three-way valve 30 of the type manufactured by Rockwell Manufacturing Company, Model 3464.
  • Ordinarily valve 30 establishes fluid communication between ports 26 and 27 in line 24 and upon becoming actuated by a line 28, which can be an electric line or an air line, valve 30 breaks fluid communication between ports 26 and 27 and establishes fluid communication between ports 26 and 29. Since the construction and operation of such a three-way valve 30 is well known in the art, no further description thereof is believed necessary.
  • a conventional fluid meter 32 the readout of which is preferably an electric signal fed via line 33 as hereinafter described.
  • One such fluid meter is manufactured by the Foxboro Company and known as a Magnetic Flow Transmitter, another is manufactured by Rotron, Inc., and known as a Velocity Flowmeter.
  • a return line 34 returns the fluid back to the mud tank 22 in conventional fashion.
  • Mounted on the derrick floor 36 are a rotary table 37 of conventional design and a suitable monitoring and alarm system, generally designated as 40.
  • System 40 is preferably a digital system to provide faster response and greater versatility. It will be understood however that this invention is not limited to any particular system and that an analog rather than a digital system could be equally employed, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
  • the components forming system 40 can be purchased from various manufacturers, such as Foxboro, Co., Atek Inc., Master Specialties Co., etc.
  • each pipe stand 44 normally comprises a number, say three, of drill pipe joints 45.
  • a stand detector 50 which detects the passage and removal of each stand and provides an appropriate electric signal onto line 51 to advance-the count in a stand counter 52.
  • the stand detector 50 may be a mechanical system, an electromechanical system, or an optical system employing a light beam and photocells.
  • the electromechanical system would include microswitches for closing an electric circuit after the passage of each pipe stand. Whichever system is employed for the stand detector 50, line 51 can be made to receive a number of pulses equal to the number of pipe stands withdrawn. This number, illustrated as 3, is displayed in the window of the stand counter 52.
  • a volume required counter 56 which may be solid-state, electronic, digital multiplier device, manually receives a sealing factor through a knob 57, which is determined from the parameters of the particular well being refilled.
  • Counter 56 multiplies this scaling factor by the number or count of stands pulled. The count of stands pulled is received on a line 58 from the stand counter 52. The number illustrated in the window of counter 56 is 1.77 barrels for the three stands pulled by the block 48.
  • This volume required is the volume of fluid necessary to fill the borehole up to a reference level, which is detected by a normal mud level detector 60, in order to replace the volume of steel withdrawn from the borehole. If after pump I8 delivers to the fill line 25 an amount of fluid equal to the volume required and the fluid level in the borehole is still below the normal level required, the pump will continue to deliver fluid into the borehole and an alarm or warning signal will be given as hereinafter described. If, after the pump has delivered the required volume of fluid into the borehole, the fluid in the borehole suddenly rises above the normal level a high-level, detector 61 will detect the rise in the fluid level to also provide a warning signal.
  • the readout of the fluid meter 32 is an electrical signal on line 33 applied to a volume pumped counter 62 which indicates the volume of fluid actually delivered downwardly into the borehole through the fill line 25.
  • This delivered volume is displayed in the window of counter 62.
  • the volume delivered is also L77 barrels.
  • a suitable comparator 64 receives the count from the volume required counter 56 on line 66 and the count from the volume pumped counter 62 on line 68. Comparator 64 compares the counts received on lines 66 and 68. The result of that comparison will be a zero output which will be indicated by a "normal" indicating device 70, in the event that the volume required is substantially equal to the volume pumped. If the volume pumped is greater than the volume required, comparator 64 will provide an output signal to a loss" indicating device 72. lf the volume pumped is less than the volume required, a kick" indicating device 74 will become actuated.
  • a simple, convenient, hand-operated counter 80 having a rotatable drum 82 which is rotated manually by a knob 84.
  • the operator selects in window 86 the particular physical parameters for the pipe stands being pulled.
  • the proper scaling factor will appear opposite to the number of feet of pipe pulled.
  • the required volume will be 0.59 barrels. It is this amount which is the scaling factor to be inserted into the volume required counter 56.
  • the circulating centrifugal pump 18 ordinarily circulates continuously the mud in the mud pit 22 through line 24.
  • Pump 18 is a relatively low-pressure, high-volume pump as compared to the relatively high-pressure, high-volume, extremely bulky stroke pump (not shown) conventionally employed to fill the borehole.
  • the operator selects, in the manner previously described, the suitable scaling factor and inserts it into the volume required counter 56.
  • the stand detector 50 detects the passage of each stand and the count in the stand counter 52 increases by one. After stand detector 50 has detected three stands, the reading in the window of the stand counter 52 will be 003 and the reading in the volume required counter 56 will be 1.77.
  • a signal will be supplied from the volume required counter 56 via a line 53 to a valve control mechanism 55 for suitably actuating the three-way valve 30.
  • This actuation is effected via line 28 and causes the three-way valve 30 to break fluid communication between ports 26 and 29, thereby commencing the refilling operation through the fill line 25 and the metering operation by the fluid meter 32.
  • the fluid level in the borehole will be at the reference level, as detected by the normal level detector 60. If the volume pumped to reach the reference level is greater than the volume required as determined by the comparator 64, the loss warning light 72 will become actuated. If the volume pumped is less than the volume required, a kick lamp 74 will become actuated. Finally, if the volume required is equal to the volume pumped, the normal lamp 70 will become actuated.
  • the normal level detector 60 will provide a signal via line 63 to the valve control device 55 for actuating the three-way valve 30, thereby breaking fluid communication between ports 26 and 29, and reestablishing fluid communication between ports 26 and 27.
  • Counters 52, 56 and 62 will then begin the next withdrawal cycle and cumulate the counts.
  • the counters can be arranged to become reset after each cycle of operation.
  • the high-level detector 61 will provide a signal to a warning lamp 71 via line 73.
  • pump 18 need not be the mud circulating pump of the mud pit 22. Instead, a pump independent of the mud circulation system can be employed for pumping fluid from pit 22 into casing and, hence, the threeway valve 30 can be eliminated. Also, other means can be used to measure the volume of steel withdrawn which determines the volume offluid required.
  • the means 50 for counting the pipe stands are positioned preferably on the sidewall of the derrick at a distance above the derrick floor 36 substantially equal to a pipe stand.
  • a method for filling a well bore with drilling fluid to replace the volume of material withdrawn while tripping comprising the steps of:
  • step (c) comparing the volume of material withdrawn from step (a) with the measured volume of fluid delivered from step (c);
  • a method for filling a well bore with drilling fluid to replace the volume of material withdrawn while tripping comprising the steps of:
  • a method for detecting the condition of a well by controlling, while tripping, the drilling fluid in said well and providing an early warning indication of an abnormality in said well characterized by:

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
  • Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)
US67706A 1970-08-28 1970-08-28 Method for automatically monitoring and servicing the drilling fluid condition in a well bore Expired - Lifetime US3646808A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US6770670A 1970-08-28 1970-08-28

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3646808A true US3646808A (en) 1972-03-07

Family

ID=22077818

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US67706A Expired - Lifetime US3646808A (en) 1970-08-28 1970-08-28 Method for automatically monitoring and servicing the drilling fluid condition in a well bore

Country Status (11)

Country Link
US (1) US3646808A (OSRAM)
AR (1) AR209887A1 (OSRAM)
AU (1) AU3224271A (OSRAM)
BR (1) BR7105532D0 (OSRAM)
CA (1) CA942285A (OSRAM)
DE (1) DE2138650A1 (OSRAM)
FR (1) FR2104887B1 (OSRAM)
GB (1) GB1338295A (OSRAM)
NL (1) NL7111525A (OSRAM)
NO (1) NO129924B (OSRAM)
ZA (1) ZA715346B (OSRAM)

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3760891A (en) * 1972-05-19 1973-09-25 Offshore Co Blowout and lost circulation detector
US3963077A (en) * 1975-06-18 1976-06-15 Faulkner Ben V Method of preventing well bore drilling fluid overflow and formation fluid blowouts
US4110688A (en) * 1976-09-20 1978-08-29 Monitoring Systems, Inc. Method and apparatus for pipe joint locator, counter and displacement calculator
FR2426944A1 (fr) * 1978-05-25 1979-12-21 Monitoring Systems Inc Procede et dispositifs de comptage des elements d'une tubulure par reperage des raccords de tubes, et de calcul du volume des matieres deplacees
US4208906A (en) * 1978-05-08 1980-06-24 Interstate Electronics Corp. Mud gas ratio and mud flow velocity sensor
US4476715A (en) * 1983-03-11 1984-10-16 Murphy Jack L Mud metering tank monitoring system
US4535851A (en) * 1983-03-09 1985-08-20 Kirkpatrick-Mcgee, Inc. Fluid flow measurement system
FR2562147A1 (fr) * 1984-03-30 1985-10-04 Nl Industries Inc Procede d'optimisation de la vitesse de manoeuvre d'un train de tiges de forage
FR2659387A1 (fr) * 1990-03-12 1991-09-13 Forex Neptune Sa Methode d'estimation de la pression interstitielle d'une formation souterraine.
US5205166A (en) * 1991-08-07 1993-04-27 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Method of detecting fluid influxes
US5205165A (en) * 1991-02-07 1993-04-27 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Method for determining fluid influx or loss in drilling from floating rigs
EP1485574A4 (en) * 2002-03-07 2005-12-14 Varco Int METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW RATE OF A WELL
US20080067116A1 (en) * 2002-11-26 2008-03-20 Unico, Inc. Determination And Control Of Wellbore Fluid Level, Output Flow, And Desired Pump Operating Speed, Using A Control System For A Centrifugal Pump Disposed Within The Wellbore
US20130168100A1 (en) * 2011-12-28 2013-07-04 Hydril Usa Manufacturing Llc Apparatuses and Methods for Determining Wellbore Influx Condition Using Qualitative Indications
US20150273601A1 (en) * 2014-04-01 2015-10-01 Fanuc Corporation Wire electric discharge machine
US10502009B2 (en) 2017-02-16 2019-12-10 Saudi Arabian Oil Company Smart selective drilling fluid system

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA992531A (en) * 1972-03-03 1976-07-06 Dresser Industries System for the automatic filling of earth boreholes with drilling fluid
GB2267300B (en) * 1992-05-23 1995-08-02 Schlumberger Services Petrol Method for detecting drillstring washouts
GB2435059B (en) 2006-02-08 2008-05-07 Pilot Drilling Control Ltd A Drill-String Connector
CN117927167B (zh) * 2024-03-25 2024-07-23 西安海联石化科技有限公司 一种油气田修井作业灌液监测系统及方法

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2290408A (en) * 1941-02-21 1942-07-21 Phillips Petroleum Co Exploration of boreholes
US2966059A (en) * 1958-02-10 1960-12-27 Warren Automatic Tool Company Indicator of drilling mud gain and loss

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2290408A (en) * 1941-02-21 1942-07-21 Phillips Petroleum Co Exploration of boreholes
US2966059A (en) * 1958-02-10 1960-12-27 Warren Automatic Tool Company Indicator of drilling mud gain and loss

Cited By (27)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3760891A (en) * 1972-05-19 1973-09-25 Offshore Co Blowout and lost circulation detector
US3963077A (en) * 1975-06-18 1976-06-15 Faulkner Ben V Method of preventing well bore drilling fluid overflow and formation fluid blowouts
US4110688A (en) * 1976-09-20 1978-08-29 Monitoring Systems, Inc. Method and apparatus for pipe joint locator, counter and displacement calculator
US4208906A (en) * 1978-05-08 1980-06-24 Interstate Electronics Corp. Mud gas ratio and mud flow velocity sensor
FR2426944A1 (fr) * 1978-05-25 1979-12-21 Monitoring Systems Inc Procede et dispositifs de comptage des elements d'une tubulure par reperage des raccords de tubes, et de calcul du volume des matieres deplacees
US4535851A (en) * 1983-03-09 1985-08-20 Kirkpatrick-Mcgee, Inc. Fluid flow measurement system
US4476715A (en) * 1983-03-11 1984-10-16 Murphy Jack L Mud metering tank monitoring system
FR2562147A1 (fr) * 1984-03-30 1985-10-04 Nl Industries Inc Procede d'optimisation de la vitesse de manoeuvre d'un train de tiges de forage
FR2659387A1 (fr) * 1990-03-12 1991-09-13 Forex Neptune Sa Methode d'estimation de la pression interstitielle d'une formation souterraine.
US5115871A (en) * 1990-03-12 1992-05-26 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Method for the estimation of pore pressure within a subterranean formation
EP0489447A1 (en) * 1990-03-12 1992-06-10 Services Petroliers Schlumberger A method for the esimation of pore pressure within a subterranean formation
US5205165A (en) * 1991-02-07 1993-04-27 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Method for determining fluid influx or loss in drilling from floating rigs
US5205166A (en) * 1991-08-07 1993-04-27 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Method of detecting fluid influxes
EP1485574A4 (en) * 2002-03-07 2005-12-14 Varco Int METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW RATE OF A WELL
US8417483B2 (en) 2002-09-27 2013-04-09 Unico, Inc. Determination and control of wellbore fluid level, output flow, and desired pump operating speed, using a control system for a centrifugal pump disposed within the wellbore
US20100150737A1 (en) * 2002-09-27 2010-06-17 Unico, Inc. Determination and Control of Wellbore Fluid Level, Output Flow, and Desired Pump Operating Speed, Using a Control System for a Centrifugal Pump Disposed within the Wellbore
US7869978B2 (en) 2002-09-27 2011-01-11 Unico, Inc. Determination and control of wellbore fluid level, output flow, and desired pump operating speed, using a control system for a centrifugal pump disposed within the wellbore
US20110106452A1 (en) * 2002-09-27 2011-05-05 Unico, Inc. Determination and Control of Wellbore Fluid Level, Output Flow, and Desired Pump Operating Speed, Using a Control System for a Centrifugal Pump Disposed Within the Wellbore
US8180593B2 (en) 2002-09-27 2012-05-15 Unico, Inc. Determination and control of wellbore fluid level, output flow, and desired pump operating speed, using a control system for a centrifugal pump disposed within the wellbore
US8249826B1 (en) 2002-09-27 2012-08-21 Unico, Inc. Determination and control of wellbore fluid level, output flow, and desired pump operating speed, using a control system for a centrifugal pump disposed within the wellbore
US7668694B2 (en) * 2002-11-26 2010-02-23 Unico, Inc. Determination and control of wellbore fluid level, output flow, and desired pump operating speed, using a control system for a centrifugal pump disposed within the wellbore
US20080067116A1 (en) * 2002-11-26 2008-03-20 Unico, Inc. Determination And Control Of Wellbore Fluid Level, Output Flow, And Desired Pump Operating Speed, Using A Control System For A Centrifugal Pump Disposed Within The Wellbore
US20130168100A1 (en) * 2011-12-28 2013-07-04 Hydril Usa Manufacturing Llc Apparatuses and Methods for Determining Wellbore Influx Condition Using Qualitative Indications
US9033048B2 (en) * 2011-12-28 2015-05-19 Hydril Usa Manufacturing Llc Apparatuses and methods for determining wellbore influx condition using qualitative indications
US20150273601A1 (en) * 2014-04-01 2015-10-01 Fanuc Corporation Wire electric discharge machine
US10016831B2 (en) * 2014-04-01 2018-07-10 Fanuc Corporation Wire electric discharge machine
US10502009B2 (en) 2017-02-16 2019-12-10 Saudi Arabian Oil Company Smart selective drilling fluid system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO129924B (OSRAM) 1974-06-10
AU3224271A (en) 1973-02-15
CA942285A (en) 1974-02-19
DE2138650A1 (de) 1972-03-02
FR2104887B1 (OSRAM) 1974-09-06
ZA715346B (en) 1972-05-31
NL7111525A (OSRAM) 1972-03-01
AR209887A1 (es) 1977-06-15
FR2104887A1 (OSRAM) 1972-04-21
GB1338295A (en) 1973-11-21
BR7105532D0 (pt) 1973-03-29

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3646808A (en) Method for automatically monitoring and servicing the drilling fluid condition in a well bore
US3729986A (en) Measuring and servicing the drilling fluid in a well
US6234250B1 (en) Real time wellbore pit volume monitoring system and method
US6357536B1 (en) Method and apparatus for measuring fluid density and determining hole cleaning problems
US2700131A (en) Measurement system
US6216532B1 (en) Gas flow rate measurement
EP2610427B1 (en) Apparatuses and methods for determining wellbore influx condition using qualitative indications
US3602322A (en) Fluid flow monitoring system for well drilling operations
US12473818B2 (en) Method and system for monitoring and controlling fluid movement through a wellbore
WO2015094327A1 (en) Tank fluid level management
WO2016205469A1 (en) Combined surface and downhole kick/loss detection
NO348658B1 (en) A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for determining an influx at a wellbore using a flowback parameter and an alarm threshold”
US3614761A (en) Method and apparatus for monitoring potential or lost circulation in an earth borehole
US4739655A (en) Method of automatically determining drilling fluid lag time while drilling a well
US4290305A (en) Drilling fluid circulating and monitoring system and method
US6164127A (en) Well flowmeter and down-hole sampler
US3911741A (en) Pneumatic fluid weighing device
EP2396506A1 (en) Method and apparatus for monitoring of esp
US4476715A (en) Mud metering tank monitoring system
CN1060246C (zh) 固井胶塞位置测量方法及其装置
US3252479A (en) Apparatus for automatically shutting down a fluid distribution system
US2528956A (en) Detection of washouts in rotary drilling strings
US2340993A (en) Method of testing wells
US2290179A (en) Method of detecting washouts in rotary well drill strings
CN118346199A (zh) 钻井用钻井液监测方法、装置、及电子设备