In-line viscometer for measuring the viscosity of drilling fluids
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorXiangnan Ye
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In-line viscosity measurement systems and related methods may be useful in measuring the viscosity of a fluid in a flow path and, more specifically, in-line measuring the viscosity of a drilling fluid when integrated with drilling systems. For example, a method may include drilling a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation while circulating a drilling fluid through the wellbore; measuring the viscosity of the drilling fluid with an in-line viscometer system after the drilling fluid has circulated through the wellbore, the in-line viscometer systems comprising either: (1) a two coaxial cylinder configuration, (2) a parallel plates configuration, or (3) a combination thereof positioned to allow for the drilling fluid to flow between the coaxial cylinders or parallel plates.
Claims12
A method comprising:
- drilling a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation while circulating a drilling fluid through the wellbore in a fluid flow path;
- measuring the viscosity of the drilling fluid with an in-line viscometer system after the drilling fluid has circulated through the wellbore, the in-line viscometer system disposed within the fluid flow path and comprising either:
- two coaxial cylinders positioned within the fluid flow path, the coaxial cylinders spaced apart by a gap to allow for a fluid flowing through the flow path to also flow between the two coaxial cylinders;
- an actuator configured to radially contract and expand at least one of the two coaxial cylinders relative to the other coaxial cylinder in a sine function oscillatory motion, wherein the sine function oscillatory motion is in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the fluid flow path;
- a load cell coupled to one of the two coaxial cylinders to measure a total force applied to thereto;
- a temperature sensor;
- and a processor for receiving temperature data from the temperature sensor and the total force applied from the load cell and calculating a viscosity of the fluid.
A method comprising:
- circulating a drilling fluid through a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation while drilling the wellbore;
- passing the drilling fluid through two coaxial cylinders;
- moving at least one of the two coaxial cylinders to produce a sine function oscillatory motion between the two coaxial cylinders, wherein the sine function oscillatory motion is in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the circulating fluid;
- measuring a force required to produce the sine function oscillatory motion;
- and calculating a viscosity of the drilling fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.