# US 12,222,270 B2 · Rheometer for drilling-mud viscosity measurements

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- Number: US 12,222,270 B2
- Document ID: US12222270B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/693,360
- Filed: 2022-03-13
- Published: 2022-09-15
- Granted: 2025-02-11
- Earliest claimed: 2021-03-15
- Assignees: Geolog S.r.l.
- Applicants: Geolog S.r.l.
- Inventors: Antonio Calleri
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222270B2

## CPC

- G01N 11/14: by using rotary bodies, e.g. vane (G01N11/16 takes precedence)
- E21B 21/01: Arrangements for handling drilling fluids or cuttings outside the borehole, e.g. mud boxes
- G01N 33/2823: {Raw oil, drilling fluid or polyphasic mixtures}
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

Described herein is a rheometer comprising a rotor comprising a rotary shaft and at least two screws extending longitudinally along a first portion of said shaft; a motor coupled to said shaft and adapted to rotatably drive said rotor; a stator having a cylindrical shape and adapted to contain a fluid; wherein said at least two screws form a cylindrical twin helix; wherein said cylindrical twin helix has an inside radius of 2 mm to 10 mm and an outside radius of 10 to 20 mm; wherein said stator has a radius which is longer than the outside radius of said cylindrical twin helix.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for measuring viscosity of a drilling mud, the method comprising:
providing a rheometer, including: a rotor comprising a rotary shaft and at least two screws extending longitudinally along a first portion of said shaft; a motor coupled to said shaft and adapted to rotatably drive said rotor; a stator having a cylindrical shape; wherein said at least two screws form a cylindrical twin helix; wherein said cylindrical twin helix has an inside radius of 2 mm to 10 mm and an outside radius of 10 mm to 20 mm; wherein said stator has an inside radius which is 31% longer than the outside radius of said cylindrical twin helix;
feeding the stator with a drilling mud, said drilling mud comprising cuttings;
activating the motor for rotating the cylindrical twin helix so as to stir the drilling mud;
measuring the viscosity of the drilling mud during stirring.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, comprising causing a rotational and convective motion of the drilling mud in the stator by stirring the drilling mud by means of the cylindrical twin helix.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein the rotational and convective motion prevents the cuttings included in the drilling mud from sedimenting.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least two screws are mutually congruent.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said shaft has a pointed end; wherein said end has a tip angle of 120° to 140°.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical twin helix extends longitudinally over a length of 80 mm to 120 mm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical twin helix has a pitch that equals its length.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said shaft has a second portion, along which said two screws do not longitudinally extend, wherein the first portion has a radius smaller than the second portion.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said stator is a cylindrical container, the method comprising providing the cylindrical container with an insulating sleeve associated with a temperature control and recirculation system.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the cuttings have a maximum size which is smaller than the inside radius of the twin helix.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the cuttings have a maximum size of 4 mm.