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US 12,282,010 B2Granted
Automated analysis of drilling fluid
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsColin Stewart, Truls Fossdal, Ragnar Melz, Jerry Thomas Connaughton, Zakhar Chizhov, Neil McPherson, Rahul Sheladia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system includes a fluid conduit, a fluid chamber in communication with the fluid conduit, a rheology sensor in communication with the fluid chamber, and an electric temperature controller in communication with the fluid chamber. The fluid chamber is cooled in response to a first control signal from the electric temperature controller.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a fluid conduit;
- a fluid chamber in communication with the fluid conduit to enable the fluid chamber to receive a fluid from the fluid conduit;
- a rheology sensor in communication with the fluid chamber to enable the rheology sensor to test a rheological parameter of the fluid while the fluid is in the fluid chamber;
- a density sensor positioned along a side loop extending from the fluid chamber to enable the density sensor to test a density of a portion of the fluid extracted from the fluid chamber, wherein the side loop comprises a fluid inlet connected to a first portion of the fluid chamber and a fluid outlet connected to a second portion of the fluid chamber;
- an electric temperature controller in communication with the fluid chamber, wherein the fluid chamber is cooled in response to a first control signal from the electric temperature controller, wherein the electric temperature controller includes a thermoelectric material that produces a heated region and a cooling region, and wherein the electric temperature controller includes a pulse width modulator to switch electric current to the thermoelectric material on and off;
- a processor;
- and
- memory in communication with the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions that cause the processor to:
- receive a user input of a first desired temperature for testing the density of the fluid;
- and
- provide a control signal to operate a pump to cause the portion of the fluid to enter the side loop when the fluid within the fluid chamber is at the first desired temperature to enable the density sensor to test the density of the portion of the fluid at the first desired temperature, wherein the first desired temperature is different from a second desired temperature at which the rheology sensor tests the rheological parameter of the fluid while the fluid is in the fluid chamber.
8 more elements
A method, comprising:
- receiving instructions to test a drilling fluid sample at two or more temperatures;
- instructing rotation of a rotor positioned within a fluid chamber as drilling fluid flows into the fluid chamber;
- receiving inputs from a thermal dispersion sensor during the rotation of the rotor as the drilling fluid flows into the fluid chamber;
- blocking flow of the drilling fluid into the fluid chamber to provide the drilling fluid sample within the fluid chamber in response to determining, based on the inputs, that a level of the drilling fluid within the fluid chamber matches an operating level;
- bringing a temperature of the drilling fluid sample in the fluid chamber to a first temperature of the two or more temperatures using an electric temperature controller with current adjusted using a pulse width modulator;
- testing the drilling fluid sample at the first temperature using a fluid property sensor coupled with the electric temperature controller;
- automatically bringing the temperature of the drilling fluid sample in the fluid chamber to a second temperature after a conclusion of a test at the first temperature using the electric temperature controller by adjusting current to the electric temperature controller using the pulse width modulator;
- and
- testing the drilling fluid sample at the second temperature.
6 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber including:
- a chamber wall;
- and
- an opening defined by the chamber wall;
- a rheology sensor in communication with the fluid chamber, the rheology sensor further including a rotor protruding into the opening;
- at least one thermal dispersion sensor disposed through a side of the fluid chamber, wherein the at least one thermal dispersion sensor detects a level of a fluid sample in the fluid chamber while the rotor rotates as fluid flows into the fluid chamber to cause the fluid sample to move within the fluid chamber;
- a processor and memory in communication with the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions to cause the processor to stop flow of the fluid into the fluid chamber in response to determining, based on inputs from the at least one thermal dispersion sensor, that the level of the fluid sample within the fluid chamber matches an operating level;
- and
- an electric temperature controller in communication with the fluid chamber that is configured to control a temperature of the fluid sample within the fluid chamber.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.