US 12,624,602 B2Granted

Method for determining a flow rate of a drilling mud in a subsoil drilling system

AssigneeGeolog S.r.l.

InventorAntonio Calleri

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Abstract

Method for determining a flow rate of a drilling mud in a subsoil drilling system which includes a main duct and a bypass conduit. The bypass conduit has a narrowed section. The method includes: feeding the bypass conduit with drilling mud, coming from a drilling well formed by the system and carrying drilling cuttings; coupling, to the narrowed section, a differential pressure sensor generating a first signal representative of a difference between a first pressure detected upstream or downstream of the narrowed section and a second pressure detected in the narrowed section; coupling, to the bypass conduit, a thermal dispersion sensor generating a second signal representative of a velocity of the mud; selecting, as a mud flow rate value, one of a first value calculated based on the first signal and on a density value of the mud, and a second value based on the second signal.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for determining a flow rate of a drilling mud in a subsoil drilling system, wherein said system comprises a main duct and a bypass conduit having an inlet and an outlet connected to said main duct, said bypass conduit having a narrowed section between said inlet and said outlet, said method comprising:

feeding said main duct with drilling mud coming from a drilling well formed by said system, wherein said mud carries cuttings generated by said system while drilling the subsoil, so that at least part of said drilling mud flows into said bypass conduit;
coupling a first measurement device with said narrowed section, the first measurement device being a differential pressure sensor configured for generating a first measurement signal representative of a difference between a first pressure detected upstream or downstream of said narrowed section and a second pressure detected in said narrowed section;
coupling a second measurement device with said bypass conduit, said second measurement device being a thermal dispersion sensor configured for generating a second measurement signal representative of a velocity of the mud;
acquiring a density value of said mud;
calculating a first value of the mud flow rate in the bypass conduit based on the first measurement signal and on the density value;
calculating a second value of the mud flow rate in the bypass conduit based on the second measurement signal;
comparing the first and second value of the mud flow rate with one or more comparison values;
selecting one of the first and second values of the mud flow rate based on said comparison;
generating an electrical output signal indicative of the selected flow rate value.

6 more elements

An apparatus for determining a flow rate of a drilling mud in a subsoil drilling system, comprising:

a bypass conduit having an inlet and an outlet connectable to a main duct of said drilling system, said bypass conduit having a narrowed section between said inlet and said outlet, wherein said bypass conduit is configured to receive from said main duct drilling mud coming from a drilling well formed by said system, wherein said mud carries cuttings generated by said system while drilling the subsoil;
a first measurement device coupled with said narrowed section, the first measurement device being a differential pressure sensor configured for generating a first measurement signal representative of a difference between a first pressure detected in said narrowed section and a second pressure detected upstream or downstream of said narrowed section;
a second measurement device coupled to said bypass conduit, said second measurement device being a thermal dispersion sensor configured for generating a second measurement signal representative of a velocity of the mud;
a processor, configured for:
acquiring a density value of said mud;
calculating a first value of the mud flow rate in the bypass conduit based on the first measurement signal and on the density value;
calculating a second value of the mud flow rate in the bypass conduit based on the second measurement signal;
comparing the first and second value of the mud flow rate with one or more comparison values;
selecting one of the first and second values of the mud flow rate based on said comparison;
generating an electrical output signal indicative of the selected flow rate value.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/319,583Filed 18 May 2023
Priority: IT 10202200001043619 May 2022
Published: US 2023/0374872 A123 Nov 2023
Granted: 12 May 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

E21B 21/08
Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor: controlling or monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid,…
E21B 47/103
Locating fluid leaks, intrusions or movements: using thermal measurements
G01F 1/363
The pressure or differential pressure being created by the use of flow constriction: with electrical or electro-mechanical indication
G01F 15/185
Supports or connecting means for meters: connecting means, e.g. bypass conduits