# US 2024/0200437 A1 · Instrumented sub > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0200437 A1 - Document ID: US20240200437A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/540,539 - Filed: 2023-12-14 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-16 - Assignees: Nabors Drilling Technologies USA, Inc. - Applicants: Nabors Drilling Technologies USA, Inc. - Inventors: Sergei Knizhnik; Scott Boone; Christopher Conrad; Maciej Panek; Edward J. Harris, III - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240200437A1 ## CPC - E21B 44/04: in response to the torque of the drive {; Measuring drilling torque (E21B44/06 takes precedence; measuring stresses in a well bore pipe E21B47/007)} - E21B 23/02: for locking the tools or the like in landing nipples or in recesses between adjacent sections of tubing (E21B23/03 - E21B23/06 take precedence) - E21B 47/007: Measuring stresses in a pipe string or casing (for locating blocked portions of pipes E21B47/09) - E21B 47/01: Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like - E21B 47/017: Protecting measuring instruments - E21B 47/12: Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling - F16K 37/0025: {Electrical or magnetic means (F16K37/0075 takes precedence)} - E21B 19/165: {Control or monitoring arrangements therefor} - E21B 2200/02: Down-hole chokes or valves for variably regulating fluid flow - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract An instrumented sub is provided that can include an upper portion and a lower portion of a body, the body having a flow passage extending through the upper portion and the lower portion, and an instrumented clamp that can be removably attached to the body between the upper portion and the lower portion, where the instrumented clamp can be electrically coupled to the body via a first electrical coupling of the instrumented clamp being mated to a second electrical coupling mounted to the body. A method is also provided for attaching an instrumented clamp to a body before or after the body is coupled to the top drive, transmitting signals between the instrumented clamp and a rig controller; and removing the instrumented clamp from the body while the body remains coupled to the top drive. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An instrumented sub for supporting subterranean operations, the instrumented sub comprising: a body comprising an upper portion and a lower portion; a flow passage extending through the upper portion and the lower portion; and an instrumented clamp that is removably attached to the body between the upper portion and the lower portion, wherein the instrumented clamp is electrically coupled to the body via a first electrical coupling mated to a second electrical coupling, with the first electrical coupling being mounted to the instrumented clamp and the second electrical coupling being mounted to the body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The instrumented sub of claim 1, wherein a first valve is disposed in the upper portion, and wherein the first valve selectively permits or restricts fluid flow through the flow passage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The instrumented sub of claim 2, wherein a proximity sensor detects a first position of the first valve and communicates the first position to the instrumented clamp, and wherein the instrumented clamp communicates the first position to a rig controller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The instrumented sub of claim 3, wherein a second valve is disposed in the lower portion, and wherein the second valve selectively permits or restricts fluid flow through the flow passage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The instrumented sub of claim 4, wherein a proximity sensor detects a second position of the second valve and communicates the second position to the instrumented clamp, and wherein the instrumented clamp communicates the second position to a rig controller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The instrumented sub of claim 1, wherein a radially reduced diameter portion of the body forms an annular groove in the body between the upper portion and the lower portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The instrumented sub of claim 6, wherein one or more strain gauges are positioned in the annular groove, and wherein the one or more strain gauges measure a torsional force, a tensile force, a compression force, a bending force, or combinations thereof acting on one of the upper portion or the lower portion relative to the other one of the upper portion or the lower portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The instrumented sub of claim 6, wherein one or more sensors are positioned along the annular groove, and wherein the one or more sensors measures torque applied by a top drive, rotational parameters of a tubular string, sensor data used to determine toolface, vibration signals received from the tubular string and top drive, weight of the tubular string, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The instrumented sub of claim 6, wherein a protective sleeve is mounted to one of the upper portion and the lower portion, and wherein the protective sleeve surrounds the annular groove and is at least partially aligned axially on the body with the annular groove. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The instrumented sub of claim 1, wherein the instrumented clamp further comprises a first arcuate portion and a second arcuate portion that are disposed on opposite sides of the body when the instrumented clamp is removably attached to the body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The instrumented sub of claim 10, wherein the first arcuate portion and the second arcuate portion engage the body when the first arcuate portion and the second arcuate portion are removably attached to each other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The instrumented sub of claim 10, wherein the first arcuate portion comprises control electronics that control communications to a rig controller via wireless telemetry through one or more antennas disposed in the first arcuate portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The instrumented sub of claim 10, wherein the second arcuate portion comprises a plurality of energy storage devices and supplies power to the first arcuate portion when the instrumented clamp is removably attached to the body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The instrumented sub of claim 13, wherein the second arcuate portion comprises an energy storage portion that is removably attached to an electrical coupling portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The instrumented sub of claim 14, wherein the energy storage portion is removable from the electrical coupling portion while the electrical coupling portion remains attached to the first arcuate portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The instrumented sub of claim 1, wherein a box end adjacent the upper portion is configured to couple the instrumented sub to a top drive, and wherein a pin end adjacent the lower portion is configured to couple the instrumented sub to a second sub or a tubular string. ### Claim 17 A method for performing a subterranean operation, the method comprising: coupling a body of an instrumented sub between a top drive and a tubular string; attaching an instrumented clamp to the body, wherein the instrumented clamp is axially spaced away from either end of the body; transmitting one or more communication signals between the instrumented clamp and a rig controller; and removing the instrumented clamp from the body while the body remains coupled between the top drive and the tubular string. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the instrumented clamp comprises one or more energy storage devices, electronic circuitry, one or more sensors, one or more antennas, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: collecting, via the instrumented clamp, rig operation parameters from the one or more sensors; and transmitting the rig operation parameters to a rig controller via the one or more antennas. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: reattaching the instrumented clamp onto the body after one or more components of the instrumented clamp have been inspected, replaced, refurbished, recharged, had memory downloaded, had updates uploaded, had updated components installed, or combinations thereof.