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US 5,969,227 AGranted
Apparatus and method for testing lubricity
AssigneeNewpark Drilling Fluids LLC
InventorNorman P. Kenney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining the lubricity of an oil well drilling fluid, whereby a sample in a cell holder may be subjected to a desired pressure, temperature, kinetic friction, and lubricating fluid to simulate drilling conditions in a well bore, and particularly to simulate the drilling conditions of a non-vertical well bore such as encountered in horizontal drilling which generates sliding non-rotational frictional forces.
Claims16
An apparatus for determining the lubricity of an oil well drilling fluid, the apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a cell body having two ends;
- a cell holder disposed within the cell body to hold a core sample for testing;
- a first end cap on one end of the cell body, the end cap comprising an O-ring seal holder to admit a rod into the cell body;
- a second end cap on the other end of the cell body, the second end cap comprising a plurality of ports for inlet and outlet of fluids and samples and temperature monitoring and regulation, and further comprising an O-ring seal holder to admit a rod into the cell body;
- at least one pressure actuated cylinder in contact with the cell holder to maintain the cell holder in a desired position in the cell body;
- a rod axially disposed through the assembly of the cell body, cell holder, and the end caps;
- a motor attached to the rod to turn the rod;
- a linear actuator attached to the base and to the assembly of the cell body, cell holder, end caps, and cylinder to axially translate the assembly so that the rod axially translates in the cell holder;
- whereby a sample in the cell holder may be subjected to a desired pressure, temperature, kinetic friction, and lubricating fluid to simulate drilling conditions in a well bore, and particularly to simulate the drilling conditions of a non-vertical well bore, to determine the lubricating effectiveness of the fluid.
7 more elements
A method for determining the lubricity of an oil well drilling fluid, the method comprising:
- providing an apparatus comprising a base;
- a cell body having two ends;
- a cell holder disposed within the cell body to hold a core sample for testing;
- a first end cap on one end of the cell body, the end cap comprising an O-ring seal holder to admit a rod into the cell body;
- a second end cap on the other end of the cell body, the second end cap comprising a plurality of ports for inlet and outlet of fluids and samples and temperature monitoring and regulation, and further comprising an O-ring seal holder to admit a rod into the cell body;
- at least one pressure actuated cylinder in contact with the cell holder to maintain the cell holder in a desired position in the cell body;
- a rod axially disposed through the assembly of the cell body, cell holder, and the end caps;
- a motor attached to the rod to turn the rod;
- a linear actuator attached to the base and to the assembly of the cell body, cell holder, end caps, and cylinder to axially translate the assembly so that the rod axially translates in the cell holder;
- whereby a sample in the cell holder may be subjected to a desired pressure, temperature, kinetic friction, and lubricating fluid to simulate drilling conditions in a well bore, and particularly to simulate the drilling conditions of a non-vertical well bore, to determine the lubricating effectiveness of the fluid;
- providing a well bore core sample into the cell holder in the cell;
- closing and sealing the cell with the end caps;
- inserting the rod through the end caps and the cell;
- providing a fluid the lubricity of which is desired to be determined in to the cell through a port in one of the end caps;
- actuating the cylinder against the cell holder to provide a desired pressure to the core sample;
- actuating the linear actuator to provide translational kinetic friction from the rod to the core sample in the cell holder;
- activating the motor to provide rotational kinetic friction from the rod to the core sample in the cell holder;
- and
- determining the lubricity of the fluid in the cell.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.