System for ascertaining and managing properties of a circulating wellbore fluid and method of using the same

A system for ascertaining and managing properties of a circulating wellbore fluid comprising:

• an output fluid piping system into which a fluid enters, the fluid exiting from a wellbore;
• a first sensor to sense temperature and pressure of the fluid in the output fluid piping system;
• a fluid processing and storage structure to process and store fluid received from the output fluid piping system wherein the received fluid is processed in the fluid processing and storage structure resulting in a processed fluid;
• a second sensor to sense a property of the processed fluid within the storage structure, wherein the property is at least one of the properties selected from the group consisting of mass flow rate, volumetric flow rate, temperature, density, viscosity, oil/water ratio, total solids content, chloride content, shear stress, gel strength, plastic viscosity, yield point, thermal conductivity, and specific heat capacity, wherein the second sensor provides input to the digital processor of the at least one fluid properties;
• a first temperature control apparatus hydraulically connected to the fluid processing and storage structure to receive the processed fluid from a first outlet, manage the temperature of the processed fluid, and return the fluid to the fluid processing and storage structure through a first inlet, resulting in a managed temperature fluid inside the fluid processing and storage structure;
• a first inlet conduit between the fluid processing and storage structure and a string of drill pipe disposed within the wellbore for receiving managed temperature fluid;
• and
• a third sensor to sense a property of the managed temperature fluid within the first inlet conduit, wherein the property is at least one of the properties selected from the group consisting of mass flow rate, volumetric flow rate, temperature, density, viscosity, oil/water ratio, total solids content, chloride content, shear stress, gel strength, plastic viscosity, yield point, thermal conductivity, and specific heat capacity, wherein the third sensor provides input to the digital processor of the at least one fluid properties;
• and
• a controller on the adjustable temperature control apparatus which, in response to instructions determined by the digital processor, allows adjustment of the adjustable temperature control apparatus to realize the managed temperature fluid.

A method for controlling a downhole temperature and pressure of a wellbore fluid circulating within a well comprising the steps of:

• detecting in real time at least one fluid property of the wellbore fluid as the wellbore fluid is introduced into the well, wherein the fluid property is at least one of the properties selected from the group consisting of mass flow rate, volumetric flow rate, temperature, density, viscosity, oil/water ratio, total solids content, chloride content, shear stress, gel strength, plastic viscosity, yield point, thermal conductivity, and specific heat capacity;
• detecting in real time at least one fluid property of the wellbore fluid as the wellbore fluid flows out of the well wherein the fluid property is at least one of the properties selected from the group consisting of mass flow rate, volumetric flow rate, temperature, density, viscosity, oil/water ratio, total solids content, chloride content, shear stress, gel strength, plastic viscosity, yield point, thermal conductivity, and specific heat capacity;
• calculating a setpoint surface temperature and a setpoint surface pressure which are required to achieve a desired downhole temperature and pressure at a desired depth in the well, where the temperature and pressure setpoints are dependent on a dynamic model of projected drilling conditions and/or a multivariate model from offset or historical well data;
• adjusting the setpoint surface temperature and the setpoint surface pressure which are required to achieve the desired downhole temperature and pressure at a desired depth in the well, where the adjustment is based upon the real time fluid property detected in the wellbore fluid as the wellbore fluid is introduced into the well and the real time fluid property detected in the wellbore fluid as the wellbore fluid flows out of the well;
• and
• managing the surface temperature, pressure and inflow rate of the wellbore fluid introduced into the well to maintain the setpoint surface temperature and setpoint surface pressure.

A system for ascertaining and managing properties of a circulating wellbore fluid comprising:

• an output fluid piping system into which a fluid enters, the fluid exiting from a wellbore;
• an active pit system connected to the output fluid piping system, the active pit system comprising a solids control tank receiving the fluid from the output fluid piping system, an intermediate tank in hydraulic communication with the solids control tank, and an active suction tank in hydraulic communication with the intermediate tank;
• an adjustable temperature control apparatus hydraulically connected to the active pit system, wherein the adjustable temperature control apparatus receives fluid from an active pit system outlet, adjusts the temperature of the fluid and returns the fluid to the active pit system through an active pit system inlet;
• a first sensor to sense a property of the fluid in the active pit system outlet, wherein the property is at least one of the properties selected from the group consisting of mass flow rate, volumetric flow rate, temperature, density, viscosity, oil/water ratio, total solids content, chloride content, shear stress, gel strength, plastic viscosity, yield point, thermal conductivity, and specific heat capacity, wherein the first sensor provides input to a digital processor of the at least one fluid properties;
• a second sensor to sense a property of the fluid in the active system inlet, wherein the property is at least one of the properties selected from the group consisting of mass flow rate, volumetric flow rate, temperature, density, viscosity, oil/water ratio, total solids content, chloride content, shear stress, gel strength, plastic viscosity, yield point, thermal conductivity, and specific heat capacity, wherein the second sensor provides input to a digital processor of the at least one fluid properties;
• and
• a controller on the adjustable temperature control apparatus which, in response to instructions determined by the digital processor, allows adjustment of the adjustable temperature control apparatus to realize the managed temperature fluid.