US3638485A — Apparatus for totalizing liquid volumes in a plur…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 436 words

Apparatus to allow the driller to compare the volume of mud removed from the mud tanks and pumped into the hole with the volume of pipe he has removed from the hole and determine if a sufficient volume of mud has been pumped into the hole to replace the volume of pipe removed, said apparatus comprising means providing a force proportional to the level of the mud in each tank, means for converting said forces to a turning moment that is proportional to the volume of mud in all of the tanks, means responsive to the turning moment for providing a fluid having a pressure proportional to the total volume of mud in the tanks, said means including a conduit having an inlet and an outlet, means connecting the inlet with a source of fluid under pressure, means in the inlet to the conduit for maintaining a constant volume of said pressure fluid flowing into said conduit, means for bleeding said fluid from the conduit at a rate proportional to the turning moment to cause the pressure in the conduit to be proportional to the total volume of mud in the tanks, means for providing a visual indication of the volume of drilling mud that has been pumped into the hole, said means including a first manometer having one leg connected to said conduit and the other to the bottom of a reservoir and a second manometer having one leg connected to the top of the reservoir and the other to the atmosphere, said first manometer being filled with a first liquid and the second being filled with a second liquid that has a specific gravity less than that of the first so that the second will be displaced from the reservoir as the first liquid is forced into the reservoir by an increase in conduit pressure, a scale positioned adjacent said second leg of the second manometer that is calibrated for the level of the liquid in the second leg to indicate changes in total volume of mud in the tanks in preselected units of volume, means for adjusting the height of the column of second fluid in the second leg of the second manometer to permit the fluid to be positioned at a reference point on said scale regardless of what volume of liquid is in the tanks, and means responsive to the removal of preselected lengths of pipe from the hole for indicating on said scale the total volume of pipe removed from the hole in the same volumetric units as shown by the liquid level in the second leg of the manometer.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 436 words

Apparatus to allow the driller to compare the volume of mud removed from the mud tanks and pumped into the hole with the volume of pipe he has removed from the hole and determine if a sufficient volume of mud has been pumped into the hole to replace the volume of pipe removed, said apparatus comprising means providing a force proportional to the level of the mud in each tank, means for converting said forces to a turning moment that is proportional to the volume of mud in all of the tanks, means responsive to the turning moment for providing a fluid having a pressure proportional to the total volume of mud in the tanks, said means including a conduit having an inlet and an outlet, means connecting the inlet with a source of fluid under pressure, means in the inlet to the conduit for maintaining a constant volume of said pressure fluid flowing into said conduit, means for bleeding said fluid from the conduit at a rate proportional to the turning moment to cause the pressure in the conduit to be proportional to the total volume of mud in the tanks, means for providing a visual indication of the volume of drilling mud that has been pumped into the hole, said means including a first manometer having one leg connected to said conduit and the other to the bottom of a reservoir and a second manometer having one leg connected to the top of the reservoir and the other to the atmosphere, said first manometer being filled with a first liquid and the second being filled with a second liquid that has a specific gravity less than that of the first so that the second will be displaced from the reservoir as the first liquid is forced into the reservoir by an increase in conduit pressure, a scale positioned adjacent said second leg of the second manometer that is calibrated for the level of the liquid in the second leg to indicate changes in total volume of mud in the tanks in preselected units of volume, means for adjusting the height of the column of second fluid in the second leg of the second manometer to permit the fluid to be positioned at a reference point on said scale regardless of what volume of liquid is in the tanks, and means responsive to the removal of preselected lengths of pipe from the hole for indicating on said scale the total volume of pipe removed from the hole in the same volumetric units as shown by the liquid level in the second leg of the manometer.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 1 further provided with means for indicating when the drilling mud in the hole is above a certain level.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 150 words

Apparatus for monitoring the drilling mud system of a drilling rig while the drill pipe is being pulled from the hole to indicate if formation fluid is entering the hole or drilling mud is being lost to the formation, said apparatus comprising means providing a signal proportional to the total volume of drilling mud in the mud tanks at the surface, means responsive to the drilling mud volume signal to indicate visually the total volume of drilling mud that has been pumped into the hole to replace drill pipe removed therefrom, and means for indicating visually the total volume of pipe that has been removed from the hole, said pipe and mud-volume-indicating means including scale means arranged to indicate the difference between the two volumes, whereby any intrusion of formation fluid or loss of drilling mud is apparenT by the difference in the two volumes indicated on said scale means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 150 words

Apparatus for monitoring the drilling mud system of a drilling rig while the drill pipe is being pulled from the hole to indicate if formation fluid is entering the hole or drilling mud is being lost to the formation, said apparatus comprising means providing a signal proportional to the total volume of drilling mud in the mud tanks at the surface, means responsive to the drilling mud volume signal to indicate visually the total volume of drilling mud that has been pumped into the hole to replace drill pipe removed therefrom, and means for indicating visually the total volume of pipe that has been removed from the hole, said pipe and mud-volume-indicating means including scale means arranged to indicate the difference between the two volumes, whereby any intrusion of formation fluid or loss of drilling mud is apparenT by the difference in the two volumes indicated on said scale means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 85 words

The apparatus of claim 3 in which the means providing a signal proportional to the total volume of drilling mud in the mud tanks includes means providing a force proportional to the level of the mud in each tank, means for converting said forces to a turning moment that is proportional to the volume of mud in all of the tanks, and means responsive to the turning moment for providing a fluid having a pressure proportional to the total volume of mud in the tanks.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 86 words

The apparatus of claim 4 in which the means responsive to the turning moment includes a conduit having an inlet and an outlet, means connecting the inlet with a source of fluid under pressure, means in the conduit for maintaining a constant volume of said pressure fluid flowing into said conduit, means for bleeding said fluid from the conduit at a rate proportional to the turning moment to cause the pressure in the conduit to be proportional to the total volume of mud in the tanks.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 213 words

The apparatus of claim 5 in which the means for providing a force proportional to the volume of drilling mud in each mud tank includes a float member for floating on the surface of the mud in the tank and for moving up and down with the level of the mud as the volume of mud in the tank changes, said float including a flexible walled container having a volume that changes with changes in its internal pressure, a reservoir mounted at a fixed elevation relative to the float member and a float conduit connected to the lower end of the reservoir and the float member, a piston-cylinder assembly with one side of the piston exposed to a constant pressure and the other side being exposed to the pressure adjacent the top of the reservoir, said reservoir and float conduit being partially filled with liquid to cause changes in the pressure in the top of the reservoir in proportion to the position of the mud level in the tank relative to the reservoir to cause the pressure differential across the piston to vary with changes in the level of the drilling mud in the container whereby the piston-cylinder assembly exerts a force that is proportional to the volume of mud in the tank.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 161 words

The apparatus of claim 6 in which the means for converting the forces proportional to the mud level in each tank to a turning moment includes a balance arm mounted to pivot around a fixed axis, means connecting the piston-cylinder assembly associated with each tank to the balance arm on one side of the fixed axis so that the force exerted by each piston, in response to a lowering of the mud level, will urge the arm to pivot in one direction and a raising of the mud level will urge the arm to pivot in the other direction, each piston-cylinder assembly being connected to the balance arm at a distance from the axis that is proportional to the horizontal cross-sectional area of the tank with which it is associated, whereby the force exerted by the piston-cylinder assemblies on the arm at said distances from the fixed axis is proportional to the total volume of drilling mud in the mud tanks.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 109 words

The apparatus of claim 7 in which each piston-cylinder assembly includes a piston comprising an upright tubular member having its upper end closed and an opening adjacent the lower end and a cylinder in which the piston extends that is partially filled with a liquid to a height above the opening in the lower end of the piston to form a sealed chamber between the liquid and the closed upper end of the piston, and means connecting the chamber with the reservoir adjacent its upper end to produce a differential pressure across the closed end of the piston proportional to variations in the mud level in the mud tank.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 241 words

The apparatus of claim 8 in which the means for bleeding fluid from the conduit includes an orifice in the conduit and a valve member attached to the balance arm with one end positioned to vary the opening in the orifice in response to movement of the balance arm, means providing a consTant force turning the balance arm to rotate around said axis in a direction opposite from that in which the pistons are urging it to rotate to counterbalance the turning moment they impose on the arm, said counterbalancing force plus the distance the force is located from the axis of the arm being substantially equal to the turning moment of the pistons when the mud levels in the tanks are at their lowest levels, and a cylinder having a piston connected to the balance arm with one side exposed to the pressure of the fluid in the conduit to exert a force thereon urging the arm to rotate in a direction opposite from the said constant force in proportion to the total volume of mud in the tanks to provide a force that increases as the forces imposed on the arm by the pistons decrease and to cause the rate of bleed of the fluid from the conduit through the orifice to produce a pressure in the orifice that increases as the total volume in the tanks increases with the pressure being proportional to the total volume of mud.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 146 words

The apparatus of claim 5 in which the means providing a visual indication of the volume of drilling mud that has been pumped into the hole includes a reservoir, a first manometer having one leg connected to said conduit and the other to the bottom of said reservoir and a second manometer having one leg connected to the top of the reservoir and the other to the atmosphere, a first liquid partially filling the first manometer and reservoir, a second liquid having a specific gravity less than the first liquid filling the remainder of the reservoir and a portion of the second manometer so that the second will be displaced from the reservoir as the first liquid is forced in by an increase in conduit pressure, said second leg of the second manometer being calibrated to indicate changes in total volume in preselected units of volume.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 48 words

The apparatus of claim 10 further provided with means for adjusting the height of the column of second fluid in the second leg of the second manometer to permit the fluid to be positioned at a reference point regardless of what volume of liquid is in the containers.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 3 further provided with means for indicating when the drilling mud in the hole is above a certain level.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 160 words

Apparatus for monitoring the drilling mud system of a drilling rig while drill pipe is being pulled from the well bore to indicate any intrusion of formation fluid into the well bore or loss of drilling mud to the formation, comprising means providing a signal proportional to the volume of drilling mud in each mud pit, means integrating the volume signals for each mud pit to provide a signal proportional to the total volume of mud in the mud pits, and scale means responsive to the operation of pulling a length of pipe from the well bore and to the signal proportional to the total volume of mud in the mud pits for indicating the volume of drilling mud required to fill up the well bore after said length of pipe is pulled therefrom whereby the driller can determine if the volume of drilling mud he has pumped into the well bore is equal to the volume of pipe removed.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 160 words

Apparatus for monitoring the drilling mud system of a drilling rig while drill pipe is being pulled from the well bore to indicate any intrusion of formation fluid into the well bore or loss of drilling mud to the formation, comprising means providing a signal proportional to the volume of drilling mud in each mud pit, means integrating the volume signals for each mud pit to provide a signal proportional to the total volume of mud in the mud pits, and scale means responsive to the operation of pulling a length of pipe from the well bore and to the signal proportional to the total volume of mud in the mud pits for indicating the volume of drilling mud required to fill up the well bore after said length of pipe is pulled therefrom whereby the driller can determine if the volume of drilling mud he has pumped into the well bore is equal to the volume of pipe removed.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 57 words

The apparatus of claim 13 scale means for indicating the volume of drilling mud required to fill up the hole comprises a scale graduated in volumetric units, a pointer movable along the scale, and means for moving the pointer a preselected distance along the scale for each preselected length of pipe pulled out of the well bore.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 63 words

The apparatus of claim 14 in which the means for moving the pointer includes a wheel, means for rotating the wheel through a preselected angle for each preselected length of pipe pulled from the well bore, and means connecting the wheel to the pointer to cause the pointer to move a preselected distance for each movement of the wheel through the preselected angle.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 13 further provided with means for indicating when the drilling mud in the hole is above a certain level.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 88 words

Apparatus for indicating The volume of pipe removed from a well bore comprising, a scale graduated in volumetric units, a pointer movable along the scale to indicate total volume of pipe removed, means for moving the pointer incremental distances along the scale for each preselected length of pipe removed, said means including ratchet means for moving the pointer said incremental distance each time said ratchet means is actuated and means for actuating the ratchet means each time said preselected length of pipe is removed from the well bore.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 88 words

Apparatus for indicating The volume of pipe removed from a well bore comprising, a scale graduated in volumetric units, a pointer movable along the scale to indicate total volume of pipe removed, means for moving the pointer incremental distances along the scale for each preselected length of pipe removed, said means including ratchet means for moving the pointer said incremental distance each time said ratchet means is actuated and means for actuating the ratchet means each time said preselected length of pipe is removed from the well bore.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 53 words

The apparatus of claim 17 in which the ratchet means includes a ratchet wheel, a pawl arranged to rotate the wheel through a preselected angle of rotation with each movement of the pawl, and means for so moving the pawl each time said preselected length of pipe is removed from the well bore.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 60 words

The apparatus of claim 18 further provided with means for adjusting the angle through which the wheel is rotated with each movement of the pawl to change the incremental distance moved by the pointer as required to adjust the apparatus for pipe of different sizes or for changes in the length of pipe removed for each movement of the pawl.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 283 words

Apparatus for monitoring changes in the total volume of drilling mud above ground comprising means providing a fluid pressure signal proportional to the total volume of such drilling mud and a dual density manometer comprising a first manometer containing a liquid with a specific gravity substantially greater than water and having a first leg exposed to the total volume pressure signal and a second leg connected to a reservoir having an internal cross-sectional area substantially greater than the internal cross-sectional area of the fluid passageways through the first and second legs so that there is a substantially greater change in the level of the liquid in the first leg due to changes in the pressure signal than there is in the liquid level of the liquid in the reservoir, a second manometer containing a liquid with a specific gravity substantially less than that of the first liquid and having a first leg connected to the reservoir and a second leg connected to the atmosphere, a scale adjacent the second leg of the second manometer calibrated in convenient volumetric units, said legs of the second manometer having a relatively small cross-sectional area through which the liquid therein may flow so that relatively small changes in the liquid level of the first manometer liquid in the reservoir will produce substantial changes in the height of the liquid level in the second leg of the second manometer, and a second reservoir connected to the first leg of the second manometer having a variable volume that can be changed to adjust the liquid level in the second leg of the second manometer to the desired starting point on the scale at the beginning of a monitoring operation.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 283 words

Apparatus for monitoring changes in the total volume of drilling mud above ground comprising means providing a fluid pressure signal proportional to the total volume of such drilling mud and a dual density manometer comprising a first manometer containing a liquid with a specific gravity substantially greater than water and having a first leg exposed to the total volume pressure signal and a second leg connected to a reservoir having an internal cross-sectional area substantially greater than the internal cross-sectional area of the fluid passageways through the first and second legs so that there is a substantially greater change in the level of the liquid in the first leg due to changes in the pressure signal than there is in the liquid level of the liquid in the reservoir, a second manometer containing a liquid with a specific gravity substantially less than that of the first liquid and having a first leg connected to the reservoir and a second leg connected to the atmosphere, a scale adjacent the second leg of the second manometer calibrated in convenient volumetric units, said legs of the second manometer having a relatively small cross-sectional area through which the liquid therein may flow so that relatively small changes in the liquid level of the first manometer liquid in the reservoir will produce substantial changes in the height of the liquid level in the second leg of the second manometer, and a second reservoir connected to the first leg of the second manometer having a variable volume that can be changed to adjust the liquid level in the second leg of the second manometer to the desired starting point on the scale at the beginning of a monitoring operation.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 50 words

The apparatus of claim 20 further provided with means for indicating the volume of pipe removed from the hole to permit such volume to be continually compared with the volume of mud pumped into the hole as indicated by the liquid level in the second leg of the second manometer.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 21 further provided with means for indicating when the drilling mud in the hole is above a certain level.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 20 in which the liquid in the first manometer is mercury.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-01-31	1975-08-02	1976-02-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-01-31	1979-08-02	1980-02-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-01-31	1983-08-02	1984-02-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for totalizing liquid volumes in a plurality of containers

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