Abstract A method and apparatus for use in warning of changing conditions in a well during the drilling thereof consisting of determining differences in the hydrostatic head of the drilling fluids in the bell nipple above the flow line and recording the hydro static pressure to give a continuous record of changes during normal drilling operations. The apparatus consists of an air conduit connected to a bell nipple through an orfice in the bell nipple below the flow line. The air conduit communicates with a source of compressed air which is supplied with an air regulator for the purpose of maintaining a constant pressure source. Changes in hydrostatic head of the drilling fluid above the orfice is continuously detected by changes in the pressure in the air conduit and these changes are continuously recorded and correlated to reflect mud volume changes in the drilling fluid from the well.
Inventors
👤 R Rochon
👤 J Sneed
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-30 12:09
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B21/00; E21B21/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of rapidly detecting gas expansion and fluid flow in a well during drilling operations consisting of a. introducing a constant supply of air at a constant pressure into the mud column in the bell nipple at a point immediately below the bottom of the flow line, b. continuously recording changes in the hydrostatic pressure of the mud column acting against the air supply, and c. determining conditions in the well by correlating the changes in the hydrostatic pressure of the mud column to changes in the height of the mud column in the bell nipple to determine that conditions in the well have changed to influence the height of the mud column.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of rapidly detecting gas expansion and fluid flow in a well during drilling operations consisting of a. introducing a constant supply of air at a constant pressure into the mud column in the bell nipple at a point immediately below the bottom of the flow line, b. continuously recording changes in the hydrostatic pressure of the mud column acting against the air supply, and c. determining conditions in the well by correlating the changes in the hydrostatic pressure of the mud column to changes in the height of the mud column in the bell nipple to determine that conditions in the well have changed to influence the height of the mud column.