Abstract A radioactive tracer system for indicating drill bit wear or failure utilizing radioactive krypton 85 dissolved or dispersed in an organic or metal organic thickened grease. Preferably the radioactive krypton is placed so that when drill bit wear or failure occurs, the radioactive krypton 85 is released and effectively becomes diffused in the circulating drilling fluid. At the surface, the radioactive krypton 85 gas is separated from the circulating drilling fluid by gas-mud separating means and is transported as a gas to a counting chamber where an accurate radioactivity count of beta rays released from the krypton is obtained. The beta rays indicate drill bit wear or failure when detected above the normal background radioactivity of the recirculating drilling fluid.
A LUBRICATING GREASE CONTAINING AT LEAST ONE MICROCURIE PER CUBIC CENTIMETER OF SAID GREASE OF GASEOUS KRYPTON 85 DISPERSED THEREIN.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
20 words
A LUBRICATING GREASE CONTAINING AT LEAST ONE MICROCURIE PER CUBIC CENTIMETER OF SAID GREASE OF GASEOUS KRYPTON 85 DISPERSED THEREIN.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A composition of matter comprising a major portion of a lubricating oil, from 5 to 25 weight percent of an organic or metal organic thickening agent and in an amount sufficient to thicken said lubricating oil to the consistency of grease and at least one microcurie per cubic centimeter of said grease of gaseous krypton 85.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A composition of matter comprising a major portion of a lubricating oil, from 5 to 25 weight percent of an organic or metal organic thickening agent and in an amount sufficient to thicken said lubricating oil to the consistency of grease and at least one microcurie per cubic centimeter of said grease of gaseous krypton 85.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The composition defined in claim 2 wherein said krypton 85 is present in an amount from 1 microcurie to 100 millicuries per cubic centimEter of said grease.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The composition defined in claim 2 wherein said thickening agent is a polyurea, alkali metal terephthalamate, lithium stearate, calcium complex; aluminum complex or polymeric thickener.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The composition defined in claim 2 wherein said thickening agent is a polyurea or lithium stearate thickener.