System for monitoring the instantaneous velocity of a pipe string being tripped relative to a well bore

Claim 2

For a drilling system, alarm means for providing an indication whenever predetermined velocity values for travel of a pipe string relative to a borehole are exceeded by actual velocity of pipe being moved relative to a borehole, means adapted for coupling with a pipe string for generating electrical input signals representative of actual velocity of a pipe string, said alarm means including selectively operable preset means for establishing a preset condition which is representative of a velocity limit, means for receiving and correlating input signals to said preset means where such input signals are representative of actual velocity of a pipe being moved relative to a borehole, said correlating means being constructed and arranged for providing an output signal whenever such an input signal reaches a preset condition, means for receiving said output signal and for producing a physiological indication in response thereto, and means coupled to said receiving and correlating means for selectively applying only those input signals to said alarm means which represent travel of such pipe in one direction.

Claim 3

The alarm means of claim 1 wherein said input signals represent actual velocity of a pipe in one direction and said selectively applying means includes means for reversing the polarity of the input signals for deriving input signals representative of actual velocity of a pipe being moved relative to a borehole in an opposite direction.

Claim 4

The alarm means of claim 2 wherein said generating means produces said input signals as electrical current values and wherein said correlating means includes a current responsive meter.

Claim 5

For a drilling system, alarm means for providing an indication whenever predetermined velocity values for travel of a pipe string relative to a borehole are exceeded by actual velocity of pipe being moved relative to a Borehole, means adopted for coupling with a pipe string for generating electrical input signals representative of actual velocity of a pipe string moving in either direction, said alarm means being adopted to receive an input electrical signal representative of actual velocity of pipe travel relative to a borehole and including selectively adjustable present means for providing an output control signal whenever said input signals reaches a predetermined magnitude, means responsive to said output signal for producing a physiological indication, and means for sensing input signals and for selectively supplying only those input signals to said alarm means which represent travel of such pipe in one of of said directions.

Claim 6

For a drilling system, alarm means for providing an indication whenever predetermined velocity values for travel of a pipe string relative to a borehole are exceeded by actual velocity of pipe being moved relative to a Borehole, means adopted for coupling with a pipe string for generating electrical input signals representative of actual velocity of a pipe string moving in either direction, said alarm means being adopted to receive an input electrical signal representative of actual velocity of pipe travel relative to a borehole and including selectively adjustable present means for providing an output control signal whenever said input signals reaches a predetermined magnitude, means responsive to said output signal for producing a physiological indication, and means for sensing input signals and for selectively supplying only those input signals to said alarm means which represent travel of such pipe in one of of said directions.

Claim 7

The alarm means of claim 4 wherein preset means are provided for upper and lower velocity limits and wherein indication means are provided for each of said preset means, said indication means respectively including a light-emitting means.

Claim 8

The alarm means of claim 5 wherein said indication means further includes horn means.

Claim 9

In a drilling system, a system for use in monitoring the velocity of a pipe string while it is being run into or out of a well bore comprising, means adapted for coupling with a pipe string for generating direct current electrical signals proportional to the velocity of travel of a pipe string, direct current meter means for receiving a direct current electrical signal representative of the velocity of a pipe string being moved relative to a borehole, said meter means being responsive to the magnitude of said signal for producing a visual indication of the velocity value related to such input signal, means for reversing the polarity of an electrical signal applied to said meter means, means associated with said meter for establishing upper and lower predetermined velocity limits, alarm means, means responsive to an electrical signal causing said upper limit to be exceeded or said lower limit to be passed for actuating said alarm means, and means coupled to said alarm means for disabling the alarm means whenever an electrical signal causes said lower limit to be passed to a certain minimum value below said lower limit.

Claim 10

In a drilling system, a system for use in monitoring the velocity of a pipe string while it is being run into or out of a well bore comprising, means adapted for coupling with a pipe string for generating direct current electrical signals proportional to the velocity of travel of a pipe string, direct current meter means for receiving a direct current electrical signal representative of the velocity of a pipe string being moved relative to a borehole, said meter means being responsive to the magnitude of said signal for producing a visual indication of the velocity value related to such input signal, means for reversing the polarity of an electrical signal applied to said meter means, means associated with said meter for establishing upper and lower predetermined velocity limits, alarm means, means responsive to an electrical signal causing said upper limit to be exceeded or said lower limit to be passed for actuating said alarm means, and means coupled to said alarm means for disabling the alarm means whenever an electrical signal causes said lower limit to be passed to a certain minimum value below said lower limit.

Claim 11

For a drilling system, an alarm mean for use in monitoring the velocity of a pipe string while it is being run into or out of a well bore, comprising means adapted for coupling with a pipe string for generating electrical input signals representative of the velocity of a pipe string being moved relative to a well bore, meter means for receiving an electrical input signal representative of the velocity of a pipe string being moved relative to a borehole, said meter means being responsive to the magnitude of such signals for producing a visual indication of the velocity value related to such input signal, means coupled to said meter means for establishing upper and lower predetermined limits of velocity values, alarm indicator means, and means responsive to an electrical signal causing said upper limit to be exceeded or said lower limit to be passed for actuating said alarm means.

Claim 12

For a drilling system, an alarm mean for use in monitoring the velocity of a pipe string while it is being run into or out of a well bore, comprising means adapted for coupling with a pipe string for generating electrical input signals representative of the velocity of a pipe string being moved relative to a well bore, meter means for receiving an electrical input signal representative of the velocity of a pipe string being moved relative to a borehole, said meter means being responsive to the magnitude of such signals for producing a visual indication of the velocity value related to such input signal, means coupled to said meter means for establishing upper and lower predetermined limits of velocity values, alarm indicator means, and means responsive to an electrical signal causing said upper limit to be exceeded or said lower limit to be passed for actuating said alarm means.

Claim 13

In a drilling system using a string of pipe for drilling a well bore, means for supporting and moving a string of pipe relative to a borehole, means for detecting the velocity of such a string of pipe relative to a well bore and for developing electrical signals functionally related to the instantaneous velocity of such string of pipe, means responsive to said electrical signals for producing an indication of said electrical signals, selectively operable means for providing a reference signal to said indication producing means and for adjusting the indication of said indication producing means for obtaining a selected indication, means responsive to said reference signal for producing an indication of velocity values, and means for adjusting said last-mentioned means relative to reference signal for obtaining a selected velocity value.

Claim 14

In a drilling system using a string of pipe for drilling a well bore, means for supporting and moving a string of pipe relative to a borehole, means for detecting the velocity of such a string of pipe relative to a well bore and for developing electrical signals functionally related to the instantaneous velocity of such string of pipe, means responsive to said electrical signals for producing an indication of said electrical signals, selectively operable means for providing a reference signal to said indication producing means and for adjusting the indication of said indication producing means for obtaining a selected indication, means responsive to said reference signal for producing an indication of velocity values, and means for adjusting said last-mentioned means relative to reference signal for obtaining a selected velocity value.

Claim 19

For a drilling system, alarm means for providing an indication whenever predetermined velocity values for travel of a pipe string relative to a borehole are exceeded by actual velocity of pipe being moved relative to a borehole, means adapted for coupling with a pipe string for generating electrical input signals representative of actual velocity of a pipe string, said alarm means being adapted to receive an input electrical signal representative of actual velocity of pipe travel relative to a borehole and including selectively adjustable preset means for providing an output control signal whenever said input signal reaches a predetermined magnitude, means responsive to said output signal for producing a physiological indication, and means for disabling said physiological indication means at a predetermined magnitude of said input signal below the signal magnitude established for a lower velocity limit.

Claim 20

For a drilling system, alarm means for providing an indication whenever predetermined velocity values for travel of a pipe string relative to a borehole are exceeded by actual velocity of pipe being moved relative to a borehole, means adapted for coupling with a pipe string for generating electrical input signals representative of actual velocity of a pipe string, said alarm means being adapted to receive an input electrical signal representative of actual velocity of pipe travel relative to a borehole and including selectively adjustable preset means for providing an output control signal whenever said input signal reaches a predetermined magnitude, means responsive to said output signal for producing a physiological indication, and means for disabling said physiological indication means at a predetermined magnitude of said input signal below the signal magnitude established for a lower velocity limit.

Claim 21

The alarm means of claim 12 wherein said input signal generating means obtains signals for movement of a pipe string in either direction, and further including means for sensing such input signals and for selectively applying only those input signals to said alarm means which represent travel of such pipe string in one of said directions.

Claim 22

For a drilling system, an alarm means for use in monitoring the velocity of a pipe string while it is being run into or out of a well bore, comprising means adapted for coupling with a pipe string for generating electrical input signals representative of the velocity of a pipe string being moved relative to a well bore, meter means for receiving an electrical input signal representative of the velocity of a pipe string being moved relative to a borehole, said meter means being responsive to the magnitude of such signals for producing a visual indication of the velocity value related to such input signal, means associated with said meter means for establishing upper and lower predetermined limits of velocity values, alarm indicator means, means responsive to an electrical signal causing said upper limit to be exceeded or said lower limit to be passed for actuating said alarm means, and means for disabling said alarm means whenever said lower limit is passed by a predetermined value.

Claim 23

For a drilling system, an alarm means for use in monitoring the velocity of a pipe string while it is being run into or out of a well bore, comprising means adapted for coupling with a pipe string for generating electrical input signals representative of the velocity of a pipe string being moved relative to a well bore, meter means for receiving an electrical input signal representative of the velocity of a pipe string being moved relative to a borehole, said meter means being responsive to the magnitude of such signals for producing a visual indication of the velocity value related to such input signal, means associated with said meter means for establishing upper and lower predetermined limits of velocity values, alarm indicator means, means responsive to an electrical signal causing said upper limit to be exceeded or said lower limit to be passed for actuating said alarm means, and means for disabling said alarm means whenever said lower limit is passed by a predetermined value.

Claim 24

The alarm means of claim 14 and further including means for reversing the polarity of the electricaL signal input to said meter means.