Patent US4401169A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4401169A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for lagtime measurement during drilling
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1981-08-12
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Granted: 1983-08-30
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Expires: 2001-08-12
Abstract
Abstract A drop device, method and article of manufacture used in measuring lagtime in the drilling of a well. A unique container with calcium carbide is inserted upwardly by its guide end into the open end of a pin connection prior to its threaded assembly into a lower box connection on drill pipe. The container is handled by a resilient member during placement into the pin connection and secured in place by a loop on the resilient member. The container is formed in a right cone of thin sheet material and its tapered sides are waterproof, and a disc seals the bottom or floor of the cone. The container is held in the pin connection with the floor adjacent its lower end. The pin and box connections are assembled and resumed drilling fluid flow fragments and disperses the sheet material whereby the calcium carbide converts to acetylene that is readily detected in the outflowing drilling from the well.
Inventors
- 👤 Valiant J. Neshyba
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:05
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B49/00; E21B49/005; E21B21/00; E21B21/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A device for making certain measurements in a drilling fluid at dynamic circulating conditions during the drilling of a well with a fluid circulating drill bit on a drill pipe having pin and box connections, the device comprising: (a) a drop container of thin sheet material having a guide end, non-porous sides and an enclosing floor; (b) said container carrying internally an indicator material converting from a stable state to a gas state upon direct contact with one or more components of the drilling fluid, (c) said guide end and said sides being resistant to passage of the activating components of the drilling fluid into direct contact with said indicator material; and (d) an elastic elongated resilient member mounted to said floor, and said resilient member including a loop adapted to be slipped over one of said pin and box connections for holding said container guide end upwardly within the flow passageway of said connection.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
A device for making certain measurements in a drilling fluid at dynamic circulating conditions during the drilling of a well with a fluid circulating drill bit on a drill pipe having pin and box connections, the device comprising: (a) a drop container of thin sheet material having a guide end, non-porous sides and an enclosing floor; (b) said container carrying internally an indicator material converting from a stable state to a gas state upon direct contact with one or more components of the drilling fluid, (c) said guide end and said sides being resistant to passage of the activating components of the drilling fluid into direct contact with said indicator material; and (d) an elastic elongated resilient member mounted to said floor, and said resilient member including a loop adapted to be slipped over one of said pin and box connections for holding said container guide end upwardly within the flow passageway of said connection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said guide end connects with said sides which are tapered to said floor thereby forming a right cone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said guide end and tapered sides are constructed from a water impermeable sheet material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said indicator material is calcium carbide and said floor is a disc of sheet material secured to said right cone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said resilient member includes a circular enclosed loop from which on opposite sides extending straps and parts of the straps are secured to said enclosing floor.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
218 words
The method for measuring lagtime in a drilling fluid at dynamic circulating conditions during the drilling of a well with a fluid circulating drill bit on a drill pipe having pin and box connections, the steps comprising; (a) securing the pipe with an upstanding box connection within the well; (b) positioning a pin connection immediately above, but spaced slightly from the upstanding box connection; (c) inserting and securing a cone-like container with its apex upwardly into the flow passageway of the pin connection and the container residing substantially within the pin connection by encircling a loop of elastic elongated resilient material about the pin connection with the container also secured to the resilient material; (d) assembling threadedly the pin and box connections; (e) flowing drilling fluid downwardly through the flow passageway of the drill pipe whereby an indicator material in said container is converted into a gas state by reaction with one or more components of the drilling fluid, (f) detecting the arrival of the gas from the indicator material at the outflowing drilling fluid, and (g) correlating the time required for arrival of the gas in the outflowing mud to the volumetric capacity of the well and to the volumetric inflow of the drilling fluid into the drill pipe for determining the lagtime in the drilling fluid.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
218 words
The method for measuring lagtime in a drilling fluid at dynamic circulating conditions during the drilling of a well with a fluid circulating drill bit on a drill pipe having pin and box connections, the steps comprising; (a) securing the pipe with an upstanding box connection within the well; (b) positioning a pin connection immediately above, but spaced slightly from the upstanding box connection; (c) inserting and securing a cone-like container with its apex upwardly into the flow passageway of the pin connection and the container residing substantially within the pin connection by encircling a loop of elastic elongated resilient material about the pin connection with the container also secured to the resilient material; (d) assembling threadedly the pin and box connections; (e) flowing drilling fluid downwardly through the flow passageway of the drill pipe whereby an indicator material in said container is converted into a gas state by reaction with one or more components of the drilling fluid, (f) detecting the arrival of the gas from the indicator material at the outflowing drilling fluid, and (g) correlating the time required for arrival of the gas in the outflowing mud to the volumetric capacity of the well and to the volumetric inflow of the drilling fluid into the drill pipe for determining the lagtime in the drilling fluid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said indicator material is calcium carbide activated by aqueous components in the drilling fluid into the acetylene gas detectable in the outflowing drilling fluid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7 said container has tapered sidewalls formed of water impermeable sheet material and enclosed by a disc of sheet material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the resilient material includes a circular loop from which on opposite sides extends straps which have ends secured to the disc, and said container is positioned manually within the pin connection by grapsing said straps to each side of the disc without exposing human parts to injury between the pin and box connections.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
205 words
A carbide drop device for lagtime measurements in a drilling fluid at dynamic circulating conditions during the drilling of a well with a fluid circulating drill bit on a drill pipe having pin and box connections, the device comprising: (a) a container formed of thin sheet-like material with a guide end, tapering sides and an enclosing floor, and said sheet-like material being fragmented and dispersed by passage through the flow passageways of the drill pipe and bit; (b) said container at its guide end and tapered sides being resistant to passage of water components of the drilling fluid and adapted to be inserted into the fluid passageway of the pin connection; (c) said container enclosing an indicator material including calcium carbide reacting with the water components to produce a gas including acetylene that is readily detected in the outflowing drilling fluid from the well; and (d) an elastic elongated resilient member mounted onto said container, and said resilient member including a circular enclosed loop adapted in stretched condition to be slipped upon the pin connection and secured thereto in contracted condition; and equal length straps extending from opposite sides of the loop with the ends of the straps secured to the container adjacent said floor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
205 words
A carbide drop device for lagtime measurements in a drilling fluid at dynamic circulating conditions during the drilling of a well with a fluid circulating drill bit on a drill pipe having pin and box connections, the device comprising: (a) a container formed of thin sheet-like material with a guide end, tapering sides and an enclosing floor, and said sheet-like material being fragmented and dispersed by passage through the flow passageways of the drill pipe and bit; (b) said container at its guide end and tapered sides being resistant to passage of water components of the drilling fluid and adapted to be inserted into the fluid passageway of the pin connection; (c) said container enclosing an indicator material including calcium carbide reacting with the water components to produce a gas including acetylene that is readily detected in the outflowing drilling fluid from the well; and (d) an elastic elongated resilient member mounted onto said container, and said resilient member including a circular enclosed loop adapted in stretched condition to be slipped upon the pin connection and secured thereto in contracted condition; and equal length straps extending from opposite sides of the loop with the ends of the straps secured to the container adjacent said floor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The container of claim 10 wherein the guide member end and tapering sides are of a water proof sheet material formed into a right cone and a disc of sheet material is integrally secured across the base of the cone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The container of claim 11 wherein said indicating material is enclosed in a right cone formed of sheet material having an interleafed folded end covering, and said right cone containing indicating material is snugly received within said container and secured by said disc.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The container of claim 10 wherein parts of the straps are secured across said floor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2414246A
Cited
US3155176A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-08-29 | 1987-02-28 | 1987-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-29 | 1991-02-28 | 1991-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-29 | 1995-02-28 | 1995-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |