Patent US4733233A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4733233A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for borehole fluid influx detection
Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
•
Filing: 1986-12-01
•
Granted: 1988-03-22
•
Expires: 2006-12-01
Abstract
Abstract The infusion of fluid from the formation being drilled into a borehole is detected in an MWD system by modulating the drilling fluid stream in the drill pipe and detecting pressure variations commensurate with the modulation at the surface in the annulus between the drill pipe and wall of the well. Modulation to generate the pressure variations in the annulus is accomplished by the same pressure generating element used to generate pressure signals in the mud column for MWD measurements. The detected pressure variations are compared in phase and/or amplitude with their own near term past history or with the drilling fluid pressure variations in the drill pipe resulting from the modulation. Variations in phase or amplitude which can not be attributed to changes in the drilling operation will be indicative of fluid infusion.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald S. Grosso
- 👤 G. Robert Feeley, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:34
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B21/00; E21B21/08; E21B47/00; E21B47/10; E21B47/107; E21B47/12; E21B47/14; E21B47/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
Apparatus for detection of fluid influx in a borehole in which a drill string is positioned, the drill string cooperating with the wall of the borehole to define an annulus, and in which drilling fluid is circulated from the surface through the interior of the drill string and into the annulus back to the surface, and in which data bearing primary signals are transmitted to the surface in the drilling fluid by operation of pressure generating means in said drill string, and in which reflected signals of said primary signals are transmitted to the surface in the annulus through the drilling fluid, the apparatus for detection of fluid influx including: means for detecting in said annulus the reflected signals of the primary signals in the drilling fluid in said drill string, said reflected signals defining secondary signals; means for detecting said primary signals; means for measuring the difference between at least one selected parameter of said primary signals with the same selected parameter of said secondary signals wherein the entire drill pipe is a reference with which to make a differential comparison to the entire annular space; and means for determining changes in said measured difference between the selected parameter of said primary and secondary signals wherein fluid influx into the annulus is determined.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
Apparatus for detection of fluid influx in a borehole in which a drill string is positioned, the drill string cooperating with the wall of the borehole to define an annulus, and in which drilling fluid is circulated from the surface through the interior of the drill string and into the annulus back to the surface, and in which data bearing primary signals are transmitted to the surface in the drilling fluid by operation of pressure generating means in said drill string, and in which reflected signals of said primary signals are transmitted to the surface in the annulus through the drilling fluid, the apparatus for detection of fluid influx including: means for detecting in said annulus the reflected signals of the primary signals in the drilling fluid in said drill string, said reflected signals defining secondary signals; means for detecting said primary signals; means for measuring the difference between at least one selected parameter of said primary signals with the same selected parameter of said secondary signals wherein the entire drill pipe is a reference with which to make a differential comparison to the entire annular space; and means for determining changes in said measured difference between the selected parameter of said primary and secondary signals wherein fluid influx into the annulus is determined.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for detecting said primary signals comprises: means for sensing pressure pulses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said selected parameter is amplitude.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein: said means for detecting said primary signal includes first transducer means for receiving said primary signal and generating a first output signal commensurate therewith; said means for detcting said secondary signal includes second transducer means for receiving said secondary signal and generating a second output signal commensurate therewith.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said selected parameter is the phase of said signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein: said means for detecting said primary signal includes first transducer means for receiving said primary signal and generating a first output signal commensurate therewith; said means for detecting said secondary signal includes second transducer means for receiving said secondary signal and generating a second output signal commensurate therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for detecting said secondary signals comprises: means for sensing pressure pulses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for detecting said secondary signals comprises: means for sensing pressure pulses.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
253 words
A method of monitoring a well drilling operation for the presence of fluid influx into the bore hole, the drill operation comprising the use of a tubular drill pipe having a diameter which is less than the diameter of the borehole being formed wherein a generally annular space is defined between the drill pipe and the borehole, said monitoring being performed during the drilling of the borehole, and in which drilling fluid is pumped down the interior of the drill pipe, the drilling fluid existing at about the base of the drill pipe and returning to the surface via the generally annular space between the drill pipe and borehole wall, and in which data bearing primary signals in the form of primary pressure pulses are transmitted to the surface in the drilling fluid by the operation of pressure generating means in the drill string, the method comprising the steps of: sensing in said annular space reflected pressure pulses of the primary pulses in the drilling fluid in the drill pipe, said reflected pressure pulses defining secondary pressure pulses; measuring the difference between one selected parameter of the pressure pulses in the interior of the drill pipe with the same selected parameter of the pressure pulses in the annular space wherein the entire drill string is a reference with which to make a differential comparison to the entire annulus; and determining changes in said measured difference between the selected parameters of said primary and secondary pulses wherein fluid influx into the annulus is determined.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
253 words
A method of monitoring a well drilling operation for the presence of fluid influx into the bore hole, the drill operation comprising the use of a tubular drill pipe having a diameter which is less than the diameter of the borehole being formed wherein a generally annular space is defined between the drill pipe and the borehole, said monitoring being performed during the drilling of the borehole, and in which drilling fluid is pumped down the interior of the drill pipe, the drilling fluid existing at about the base of the drill pipe and returning to the surface via the generally annular space between the drill pipe and borehole wall, and in which data bearing primary signals in the form of primary pressure pulses are transmitted to the surface in the drilling fluid by the operation of pressure generating means in the drill string, the method comprising the steps of: sensing in said annular space reflected pressure pulses of the primary pulses in the drilling fluid in the drill pipe, said reflected pressure pulses defining secondary pressure pulses; measuring the difference between one selected parameter of the pressure pulses in the interior of the drill pipe with the same selected parameter of the pressure pulses in the annular space wherein the entire drill string is a reference with which to make a differential comparison to the entire annulus; and determining changes in said measured difference between the selected parameters of said primary and secondary pulses wherein fluid influx into the annulus is determined.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 9, wherein: the parameter is amplitude.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 9 wherein: the parameter is phase.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3789355A
Cited
US3821726A
Cited
US3968844A
Cited
US4151457A
Cited
US4188624A
Cited
US4216536A
Cited
GB2049934A
Cited
US4253530A
Cited
US4299123A
Cited
US4297880A
Cited
US4492865A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-03-22 | 1991-09-21 | 1992-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-22 | 1995-09-21 | 1996-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-22 | 1999-09-21 | 2000-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |