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US5222048A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for determining borehole fluid influx

Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
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Filing: 1990-11-08
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Granted: 1993-06-22
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Expires: 2010-11-08
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Abstract

Abstract Fluid influx in a borehole is determined by examining and monitoring the computed transfer function in the signal channel defined by the annulus between the borehole and a drillstring in the borehole.

Inventors

  • 👤 Donald S. Grosso
  • 👤 Ali H. Abdallah

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 13:26
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/10; E21B47/107; E21B47/12; E21B47/14; E21B47/18; G; G01; G01H; G01H17/00; H; H04; H04L; H04L7/00; H04L7/04; H04L7/041

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 108 words
A method of detecting fluid influx in an annulus defined between a drill string and a borehole, the drill string and borehole having drilling fluid therein, comprising the steps of: transmitting an input signal through the annulus from a downhole location to define a transmitted signal; detecting the transmitted signal uphole of the downhole location to determine an annulus output signal; determining the transfer function over a range of frequencies in a frequency domain of the annulus based on the input and output signals; monitoring said transfer function for detecting changes in said transfer function with respect to time so as to determine fluid influx in the annulus.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 108 words
A method of detecting fluid influx in an annulus defined between a drill string and a borehole, the drill string and borehole having drilling fluid therein, comprising the steps of: transmitting an input signal through the annulus from a downhole location to define a transmitted signal; detecting the transmitted signal uphole of the downhole location to determine an annulus output signal; determining the transfer function over a range of frequencies in a frequency domain of the annulus based on the input and output signals; monitoring said transfer function for detecting changes in said transfer function with respect to time so as to determine fluid influx in the annulus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: said input signal is transmitted as a known pre-determined input signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of: reconstructing the input signal transmitted from downhole based on analysis of the annulus output signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 76 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said drill string has an interior having drilling fluid therein and wherein said input signal is also transmitted through the interior of the drill string and including: detecting the transmitted signal transmitted through the interior of the drill string uphole of the downhole location to determine a drill string output signal; and reconstructing the input signal transmitted from the downhole location based on analysis of the drill string output signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 1 including: monitoring said transfer function to determine changes in phase and amplitude.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of claim 1 including: monitoring the annulus transfer function with respect to time and determining fluid influx in the annulus by changes in said annulus transfer function.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 36 words
The method of claim 1 including: monitoring the annulus transfer function with respect to time as compared to a reference transfer function and determining fluid influx in the annulus by changes in said annulus transfer function.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of determining the transfer function comprises the steps of: taking the Discrete Fourier Transform of the transmitted signal and the annulus output signal; and determining the auto and cross power spectral densities of the transmitted signal and the annulus output signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: said transmitted signal is detected near the surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: said transmitted signal is detected at the surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 1 including: monitoring said transfer function to determine changes in phase.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of claim 4 wherein: the signal transmitted through the interior of the drill string is detected at the surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of claim 4 wherein: the signal transmitted through the interior of the drill string is detected near the surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 1 including: monitoring said transfer function to determine changes in amplitude.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB2049934A Cited
US5055837A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-06-21 1996-12-21 1997-06-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-06-21 2000-12-21 2001-06-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-06-21 2004-12-21 2005-06-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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