Monitoring drilling mud circulation
US4807469A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 7, 1988 |
| Grant date | Feb 28, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 7, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N30/02
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
For monitoring drilling mud circulation there is incorporated in the supply mud a known amount or concentration of at least one tracer ion which is substantially non-interactive with the other mud components and with the strata drilled, and the return or circulatory mud is analyzed at the rig site (preferably by ion chromatography) for the non-interactive ion(s) to give an indication or annular dispersion. Preferably at least two tracer ions (e.g. a tracer compound providing a non-interactive cation and non-interactive anion) are used, these being analyzed independently in the return or circulatory mud to give separate checks on annular dispersion. Preferably the tracer is injected discontinuously into the supply mud, in spaced discrete relatively concentrated doses, and the residence time distribution of the tracer is plotted for each dose.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.