Method of detecting fluid influxes
US5205166A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 7, 1991 |
| Grant date | Apr 27, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 7, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B21/08
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method of detecting a fluid influx in a well being drilled with a drill string having a drilling fluid circulated therethrough from a tank via a supply line system connected to the drill string, the method being used while connecting or disconnecting a pipe to or from the drill string and comprising the steps of: PA1 a) ceasing circulation of the drilling fluid; PA1 b) disconnecting the supply line system from the drill string so as to allow any drilling fluid in the system to flow back into the tank while connecting or disconnecting a pipe; PA1 c) reconnecting the supply line to the drill string and recommencing circulation of the fluid; PA1 d) while repeating a)-c) during the normal course of drilling the well, monitoring the change in level of fluid in the tank so as to determine a model of the change in level in the tank with respect to time during steps a)-c); and PA1 e) comparing the change in tank level observed when subsequently performing steps a)-c) with the change predicted by the model so as to detect a difference therebetween indicative of an influx.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.