Method for detecting inflow of fluid in a well while drilling and implementing device
US6540021B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 10, 2001 |
| Grant date | Apr 1, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 10, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B47/103
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method for detecting inflow of fluid in a well while drilling, wherein the drilling is carried out using an installation including a hollow cylindrical drill string (3) wherein is injected fresh mud, a tubing (5) defining with the drill string (3) an annular space (7) through which the loaded mud rises; it involves continuously measuring a heat flow; then continuously calculating on the basis of the quantity the value of a characteristic representing a thermal equilibrium obtained in the absence of a fluid occurrence formation; and detecting variations in the characteristic, the variations representing a thermal imbalance, resulting from inflow of fluid in the well (1). The invention is particular by applicable in operating oil drilling installations particularly deep at sea.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.