Detection of gas influx into a wellbore
US8689904B2 · kind B2 · utility
3Cited by
4References
14Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 26, 2011 |
| Grant date | Apr 8, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 6, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B47/107
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An influx of gas into a borehole can be detected by deploying a string of acoustic sensors along a drill string or other conduit to monitor an acoustic characteristic, such as velocity or attenuation, of the drilling fluid present in the borehole. In response to detection of acoustic pulses propagating in the drilling fluid, the acoustic sensors generate signals that are representative of acoustic characteristics if the drilling fluid. Based on the generated signals, a data acquisition system can determine whether a change in the monitored acoustic characteristic is indicative of a gas influx.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.