Proportional control of rig drilling mud flow
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a drill string extending into a borehole defined by a formation, the drill string including a bottom hole assembly comprising a drill bit and at least one tubular;
a mud pump for pumping a drilling mud from a drilling mud source, through the drill string, out the drill bit and into an annular space created as the drill string penetrates the formation;
a plurality of chokes disposed down stream from the mud pump, the plurality of chokes comprising a first choke disposed between the mud pump and the drill string, and a second choke disposed between the mud pump and a mud tank; and
,a fluid discharge conduit in fluid communication with the annular space for transferring the drilling mud to mud handling equipment in fluid communication with the mud tank;
wherein the first choke receives a first portion of the drilling mud from the mud pump at a first flow rate,wherein the first choke reduces the first flow rate of the first portion of the drilling mud to a second flow rate,wherein the second choke receives a combined flow of (i) a second portion of the drilling mud from the mud pump at the first flow rate, the second portion of the drilling mud bypassing the first choke from the mud pump, and (ii) a portion of the first portion of the drilling mud after exiting the first choke and bypassing the drill string, andwherein the second choke reduces a flow rate of the combined flow to a third flow rate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes a mud pump for pumping a drilling mud from a drilling mud source, through a drill string, out a drill bit and into an annular, and a plurality of chokes disposed down stream from the mud pump, including a first choke disposed between the mud pump and the drill string, and a second choke disposed between the mud pump and a mud tank. The system further includes a fluid discharge conduit in fluid communication with the annular space for transferring the drilling mud to handling equipment in fluid communication with the mud tank. The first choke receives the drilling mud from the mud pump at a first flow rate, the first choke reduces drilling mud flow rate to a second flow rate less than the first flow rate, and the second choke reduces drilling mud flow rate to a third flow rate.
7 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a drill string extending into a borehole defined by a formation, the drill string including a bottom hole assembly comprising a drill bit and at least one tubular; a mud pump for pumping a drilling mud from a drilling mud source, through the drill string, out the drill bit and into an annular space created as the drill string penetrates the formation; a plurality of chokes disposed down stream from the mud pump, the plurality of chokes comprising a first choke disposed between the mud pump and the drill string, and a second choke disposed between the mud pump and a mud tank; and
,a fluid discharge conduit in fluid communication with the annular space for transferring the drilling mud to mud handling equipment in fluid communication with the mud tank; wherein the first choke receives a first portion of the drilling mud from the mud pump at a first flow rate, wherein the first choke reduces the first flow rate of the first portion of the drilling mud to a second flow rate, wherein the second choke receives a combined flow of (i) a second portion of the drilling mud from the mud pump at the first flow rate, the second portion of the drilling mud bypassing the first choke from the mud pump, and (ii) a portion of the first portion of the drilling mud after exiting the first choke and bypassing the drill string, and wherein the second choke reduces a flow rate of the combined flow to a third flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for controlling drilling mud flow rate during drilling a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
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deploying a drill string extending into a borehole, the drill string including a bottom hole assembly comprising a drill bit and at least one tubular; providing a mud pump for pumping a drilling mud from a drilling mud source, through the drill string, out the drill bit and into an annular space created as the drill string penetrates the formation; providing a plurality of chokes disposed down stream from the mud pump, the plurality of chokes comprising a first choke disposed between the mud pump and the drill string, and a second choke disposed between the mud pump and a mud tank; and
,providing a fluid discharge conduit in fluid communication with the annular space for transferring the drilling mud to mud handling equipment in fluid communication with the mud tank; wherein the first choke receives a first portion of the drilling mud from the mud pump at a first flow rate, wherein the first choke reduces the first flow rate of the first portion of the drilling mud to a second flow rate, wherein the second choke receives a combined flow of (i) a second portion of the drilling mud from the mud pump at the first flow rate, the second portion of the drilling mud bypassing the first choke from the mud pump, and (ii) a portion of the first portion of the drilling mud after exiting the first choke and bypassing the drill string, and wherein the second choke reduces a flow rate of the combined flow to a third flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification