Mud separator monitoring system
First Claim
1. A computerized monitoring system for oil and gas drilling operations including a mud separator to provide indications of conditions in a well bore comprising:
- i. a mud pit;
ii. an injection line including a pump for injecting mud into a drill string;
iii. the mud separator having a gas phase and a liquid phase;
iv. a gas transfer line having a laminar flow segment for transporting gas from the mud separator to a flare or other equipment;
v. a mud return line for transferring return mud from the well bore containing a mixture of mud, gas and other hydrocarbons to the mud separator;
vi. a transfer line extending from the bottom of the mud separator to the mud pit;
vii. a mud pressure transducer for measuring the hydrostatic pressure of the mud phase;
viii. a thermal transducer for measuring the temperature of the mud in the mud phase;
ix. a first gas pressure transducer for measuring the gas pressure in the mud separator;
x. a second gas pressure transducer located in the laminar flow segment of the gas transfer line;
xi. a monitor display at the drilling rig to indicate conditions of the mud separator; and
xii. a computer for analyzing data from all the transducers and determining changes in the mud density and activate the monitor display to indicate conditions of the mud separator.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mud separator monitoring system utilizing electronic transducers positioned in various locations in the mud separator and the lines leading from the mud separator to the mud return pit and gas discharge flare for obtaining data during drilling operations to calculate the volume of gas retained in the drilling fluid, the hydrostatic head of the drilling fluid and gas pressure in the separator on a continuing basis and informing field personnel of conditions in the mud separator indicating potential hazard. The system further monitors continuously the volume of injected gases and hydrocarbon gases circulated during drilling operations for making adjustments to the volume of injected gases required to sustain the drilling operations.
56 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A computerized monitoring system for oil and gas drilling operations including a mud separator to provide indications of conditions in a well bore comprising:
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i. a mud pit; ii. an injection line including a pump for injecting mud into a drill string; iii. the mud separator having a gas phase and a liquid phase; iv. a gas transfer line having a laminar flow segment for transporting gas from the mud separator to a flare or other equipment; v. a mud return line for transferring return mud from the well bore containing a mixture of mud, gas and other hydrocarbons to the mud separator; vi. a transfer line extending from the bottom of the mud separator to the mud pit; vii. a mud pressure transducer for measuring the hydrostatic pressure of the mud phase; viii. a thermal transducer for measuring the temperature of the mud in the mud phase; ix. a first gas pressure transducer for measuring the gas pressure in the mud separator; x. a second gas pressure transducer located in the laminar flow segment of the gas transfer line; xi. a monitor display at the drilling rig to indicate conditions of the mud separator; and xii. a computer for analyzing data from all the transducers and determining changes in the mud density and activate the monitor display to indicate conditions of the mud separator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computerized monitoring system for oil and gas drilling operations employing a drilling rig to drill a well bore using injection gases and aqueous liquid as circulating drilling fluid through the drill string and returning it to a mud separator to provide data for safe operations comprising:
- i. an aqueous liquid pit;
ii. an injection line including a pump for injecting aqueous liquid into the drill string; iii. gas pressurizing apparatus for injecting gases into the injection line; iv. a separator having a gas phase and an aqueous liquid phase; v. a gas transfer line having a laminar flow segment for transporting gas from the separator to a flare or other equipment; vi. a return line for transferring return fluid from the well bore containing a mixture of injection gas, aqueous liquid, natural gas and formation cuttings to the separator; vii. a transfer line extending from the bottom of the separator to the aqueous liquid pit; viii. a first gas pressure transducer located in the gas phase of the separator; ix. a second gas pressure transducer located in the laminar flow segment of the gas transfer line; x. an aqueous liquid pressure transducer for measuring the hydrostatic pressure in the separator; xi. a thermal transducer for measuring the temperature of the aqueous liquid; xii. a monitor display at the drilling rig to indicate conditions of the separator; and xiii. a computer for analyzing data from the transducers and determining; (a) first volume of injected gas, Q1, flowing to the flare using the following general equation I; equation I;
##EQU10## (b) and adjusting the first volume of injected gas flowing to the flare using the ratio of the calculated volume of gases over gas volume using the following equation II;equation II;
##EQU11## - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- i. an aqueous liquid pit;
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17. A computerized monitoring system for analyzing the conditions of a drilling fluid separator use in conjunction with drilling operations for oil and gas comprising:
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i. a drilling fluid pit; ii. an injection line including a pump for injecting an aqueous liquid drilling fluid into a drill string; iii. a compressor for injecting gases into the injection line at a predetermined pressure; iv. a separator having a gas phase and an aqueous liquid phase; v. a gas transfer line having a laminar flow segment for transporting gas from the separator to a flare or other equipment; vi. an aqueous liquid return line for transferring return aqueous liquid from the well bore containing a mixture of mud, gas and other hydrocarbons to the drilling fluid separator; vii. a transfer line extending from the bottom of the drilling fluid separator to the drilling fluid pit; viii. a drilling fluid pressure transducer for measuring hydrostatic pressure of an aqueous liquid phase; ix. a thermal transducer for measuring the temperature of the aqueous liquid in the aqueous liquid phase; x. a first gas pressure transducer for measuring the gas pressure in the drilling fluid separator; xi. a second gas pressure transducer located in laminar flow segment of the gas transfer line; xii. a monitor display at the drilling rig of the conditions of the drilling fluid separator; and xiii. a computer for analyzing data from all the transducers to determine changes in the aqueous liquid density and initiate warning signals. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification