| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 175038000 | In response to drilling fluid circulation | 18 |
| 20090032302 | TOOL FACE SENSOR METHOD - Exhaust pressure from at least one actuator ( | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090071715 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING OPERATION OF ROCK DRILLING RIG, AND ROCK DRILLING RIG - A method of controlling operation of a rock drilling rig, and a rock drilling rig. A rate of flow of a flushing medium of the rock drilling rig is determined, and the operation of the rock drilling rig is controlled on the basis of the determined rate of flow by influencing pressure of the flushing medium. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090194331 | VACUUM FEED SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR DRILLING FLUID ADDITIVES - A system for forming a subterranean wellbore may include a pump and an additive supply. The pump pumps a drilling fluid into the wellbore while also generating a pressure differential that draws an additive across a supply line connected to the additive supply. The drilling fluid may be a gas or a liquid. A method for forming a wellbore may include drilling the wellbore, circulating a drilling fluid in the wellbore using a pump; and supplying an additive to the drilling fluid by flowing the additive across a supply line using a pressure differential generated by the pump. The pump may generate a vacuum pressure at a supply line outlet and/or create a pressure differential in the supply line. The flow of additive across the supply line may be regulated and/or stopped when the pump is not operating. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20100126770 | Non-Azimuthal and Azimuthal Formation Evaluation Measurement in a Slowly Rotating Housing - A steering tool configured for making azimuthal and non-azimuthal formation evaluation measurements is disclosed. In one embodiment a rotary steerable tool includes at least one formation evaluation sensor deployed in the steering tool housing. The steering tool may include, for example, first and second circumferentially opposed formation evaluation sensors or first, second, and third formation evaluation sensors, each of which is radially offset and circumferentially aligned with a corresponding one of the steering tool blades. The invention further includes methods for geosteering in which a rotation rate of the steering tool housing in the borehole (and therefore the rotation rate of the formation evaluation sensors) is controlled. Steering decisions may be made utilizing the formation evaluation measurements and/or derived borehole images. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20120145456 | Consistent Drilling Fluids Engineering and Management - Processes and apparatus that continuously change the physical state and characteristics of drilling fluids at planned periodic intervals to consistently and correctly compensate for differing geological formation properties, wellbore characteristics, rate of penetration, solids removal efficiency, and other essential factors involved in the drilling process. An embodiment of a process of the current invention comprises: initiating a system correction of a Minimum Base Required (“MBR”); and administering a dilutant to a drilling fluid according to the MBR. The system corrections may be performed recursively, adjusting the system's base dilutant and chemical product additions according to MBR. The drilling fluid consistency produced is based upon several drilling-rig specific parameters. Drilling fluid consistency is provided onsite through the use of mathematical software, base fluid, rig software that targets the programmed parameters, and scheduled treatments that are structured for stability according to the minimum amount of base dilutant and required quantity of chemical product to produce consistent drilling fluid properties. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120273271 | MEASUREMENT-WHILE-DRILLING MUD PULSER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME - A measurement-while-drilling mud pulser and a method for controlling a measurement-while-drilling mud pulser. The mud pulser includes a brushless DC motor that hydraulically controls a main restrictor valve that the mud pulser uses to generate mud pulses. Back EMF signals generated in the stator windings of the brushless DC motor are monitored and are used as the basis for commutating the brushless DC motor. The phase transitions in the back EMF signals can be used in governing stator energizations of the brushless DC motor to thereby govern its rotation. Relying on back EMF signals for commutation allows commutation to be performed without Hall Effect or other kinds of sensors, which can thereby reduce cost of the mud pulser and further increase reliability of the mud pulser by decreasing the number of high pressure sealings needed due to wires from Hall effect sensors, which are prone to develop leaks. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20130048379 | Controlled Full Flow Pressure Pulser for Measurement While Drilling (MWD) Device - An apparatus, method, and system described for generating pressure pulses in drilling fluid utilizing a flow throttling device which includes a controllable pulser operating sequentially within a downhole assembly within a drill string of a drill pipe. The system includes drilling fluid, fluid flow, and fluid drilling pump which when combined creates fluid flow into a bore pipe annulus within the downhole assembly creating a base line bore pipe pressure wherein bore pipe pressure is sensed via a sensor and information is sent to a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) that interprets the information. The DSP also receives information from an annulus pressure sensor that senses drilling fluid pressure as it returns to the pump. The DSP recognizes pressure variation input from the annulus pressure sensor and bore pipe pressure sensor and detects pressure variation providing signals as data information to the DSP, determining required action to adjust pulser operation. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20140048331 | MANAGED PRESSURE DRILLING SYSTEM HAVING WELL CONTROL MODE - A method of drilling a subsea wellbore includes drilling the subsea wellbore and, while drilling the subsea wellbore: measuring a flow rate of the drilling fluid injected into a tubular string; measuring a flow rate of returns; comparing the returns flow rate to the drilling fluid flow rate to detect a kick by a formation being drilled; and exerting backpressure on the returns using a first variable choke valve. The method further includes, in response to detecting the kick: closing a blowout preventer of a subsea pressure control assembly (PCA) against the tubular string; and diverting the flow of returns from the PCA, through a choke line having a second variable choke valve, and through the first variable choke valve. | 02-20-2014 |
| 20140090888 | Apparatus, System, and Method for Controlling the Flow of Drilling Fluid in a Wellbore - A drilling system includes a drill string extending through a BOP and a drilling fluid discharge coupling mounted to the BOP. In addition, the drilling system includes a drilling fluid control system configured to control a pressure or flow rate of a drilling fluid flowing through the discharge coupling. The drilling fluid control system includes a flow rate and pressure regulating device, a feedback controller system configured to operate the regulating device, and a first sensor configured to measure an actual pressure or flow rate of the drilling fluid flowing through the discharge coupling. | 04-03-2014 |
| 20140262510 | CLOSED LOOP DRILLING FLUIDS CIRCULATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A closed loop drilling fluids circulation system includes a first drilling fluid circulation system disposed at a first subterranean drill site. The first drilling fluid circulation system includes a supply tank for holding clean drilling fluid and a solids control device configured to separate solids from used drilling fluid. In addition, the system includes a central processing facility disposed at a location remote from the first drill site and configured to receive used drilling fluid from the solids control device and supply clean drilling fluid to the supply tank. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140345942 | DIVERTING FLOW IN A DRILLING FLUID CIRCULATION SYSTEM TO REGULATE DRILLING FLUID PRESSURE - Diverting flow in a drilling fluid circulation system to regulate drilling fluid pressure. A pump of a drilling fluid pressure regulation system for a well bore can discharge drilling fluid through discharge piping at flow rate. A pressure control device has an inlet connected to the discharge piping and an outlet connected to bypass piping. A processor connected to the pump and the pressure control device can adjust the pressure control device to modify a pressure of the drilling fluid by at least partially opening the pressure control device and releasing drilling fluid into the bypass piping at a selected flow rate. The processor can modify the drilling fluid flow rate in the discharge piping based on the pressure represented by the pressure measurement signals and the selected flow rate in the bypass piping such that the target pressure parameter of the drilling fluid in the discharge piping is satisfied. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140345943 | AUTOMATIC DRILL FLUID MEASUREMENT APPARATUS - The present invention is directed to an automatic drill fluid measurement apparatus. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an apparatus which may automatically measure a weight or volume of a quantity of drill fluid and provide real-time feedback information regarding the drill fluid to a well operator. The automatic drill fluid measurement apparatus may further comprise a variety of sensors and other devices that are used in conjunction with a microprocessor to obtain useful information regarding drill fluid, such as mass flow meters, volume sensors and timers. Together, the apparatus, sensors and microprocessor may work together to control the opening and closing of valves of the measurement apparatus. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140374157 | CLEAN OUT SUB - A clean out sub for use in a drill string having a tool body with a cavity for passage of drilling fluid and annular fluid circulation ports extending through the tool body, a valve spool is positioned within the tool body cavity having a reduced diameter orifice, a compression spring is located within the tool body cavity adjacent the valve spool, wherein a drop in fluid pressure created by the orifice imparts a downhole force on the valve spool and at a predetermined force overcomes a set resistive force of the compression spring thereby moving the valve spool to open the annular fluid circulation ports. | 12-25-2014 |
| 20150060140 | Eccentric Steering Device and Methods of Directional Drilling - The present invention recites a method, system and apparatus for steering a drill string, wherein an eccentric steering device is recited. The eccentric steering device may comprise an eccentric sleeve configured for mounting exterior to a portion of the drill string and permitting the drill string to rotate within the eccentric sleeve and a brake positioned to selectively cause rotation of the eccentric sleeve with the drill string. In one embodiment, the eccentric steering device may further comprise one or more bearings positioned between the eccentric sleeve and the drill string. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150337606 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLED SLIP CONNECTION - A controlled slip connection system is configured to be coupled between a drill pipe and a directional drilling assembly, and the slip connection system is configured to enable continual rotation of the drill pipe while providing a rotationally stationary surface for a mud motor of the directional drilling assembly to react against. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20160017676 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING A SELF-SUSTAINED INFLUX OF FORMATION FLUIDS INTO A WELLBORE - A method of identifying a self-sustained influx of formation fluids into a wellbore includes the steps of closing an annular shut-off device and diverting an annular return flow from the wellbore through a first flow rate measurement device, measuring a flow rate of said annular return flow, measuring an inlet flow rate of fluids entering the well through a second flow rate measurement device in a fluid injection line, and identifying a self-sustained influx of formation fluids if a non-decreasing measured annular return flow rate is greater than said measured inlet flow rate. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160145992 | Continuous Downlinking While Drilling - A method for continuous downlinking from a surface location to a bottom hole assembly includes using a bottom hole assembly to drill a subterranean wellbore. A drilling value is acquired at a surface location while drilling. The acquired drilling value is downlinked from the surface location to the bottom hole assembly. This process is continuously repeated while drilling. | 05-26-2016 |
| 20160376858 | DRILLING FLUID PROCESSING SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A processing system for separating solids from used drilling fluids to produce cleaned drilling fluids includes a cleaned drilling fluid tank and a filtering unit having an inlet container and a separating mechanism. An example filtering unit mounts to a top surface of the cleaned drilling fluids tank while a portion of the inlet container extends beneath the top surface. Certain types of flow lines may extend through the fluid tank to the portion of the inlet container. Certain types of flow lines may have multiple flow line inlets. Certain types of flow lines may have flow rate sensor arrangements. | 12-29-2016 |
