| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 175048000 | Measuring or indicating drilling fluid (1) pressure, or (2) rate of flow | 60 |
| 20080196943 | Condition Checking Apparatus and Method - An apparatus ( | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080210470 | System and Method for Reservoir Characterization Using Underbalanced Drilling Data - In an underbalanced drilling system and method, a change is induced in flowing bottom hole pressure in a wellbore. Data of the surface flow rate of effluent is then measured in response to the induced change. This measured data is obtained using a multi-phase flow meter before a separator of the underbalanced drilling system. Algorithms in computer software analyze the flowing bottomhole pressure and the measured surface flow rate data and determine both permeability and formation pressure for a portion of the wellbore in real-time during the underbalanced drilling operation. Ultimately, portion of the wellbore is characterized with the determined permeability and formation pressure. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080210471 | Rotating control device docking station - A system and method is provided for converting a drilling rig between conventional hydrostatic pressure drilling and managed pressure drilling or underbalanced drilling using a docking station housing mounted on a marine riser or bell nipple. This docking station housing may be positioned above the surface of the water. When a removable rotating control device is remotely hydraulically latched with the docking station housing, the system and method allows for interactive lubrication and cooling of the rotating control device, as needed, along with a supply of fluid for use with active seals. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080236891 | HIGH PRESSURE FRACTURE TESTER - A system for testing a drilling fluid including a vessel having a fluid inlet, a filtrate outlet, a fluid outlet, and at least one permeable media disposed within the vessel. The system further including a base fluid container in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, a test fluid container in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, a filtrate container in fluid communication with the filtrate outlet, and a collection container in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. Additionally, the system includes a data acquisition device configured to receive data from at least one of the vessel, the fluid container, the filtrate container, and the collection container. Also, a method for determining sealing characteristics of a drilling fluid including injecting a test fluid having a fluid loss control material from at least fluid container to a vessel, the vessel having a permeable media having two plates disposed to create a variable gap. The methods further including measuring a fracture tip fluid loss through the variable gap and measuring a matrix fluid loss through the permeable media. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080245570 | MODULAR CONNECTOR AND METHOD - A modular tool for use in subterranean formations includes a first module, a second module and one or more connectors for connecting the first and second modules. In particular, the first module includes a first collar that at least partially defines an exterior of the tool and that includes a first engagement mechanism at a first end of the collar and a second engagement mechanism at a second end of the collar. The first module also includes a fluid passageway for passing drilling fluid therethrough. The second module has a similar configuration as includes similar architecture. The one or more connectors facilitate the connection of at least one flowline fluidly connected to an exterior of the tool, and an electrical pathway for transmitting power and/or data between the modules. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080283296 | LIQUID AND SOLIDS ANALYSIS OF DRILLING FLUIDS USING FRACTIONATION AND IMAGING - A method of determining drilling fluid contents including fractionating a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample includes a drilling fluid, and collecting image data from the fractioned fluid sample. Furthermore, processing the image data with a process station to produce a rendered image, and outputting the rendered image. Additionally, a system for determining drilling fluids content including an image gathering vessel having a holding section and an image gathering device operatively coupled to the image gathering vessel for collecting image data from a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample includes a drilling fluid. Furthermore, a processing station for receiving the image data from the image gathering device and for producing a rendered image of the fluid sample based on the image data. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20090032304 | MUD LEVEL SENSING SYSTEM - A non-contact measuring system using emitted and received electromagnetic radiation or microwaves is mounted on the return line carrying oil drilling mud and cuttings from an oil drilling apparatus. The system measures the height and flow of the mud and cuttings in the pipe. In one embodiment, it is mounted to the pipe in a low profile manner to protect it, and it uses a reflective surface to reflect the signal to the flow being measured. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090038852 | Pumping System - The invention relates to a pumping system for transporting drilling mud during the driving or sinking of bores. In said system, the pump assembly is interactively connected to the rotary drive unit ( | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090152006 | DUAL STRIPPER RUBBER CARTRIDGE WITH LEAK DETECTION - A rotating control drilling device includes an upper sealing element and a lower sealing element positioned around a drillstring and forming a chamber therebetween and a leak detection device. The leak detection device includes a piston in communication with the chamber, a magnet disc disposed on an end of the piston, and a plurality of magnetic sensors arranged in a magnetic sensing ring around the rotating control drilling device. Upon reaching a selected critical pressure in the chamber, a spring is configured to compress as the magnet disc is positioned proximate to the plurality of magnetic sensors. Furthermore, a method to detect leaks in a rotating control device includes positioning a leak detection device in communication with a chamber located between upper and lower sealing elements and signaling with the leak detection device when a pressure of the chamber exceeds a selected critical pressure. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090159337 | Method for detecting formation pore pressure by detecting pumps-off gas downhole - A method for the detection of gas invading a wellbore during drilling by the influx of fluids which contain gas from the formations penetrated by a wellbore. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090200079 | DOWNHOLE WASHOUT DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - Disclosed herein is a method of detecting a downhole washout. The method includes, positioning a plurality of sensors along a downhole drillstring, communicatively coupling the plurality of sensors to a processor, and analyzing data sensed by the plurality of sensors with the processor for relationships indicative of a washout. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090272580 | DRILLING SYSTEM WITH DRILL STRING VALVES - A method to control borehole fluid flow includes detecting a drilling condition and operating at least one valve in the drill string to place an exterior of the drill string in fluid communication with an interior of the drill string in response to detecting the drilling condition. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090301780 | COMPARTMENTALIZED MWD TOOL WITH ISOLATED PRESSURE COMPENSATOR - The present invention relates to a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tool having a pressure compensation system and reservoir segregated from fluid integration with actuator mechanism lubricants. The MWD tool can also be serviced on the rig floor without the need to drain, reseal and charge the compensation system. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20100025111 | Direct Drive MWD Tool - The present invention relates to a measurement-while-drilling tool [ | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100314169 | Wideband Mud Pump Noise Cancelation Method for Wellbore Telemetry - A method for attenuating pump noise in a wellbore drilling telemetry system includes spectrally analyzing measurements of a parameter related to operation of a pump used to move drilling fluid through the drilling system. Synthetic spectra of the parameter are generated based on a number of pumps in the pump system and a selected number of harmonic frequencies for each pump. Which of the synthetic spectra most closely matches the spectrally analyzed parameter output is determined. The most closely matching synthetic spectrum is used to reduce noise in a signal detected proximate the Earth's surface transmitted from a part of the drilling system disposed in a wellbore. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20110005834 | Method to control bit load - The method of controlling the load on a drill bit drilling a hole by providing differential pressure across a seal area on a drilling assembly to increase the bit load and providing a relief valve from the annular area above the seal to the bore returning fluid to the surface to limit the maximum differential pressure to limit the maximum load allowed. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110005835 | Unequal Error Protection for Embedded Coding of Borehole Images and Variable-Quality Telemetry Channels - An unequal error protection scheme for borehole telemetry. The scheme, when applied to imaging applications, assigns more protection for the more significant bits and less protection for less significant bits. When applied to communication using channels of different quality, more protection is provided for channels of poor quality. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110036629 | ROTATING CONTROL HEAD LEAK DETECTION SYSTEMS - A system and method to detect leaks in the rotating control head and a latching system to latch the rotating control head to a housing is disclosed. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110042141 | Remediation of Relative Permeability Blocking Using Electro-osmosis - A bottomhole assembly is provided with a cathode. The cathode produces a static field in the earth formation and by the electroosmotic effect, inhibits the invasion of the formation by borehole fluids and reduces formation damage. The cathode also results in improved estimates of formation permeability using flow tests. A cathode on a wireline string may be used to reduce water saturation in an invaded zone near a borehole. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110048802 | Method and Apparatus for Controlling Bottomhole Temperature in Deviated Wells - An apparatus and method for reducing temperature along a bottomhole assembly during a drilling operation is provided. In one aspect the bottomhole temperature may be reduced by drilling a borehole using a drill string having a bottomhole assembly at an end thereof, circulating a fluid through the drill string and an annulus between the drill string and the borehole, diverting a selected portion of the fluid from the drill string into the annulus at a selected location above the drill bit to reduce pressure drop across at least a portion of the bottomhole assembly to reduce temperature of the bottomhole assembly during the drilling operation. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110056749 | ARRANGEMENT AND A METHOD FOR MONITORING AN AIR FLOW IN A DRILL RIG - The present invention relates to an arrangement in a rock drill rig | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110088949 | Methods and Apparatus for Characterization of Petroleum Fluids Contaminated with Drilling Mud - A method and system for characterizing formation fluids contaminated with drilling mud that compensates for the presence of such drilling mud. The operations that characterize formation fluids contaminated with drilling mud can be carried out in real-time. The operations also characterize a wide array of fluid properties of petroleum samples contaminated with drilling mud in a manner that compensates for the presence of drilling mud. The operations characterize the viscosity and density of petroleum samples contaminated with drilling mud at formation conditions in a manner that compensates for differences between formation conditions and flowline measurement conditions. The operations also derive live fluid density unaffected by contamination of mud filtrate based on a scaling coefficient dependent on measured gas-oil ratio of the formation fluid. This scale factor accounts for excess volume created during mixing processes, which increases the accuracy of characterizations for high gas-oil ratio samples, especially gas condensate. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110168445 | Downhole Downlinking System Employing a Differential Pressure Transducer - A downhole tool includes a downlinking system deployed in a downhole tool body having an internal through bore. The downlinking system includes a differential pressure transducer configured to measured a pressure difference between drilling fluid in the internal through bore and drilling fluid external to the tool (in the borehole annulus). The differential transducer is electrically connected with an electronic controller (deployed substantially anywhere in the drill string) that is configured to receive and decode pressure waveforms. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110253447 | MULTIPLE DISTRIBUTED FORCE MEASUREMENTS - Methods, computer programs, and systems for detecting at least one downhole condition are disclosed. Forces are measured at a plurality of locations along the drillstring. The drillstring includes a drillpipe. At least one of the forces is measured along the drillpipe. At least one downhole condition is detected based, at least in part, on at least one measured force. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110284290 | METHOD FOR DRILLING THROUGH NUISANCE HYDROCARBON BEARING FORMATIONS - A method for controlling entry of hydrocarbon into a wellbore from a subsurface formation includes determining whether hydrocarbon is entering the wellbore. Whether a rate of hydrocarbon entry into the wellbore is slowing is then determined Control of discharge from the wellbore is then switched from maintaining a selected wellbore pressure to controlling a rate of discharge of fluid from the wellbore to be substantially constant if the hydrocarbon entry rate is slowing. Control of discharge from the wellbore is returned to maintaining the selected wellbore pressure when the hydrocarbon stops entering the wellbore. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110303462 | ANNULUS PRESSURE SETPOINT CORRECTION USING REAL TIME PRESSURE WHILE DRILLING MEASUREMENTS - A method of controlling pressure in a wellbore can include determining a real time wellbore pressure Pwb | 12-15-2011 |
| 20120118638 | Drilling Method For Drilling A Subterranean Borehole - A method of drilling a subterranean borehole comprising:
| 05-17-2012 |
| 20120228027 | METHOD FOR CHARACTERIZING SUBSURFACE FORMATIONS USING FLUID PRESSURE RESPONSE DURING DRILLING OPERATIONS - A method for characterizing a subsurface formation using a fluid pressure response during wellbore drilling operations includes the steps of determining a change in wellbore pressure proximate the surface, calculating a change in volumetric flow rate out of the wellbore as a function of the change in wellbore pressure proximate the surface, determining a downhole fluid pressure in the wellbore corresponding to the change in wellbore pressure proximate the surface and determining a productivity index value as a function of the change in volumetric flow rate, the downhole fluid pressure and a reservoir pressure. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20130008718 | CONTROL SYSTEM AND INTERFACE FOR A TUNNELING APPARATUS - A tunneling apparatus is disclosed. The tunneling apparatus includes a drill string formed by a plurality of drill string sections. The drill string has a proximal end and a distal end. The tunneling apparatus also includes a drill head mounted at the distal end of the drill string, the drill head including a cutting unit, a rotational driver that provides torque for rotating the cutting unit, and a thrust driver for applying thrust to the drill string. The tunneling apparatus further includes a vacuum system for withdrawing spoils generated by the cutting unit during operation of the tunneling apparatus and a drilling fluid system for providing drilling fluid to adjacent the cutting unit during operation of the tunneling apparatus. The tunneling apparatus includes a control system that allows an operator to select between a drilling mode and a break-out mode. The tunneling apparatus also includes a control interface that allows an operator to monitor vacuum pressure which concurrently controlling operation of various systems of the tunneling apparatus. | 01-10-2013 |
| 20130025940 | ACTIVE EQUIVALENT CIRCULATING DENSITY CONTROL WITH REAL-TIME DATA CONNECTION - An apparatus uses well devices, both downhole and at the surface, to control at least one condition in a wellbore. The downhole equipment includes flow restriction devices that modulate fluid flow along a wellbore annulus, flow bypass devices that selectively bypass fluid flow from wellbore tubular bore to the wellbore annulus, and downhole sensors that generate information relating to a selected parameter of interest. The surface equipment includes a pump that circulates a drilling fluid in the wellbore. Controllers, which may be downhole and/or at the surface, use sensor information to generate advice parameters or signals that may be used to control the flow restriction devices, the flow bypass devices, and/or the fluid circulation pump. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130056273 | METHOD OF DRILLING A SUBTERRANEAN BOREHOLE - A method of drilling a subterranean well bore using a tubular drill string, the method including the steps of injecting a drilling fluid into the well bore via the drill string and removing said drilling fluid from an annular space in the well bore around the drill string via a return line, wherein the method further includes oscillating the pressure of the fluid in the annular space in the well bore, and monitoring the rate of flow of fluid along the return line. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20130075158 | Methods and Apparatus to Determine Slowness of Drilling Fluid in an Annulus - Methods and apparatus to determine slowness of drilling fluid in an annulus are described. An example method of determining slowness of drilling fluid in an annulus of a borehole in a formation includes obtaining a first slowness of the drilling fluid in the annulus and measuring with a downhole tool slownesses of the formation based on the first slowness. The example method also includes determining a first compressibility of the formation based on the slownesses of the formation and a first density of the formation and calculating a second density and a second compressibility of the drilling fluid in the annulus based on the first density and the first compressibility. The method also includes calculating a second slowness of the drilling fluid in the annulus based on the second density and the second compressibility. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130087388 | WELLBORE INFLUX DETECTION WITH DRILL STRING DISTRIBUTED MEASUREMENTS - A method for detecting a wellbore influx with drill string distributed measurements includes obtaining a first annular measurement from a first sensor disposed on a drill string. The method also includes obtaining a second annular measurement from a second sensor disposed on the drill string and computing a gradient of a first interval defined by the first and second sensors. Finally, the method includes detecting a wellbore influx based on the gradient and the first and second annular measurements. | 04-11-2013 |
| 20130146359 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING A WELL FOR UNWANTED FORMATION FLUID INFLUX - A method of monitoring a well for unwanted formation fluid influx is disclosed. Measurements of well outflow are acquired during a period in which drilling operations are performed for the well. Occurrences of stagnant flow events during the period are determined. An outflow signature is generated from the well outflow measurements for each stagnant flow event. The outflow signatures are displayed sequentially in time of occurrence. Each outflow signature is analyzed for an anomaly. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20130186688 | METHODS FOR DETERMINING FORMATION STRENGTH OF A WELLBORE - A system and a method may determine formation strength of a well. The system and the method may use pressure measurements and temperature measurements to determine controlled fracture pressures before the uncontrolled fracture pressure is reached. The system and the method may use pressure measurements and temperature measurements to determine closure stresses while drilling and may use the closure stresses with core and log measurements to optimize a hydraulic stimulation program. | 07-25-2013 |
| 20130299240 | DRILLING APPARATUS - A drilling system including a drill string ( | 11-14-2013 |
| 20140076632 | METHOD TO PREDICT OVERPRESSURE UNCERTAINTY FROM NORMAL COMPACTION TRENDLINE UNCERTAINTY - A method for predicting a pressure window for drilling a borehole in a formation includes: obtaining a pore pressure related data value of the formation using a data acquisition tool; predicting pore pressure uncertainty from the pore pressure related data value of the formation using a processor; estimating uncertainty of a pressure window for drilling fluid using the predicted pore pressure uncertainty using a processor; and applying the estimated uncertainty to the pressure window to provide a modified pressure window using a processor. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140131104 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING HIGH DENSITY SWEEP ANALYSIS USING MULTIPLE SENSORS - Multiple sensors in a wellbore can be utilized in a high density sweep analysis. In particular, annular pressures, recorded by the multiple sensors as the sweep is circulated, can be utilized to analyze the performance of a high density sweep. The high density sweep analysis can be used to create a prediction of the impact of circulating a high density sweep. The high density sweep analysis can calculate the position of the high density sweep in the well during the circulation by utilizing the multiple sensors and derive information about the presence of solids in the well, their likely location and whether or not the wellbore is clean prior to tripping out of the well. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140166364 | MONITORING AND CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR CONTINUOUS CIRCULATING DRILLING OPERATIONS - An apparatus for continuously flowing drilling fluid along a drill string includes a continuous circulation device having at least a first fluid path in fluid communication with a top drive and a second fluid path in communication with a diverter. The diverter is in selective fluid communication with a pipe stand associated with the drills string. The apparatus also includes at least one sensor that estimates at least one operating parameter associated with the continuous circulation device. A related method includes using a continuous circulation device as described to manipulate the drill string and controlling the continuous circulation device using at least one sensor configured to estimate at least one operating parameter associated with the continuous circulation device. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140251689 | FLOW MEASUREMENT AND FLOW SAMPLING SYSTEM - An apparatus includes a body having a central axis, a fluid inlet coupled to the body, the fluid inlet being adapted to receive a flow of a fluid, and a fluid outlet coupled to the body. The fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are substantially coaxially aligned so as to define a flow axis through the apparatus, and the flow axis is laterally offset from and perpendicular to the central axis of the body. A rotating blade assembly is disposed within said body and includes a plurality of blades, wherein the rotating blade assembly is adapted to be controllably rotated about the central axis so as to control a fluid level of the flow of fluid entering the fluid inlet. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140262516 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING DRILLING FLUID PROPERTIES - As system for measuring drilling fluid properties includes a capillary rheometer that is adapted to measure viscosity parameters of drilling fluid. The capillary rheometer includes a feed chamber, the feed chamber having a cavity, at least a first drain port for draining fluid out of the cavity, a double wall defining an annulus that opens to the cavity, and a feed port in an outer portion of the double wall that is in fluid communication with the annulus. The capillary rheometer also includes at least a first capillary tube coupled to at least the first drain port. Additionally, the disclosed system further includes a pump that is adapted to pump fluid to the feed port. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140305705 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING BOTTOM HOLE PRESSURE IN A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION DURING RIG PUMP OPERATION - A method for maintaining pressure in a wellbore during drilling operations is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing fluid from a reservoir through a drill string, circulating the fluid from the drill string to an annulus between the drill string and the wellbore, isolating pressure in the annulus, measuring pressure in the annulus, calculating a set point backpressure, applying back pressure to the annulus based on the set point back pressure, diverting fluid from the annulus to a controllable choke, controllably bleeding pressurized fluid from the annulus, separating solids from the fluid, and directing the fluid to the reservoir. An apparatus for maintaining pressure in a wellbore during drilling operations that includes an adjustable choke for controllably bleeding off pressurized fluid from the wellbore annulus. A backpressure pump for applying a set point backpressure, and a processor for controlling the adjustable choke and backpressure pump are also disclosed. | 10-16-2014 |
| 20140374160 | Installation for Drilling a Well into a Soil and Associated Drilling Method - An installation ( | 12-25-2014 |
| 20150014058 | Drilling System and Method for Monitoring and Displaying Drilling Parameters for a Drilling Operation of a Drilling System - A drilling system and method for monitoring drilling parameters for an underground drilling operation. | 01-15-2015 |
| 20150021094 | DUAL MOTOR SYSTEMS AND NON-ROTATING SENSORS FOR USE IN DEVELOPING WELLBORES IN SUBSURFACE FORMATIONS - A method for forming a subsurface wellbore is disclosed. The method includes operating a drilling string in a first direction of rotation. A first motor located near the end of the drilling string is operated in a direction of rotation opposite that of the drilling string. A drill bit is rotated using a second motor that is coupled to the first motor. | 01-22-2015 |
| 20150034385 | Moveable Element to Create Pressure Signals in A Fluidic Modulator - A fluidic modulator in accordance to an aspect includes a body forming a flow aperture between an inlet and an outlet, the flow aperture providing a constriction to a fluid flowing axially from the inlet to the outlet, and a moveable element having a shaft portion disposed through the body and a tip end selectively positionable in the flow aperture to alter the flow aperture. | 02-05-2015 |
| 20150034386 | Fluidic Modulators and Along String Systems - A well system includes a first fluidic modulator (FM) located at the bottom of the tubular string and a repeater fluidic modulator (FM) located in the tubular string between the first FM and the surface, the repeater FM including a body forming a flow aperture between an inlet and an outlet, the flow aperture providing a constriction to a fluid flowing axially through the tubular string, and a moveable portion operable to alter the flow aperture. To create a modulated pressure pulse the moveable portion may be for example radially shifted in the flow aperture, rotated in the flow aperture, or the rotation of the moveable portion in the flow aperture may be controlled. | 02-05-2015 |
| 20150060142 | MECHANICAL CORE JAM INDICATOR FOR CORING TOOLS, CORING TOOLS INCLUDING SUCH CORE JAM INDICATORS, AND RELATED METHODS - Core jam indicators for use with coring tools include a plug coupled with an inner barrel and configured to selectively close the entrance of the inner barrel. The plug has at least one fluid port extending through a wall of the plug between an interior and an exterior of the plug. The mandrel at least partially covers the at least one fluid port of the plug in an activated position and the at least one fluid port is at least partially uncovered by the mandrel in a deactivated position. The mandrel is coupled to the inner barrel. A piston force acting on the mandrel resulting from a pressure difference above and below the mandrel acts over an area smaller than a maximum transverse cross-sectional area of the inner barrel. Coring tools include such core jam indicators. Components are provided and assembled to form such core jam indicators. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150060143 | REMOTELY CONTROLLED APPARATUS FOR DOWNHOLE APPLICATIONS AND METHODS OF OPERATION - An apparatus for use downhole is disclosed that, in one configuration includes a downhole tool configured to operate in an active position and an inactive position and an actuation device, which may include a control unit. The apparatus includes a telemetry unit that sends a first pattern recognition signal to the control unit to move the tool into the active position and a second pattern recognition signal to move the tool into the inactive position. The apparatus may be used for drilling a subterranean formation and include a tubular body and one or more extendable features, each positionally coupled to a track of the tubular body, and a drilling fluid flow path extending through a bore of the tubular body for conducting drilling fluid therethrough. A push sleeve is disposed within the tubular body and coupled to the one or more features. A valve assembly is disposed within the tubular body and configured to control the flow of the drilling fluid into an annular chamber in communication with the push sleeve; the valve assembly comprising a mechanically operated valve and/or an electronically operated valve. Other embodiments, including methods of operation, are provided. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150083494 | USE OF DOWNHOLE ISOLATION VALVE TO SENSE ANNULUS PRESSURE - A method of drilling a wellbore includes deploying a drill string into the wellbore through a casing string disposed in the wellbore. The casing string has a pressure responsive element and a hydraulic line in communication with the element and extending along the casing string. The method further includes: drilling the wellbore into a formation by injecting drilling fluid through the drill string and rotating a drill bit of the drill sting; and while drilling the formation, monitoring a pressure of the hydraulic line to ensure control of the formation. | 03-26-2015 |
| 20150090497 | Directional Drilling Using Variable Bit Speed, Thrust, and Active Deflection - A downhole assembly for directionally drilling a borehole has a motor, a transmission, and a steering mechanism. The motor has a rotor driven in a stator by flow of drilling fluid therebetween. The transmission operatively couples the rotor to a drill bit for drilling the borehole. A flow control controls the flow of drilling fluid through an internal passage of the rotor. The flow control can thereby vary the drive of the rotor in a bit speed effect that preferentially cuts the wall of the borehole to achieve directional drilling. The flow control can also thereby create a differential pressure displacing the rotor along a longitudinal axis of the motor in a thrust effect. The steering mechanism responds to the displacement of the rotor and deviates a direction of the drill bit from the longitudinal axis of the motor to further achieve directional drilling. The bit speed effect, the rotor displacement, and the deviation are preferentially coordinated to coincide or at least operate together. | 04-02-2015 |
| 20150090498 | DRILLING SYSTEM - Rock strength is estimated during drilling using a rate of penetration model or a modified mechanical specific energy models. The rock strength estimate can be used in conducting further drilling, for example by a drilling system. Drilling parameters may be altered as a result of determining rock strength, for example to avoid undesirable trending fractures, such as extensive vertical fractures. | 04-02-2015 |
| 20150114715 | EARTH-BORING TOOLS INCLUDING EXPANDABLE MEMBERS AND STATUS INDICATORS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING SUCH EARTH-BORING TOOLS - Expandable tools for use in subterranean boreholes may include a body defining a fluid flow path extending through the body. A valve piston may be located within the fluid flow path of the body, the valve piston configured to move longitudinally within the body responsive to drilling fluid flowing through the fluid flow path above a threshold pressure. The valve piston may include a nozzle defining an opening at an end of the valve piston. A status indicator may be located within the flow path of the body, the status indicator being fixed relative to the body. The status indicator may be positioned and shaped to alter a cross-sectional area of the opening of the nozzle by at least partially entering the nozzle responsive to the valve piston moving longitudinally within the body. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150136489 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTELY CHANGING FLOW PROFILE IN CONDUIT AND DRILLING BIT - The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for remotely adjusting the drill bit hydraulic horse power per square inch (HSI). Varying the nozzle geometry remotely without the need to pull the drill string outside the hole has obvious advantage. Changing the nozzle flow geometry results in changing the nozzle HSI, which is beneficial to optimize drilling a well having different rock formations. The drill bit nozzle geometry of the present invention can be varied by causing a change of at least one physical property of the environment. The variable geometry nozzle is not limited to drill bit, it can be placed within the inner flow passage or between the inner flow passage and annular flow passage for controlling flow profile within a wellbore, a tubular string or a flow conduit. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150308203 | Mitigating Swab and Surge Piston Effects in Wellbores - A method of mitigating undesired pressure variations in a wellbore due to movement of a well tool string in a well can include selectively decreasing and increasing fluid communication between sections of a wellbore on opposite sides of at least one well tool in the well tool string, the fluid communication being increased in response to detecting a threshold movement of the well tool string relative to the wellbore. A well tool string can include a well tool connected in the well tool string, and having an enlarged outer dimension relative to adjacent sections of the well tool string, a flow passage extending between the well tool's opposite ends, a sensor, and at least one flow control device which selectively permits and prevents fluid communication between the opposite ends via the flow passage, in response to an output of the sensor indicative of movement of the well tool string. | 10-29-2015 |
| 20150361740 | METHOD OF FILLING A CORING TOOL INNER BARREL WITH A CORING FLUID - A method for obtaining a core sample from a wellbore using a coring tool is disclosed. The method includes providing an outer barrel in the wellbore. The wellbore and outer barrel are at least partially filled with a drilling fluid. The method further includes lowering an inner barrel partially into the drilling fluid and displacing the drilling fluid in the inner barrel with a coring fluid. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20150361742 | KICK DETECTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An apparatus for detecting potential kicks in a well is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a drill string positioned in a well, a mud circulation system coupled to supply drilling mud to the drill string, and a mud analyzer. The mud analyzer includes a sensor that is positioned along a drilling mud return path closer to a wellhead assembly installed at the well than to a mud tank of the mud circulation system, and the mud analyzer enables identification of a potential formation kick based on data acquired by the sensor. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20150376963 | MEASURING FLUID PROPERTIES IN A DOWNHOLE TOOL - A sensor assembly may include a housing made of a non-magnetic material. The housing may define an interior chamber. A shaft may extend from the housing. A bearing may be positioned around the shaft. An impeller may be positioned around the shaft and the bearing, and the impeller may include a magnetized portion. A sensor may be positioned within the interior chamber and/or proximate the magnetized portion. The sensor may detect the magnetized portion of the impeller to sense a rate of rotation of the impeller. The rate of rotation of the impeller may correspond to changes in flow rate of the fluid. As the flow rate of the fluid, and the rate of rotation of the impeller change in predetermined manners, control signals may be conveyed to activate a tool. | 12-31-2015 |
| 20160010638 | FLUID FLOW NORMALIZER | 01-14-2016 |
| 20160084024 | Coriolis Flow Meter Having Flow Tube with Equalized Pressure Differential - A Coriolis flow meter for a drilling system measures flow from a wellbore and/or from at least one pump into the wellbore. The meter can be disposed upstream of at least one choke used for controlling backpressure, and/or the meter can be disposed between at least one pump and the wellbore. The meter has at least one flow tube adapted to vibrate and conducts the flow at a first pressure level from an inlet side to an outlet side. A vessel encloses the at least one flow tube at least between the inlet and outlet sides and holds a second pressure level therein about the at least one flow tube. The second pressure level can be equal to or nearly equal to the first pressure level to reduce or nearly eliminate a pressure differential across the at least one flow tube. For example, the second pressure level can be elevated above environmental relative to the first pressure level to reduce a pressure differential across the at least one flow tube. Alternatively, the second pressure level can be less than the first pressure level. | 03-24-2016 |
