Drilling Fluid Composition Measurement via Physical Property Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current drilling operations face challenges in obtaining real-time compositional data of drilling fluids, which is critical for effective hydraulic modeling and hole cleaning performance, due to the time-consuming and error-prone nature of manual measurements by mud engineers.

Innovation Solution

The system measures physical properties of drilling fluids using inexpensive and easy-to-implement techniques, such as viscosity, density, and thermal conductivity, to derive compositional data, reducing manpower requirements and providing automated, real-time compositional information for optimizing drilling operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual measurement of drilling fluid composition by mud engineer is used, then measurement accuracy can be maintained, but time consumption increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling fluid composition measurement accuracyVSAvoidreal-time data provision rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement methods with automated electronic sensing systems. Sensors continuously measure physical properties (density, viscosity, temperature, electrical properties) and automatically convert them to compositional data, eliminating the need for manual sampling and laboratory analysis while providing real-time compositional information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces physical property measurements as intermediary parameters between the drilling fluid composition and the final compositional data. By measuring physical properties (density, viscosity, electrical conductivity, temperature) and using them as intermediaries to calculate composition, the system achieves both automation and measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If manual measurement methods are used, then measurement detail can be comprehensive, but human error increases and reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement consistencyVSAvoidmeasurement system simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement system is designed to be self-service and autonomous. Sensors automatically continuously measure physical properties without human intervention, and the processing system automatically converts these measurements to compositional data, eliminating human error while maintaining comprehensive measurement coverage through multi-parameter sensing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs multi-functional sensing that simultaneously measures multiple physical properties (density, viscosity, temperature, electrical conductivity) using an integrated system. This universal approach provides comprehensive compositional information through a single automated system rather than multiple separate manual measurement processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If automated physical property measurement is used, then productivity and real-time data availability improve, but measurement complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time compositional data provisionVSAvoidmeasurement and processing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the measurement system into distinct functional modules: physical property sensing (density, viscosity, temperature, electrical properties), data processing, and compositional calculation. Each module performs a specific function, making the overall complex system manageable through modular design and enabling real-time data provision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes measurement parameters from direct compositional analysis to physical property measurements. By measuring physical properties (density, viscosity, electrical conductivity, temperature) instead of directly analyzing composition, the system achieves automated real-time measurement while the complexity is managed through established physical measurement techniques and their relationship to composition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11143012B2Drilling operations that use compositional properties of fluids derived from measured physical properties

Publication Date: 2021.10.12 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

The physical properties of a fluid may be used in deriving the compositional properties of the fluid, which may, in turn, be used to influence an operational parameters of a drilling operation. For example, a method may include drilling a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation with a drilling fluid as part of a drilling operation; circulating or otherwise containing the drilling fluid in a flow path that comprises the wellbore; measuring at least one physical property of the drilling fluid at a first location and a second location along the flow path; deriving a compositional property of the drilling fluid at the first location and the second location based on the at least one physical property that was measured; comparing the compositional property of the drilling fluid at the first location and the second location; and changing an operational parameter of the drilling operation based on the comparison.