Drilling Fluid Dilution Control for Sedimentation Density Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The maintenance of drilling fluids is historically separated into chemical treatment and solids control, leading to inefficiencies as these disciplines are often deployed as separate entities, resulting in potential loss of efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for controlling the injection pump rate of a diluent to regulate the drilling fluid density by receiving target and measured density values, along with flow rate values, to achieve the desired density value, integrating chemical treatment and solids control for improved efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If chemical treatment and solids control are deployed as separate entities, then each function can be specialized, but efficiency is lost due to lack of coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines chemical treatment and solids control into a single integrated system with a unified controller that coordinates both functions. The controller receives inputs from both chemical dosing equipment and solids control equipment, and generates coordinated control signals to optimize overall drilling fluid management efficiency rather than treating them as separate siloed functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated controller serves multiple functions by managing both chemical treatment operations and solids control operations through a single device. This multi-functional approach allows centralized coordination of previously separate systems, improving efficiency without requiring multiple independent control systems.
2Manufacturing precision
If dilution is applied without precise density control, then drilling fluid volume increases, but density accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates density measurement devices that continuously monitor drilling fluid density and feed this information back to the controller. The controller uses this feedback to adjust dilution rates in real-time, ensuring that density remains within target parameters while optimizing the amount of dilution applied.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the dilution parameter (volume of diluent added) based on real-time density measurements and target density requirements. By changing the dilution parameter adaptively rather than applying fixed dilution rates, the system achieves precise density control while minimizing unnecessary fluid volume increases.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This integration enhances the efficiency of drilling fluid management by optimizing density control, thereby improving the performance and rheology of drilling fluids.
Implementation Method 1
regulate a diluent injection pump rate to dilute the drilling fluid entering the sedimentation device to achieve the target density value
Implementation Method 2
measured density value for the drilling fluid exiting the sedimentation device
Data Source
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AI summary
A method can include receiving a target density value for a drilling fluid exiting a sedimentation device; receiving a measured density value for the drilling fluid directed to the sedimentation device, a measured density value for the drilling fluid exiting the sedimentation device, and an incoming flow rate value for the drilling fluid directed to the sedimentation device; and generating control instructions for control of an injection pump to regulate a diluent injection pump rate to dilute the drilling fluid entering the sedimentation device to achieve the target density value.