Fluorescent Polymer Tags for Real-Time Drilling Depth Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drilling technologies lack an efficient method to accurately determine the drilling depth of drill cuttings in real-time, relying on conventional analysis that is often time-consuming and requires laboratory samples.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating fluorescent polymer tags into drilling fluids, which interact with drill cuttings and emit distinct fluorescent wavelengths, allowing for real-time identification and correlation with drilling depth using UV detection systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional analysis methods are used to determine drill cutting depth, then measurement precision is maintained, but productivity decreases and loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical/laboratory-based depth determination methods with an optical detection system. Fluorescent tags are introduced into the drilling fluid, and when drill cuttings are brought to the surface, UV light excites these tags to emit fluorescent signals. The characteristics of these fluorescent emissions (wavelength, intensity, timing) are detected and correlated to drilling depth, enabling real-time determination without laboratory analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes fluorescent color changes as the basis for depth determination. Different fluorescent tags with distinct emission wavelengths are introduced at different depths or times during drilling. The detection system identifies which fluorescent tags are present in the returned cuttings by analyzing their characteristic colors/wavelengths, thereby determining the depth from which the cuttings originated.
2Productivity
If fluorescent polymer tags are introduced into drilling fluid, then productivity and real-time detection capability improve, but device complexity and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces fluorescent polymer tags as intermediary substances that mediate between the drilling operation and the detection system. These tags are added to the drilling fluid and serve as carriers of depth information. When cuttings are returned to the surface, the fluorescent tags attached to or associated with the cuttings provide the detection system with information about the depth of origin, simplifying the overall measurement approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in fluorescent parameters (emission wavelength, intensity, timing of introduction) to encode depth information. By varying these parameters of the fluorescent tags, the system can distinguish between cuttings from different depths without requiring complex hardware differentiation. The detection system simply measures these fluorescent parameters to determine depth.
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
Enables precise and rapid determination of drill cutting depths during operations, reducing the need for laboratory analysis and enhancing drilling efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the fluorescent polymer tag comprising a fluorescent compound linked to a polymer
Data Source
AI summary
A composition including a fluorescent polymer tag and an aqueous-based drilling fluid is provided. Also provided is a method of determining drill depth of recovered drill cuttings. The method includes introducing a fluorescent polymer tag into a drilling fluid, the fluorescent polymer tag includes the composition having the fluorescent compound linked to the polymer. The method then includes circulating the drilling fluid through a well during a drilling operation that creates formation cuttings such that the fluorescent polymer interacts with the formation cuttings, creating tagged cuttings. The returned cuttings are collected from the circulating drilling fluid at a surface of the well. The method then includes detecting the presence of the fluorescent polymer tag on the returned cuttings to identify the tagged cuttings, and correlating the tagged cuttings with the drill depth in the well at a time during the drilling operation.