Instrumented Drilling Rig Slips for Engagement Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The handoff between top drive and slips assembly in drilling rigs is challenging due to uncertainty in slips engagement, weight transfer, and monitoring of well conditions, leading to safety issues and potential human error in visual inspections.
Innovation Solution
A slips assembly equipped with sensors to measure force and detect weight fluctuations, allowing for accurate determination of slips engagement and well condition monitoring, enabling automated corrective actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If visual inspection is used to determine slips engagement and well conditions, then operational simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual inspection (mechanical observation) with electronic sensors (load cells, strain gauges) that automatically measure force and weight fluctuations. This substitution provides precise quantitative data about slips engagement and well conditions without requiring manual visual assessment, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining operational simplicity through automated readings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where sensors continuously monitor force on slips and weight fluctuations, providing real-time information to operators. This feedback loop enables automatic detection of engagement status and well conditions, improving determination accuracy while allowing operators to respond based on objective data rather than subjective visual inspection.
2Measurement precision
If sensors are added to the slips assembly, then measurement precision and reliability improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple sensing functions into the slips assembly by incorporating load cells or strain gauges that simultaneously measure force on slips and detect weight fluctuations. This multi-functional approach improves measurement precision across different parameters (engagement force, weight change) while avoiding the complexity of separate dedicated sensors for each measurement, as the same sensor system serves multiple monitoring purposes.
3Device complexity
If visual inspection methods are used, then device complexity remains low, but reliability and safety deteriorate due to human error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the slips assembly to self-monitor its own engagement status and the well conditions through integrated sensors. The system automatically detects when slips are properly engaged by measuring force and identifies weight fluctuations indicating well issues, eliminating reliance on human visual inspection. This self-service capability improves reliability and safety by providing objective, error-free monitoring while maintaining relatively simple system architecture.
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
Enhances safety and accuracy by ensuring reliable slips engagement and real-time monitoring of well conditions, reducing the risk of accidents and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
sensors configured to detect a force on the plurality of slips generated by the plurality of slips engaging the tubular
Data Source
AI summary
A slips assembly for a drilling rig and methods. The slips assembly includes a body, a plurality of slips disposed within the body and configured to extend radially inward to engage a tubular, and to retract radially outward to form a gap between the tubular and the plurality of slips, and sensors configured to detect a force on the plurality of slips generated by the plurality of slips engaging the tubular.