GB2512759A - A method and apparatus for monitoring stress cage material concentrations in a circulating drilling fluid - Google Patents
A method and apparatus for monitoring stress cage material concentrations in a circulating drilling fluid Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2512759A GB2512759A GB201409107A GB201409107A GB2512759A GB 2512759 A GB2512759 A GB 2512759A GB 201409107 A GB201409107 A GB 201409107A GB 201409107 A GB201409107 A GB 201409107A GB 2512759 A GB2512759 A GB 2512759A
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- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- drilling fluid
- stress cage
- sample
- solids
- wet
- Prior art date
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Links
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 title abstract description 50
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 title abstract description 45
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title abstract description 21
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 title abstract description 20
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 title abstract description 7
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 abstract description 24
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 abstract description 7
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 4
- 238000005303 weighing Methods 0.000 abstract description 3
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 30
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000007792 addition Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000004087 circulation Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229910052594 sapphire Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000010980 sapphire Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000839 emulsion Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000002604 ultrasonography Methods 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010923 batch production Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008033 biological extinction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000036961 partial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004064 recycling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005070 sampling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005029 sieve analysis Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B21/00—Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor
- E21B21/06—Arrangements for treating drilling fluids outside the borehole
- E21B21/063—Arrangements for treating drilling fluids outside the borehole by separating components
- E21B21/065—Separating solids from drilling fluids
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
- B07B—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS BY SIEVING, SCREENING, SIFTING OR BY USING GAS CURRENTS; SEPARATING BY OTHER DRY METHODS APPLICABLE TO BULK MATERIAL, e.g. LOOSE ARTICLES FIT TO BE HANDLED LIKE BULK MATERIAL
- B07B1/00—Sieving, screening, sifting, or sorting solid materials using networks, gratings, grids, or the like
- B07B1/28—Moving screens not otherwise provided for, e.g. swinging, reciprocating, rocking, tilting or wobbling screens
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
Abstract
An apparatus 1 for determining concentrations of stress cage materials in drilling fluid comprises wet sifting devices 2 dressed with one, two, three, four or five single-layered square mesh screen panels, positive displacement pumps 3 with a stroke counters for drawing a fluid sample into the apparatus and containment vessels 4 to collect discharged stress cage materials. The screen panels may comprise pre-tensioned mesh with an incorporated anti-blinding system. The wet sifting devices preferably generate a circular, horizontal and spiral pattern of travel to discharge any oversized fraction retained by the mesh screen. A method for the monitoring of stress cage materials in a circulating drilling fluid comprises pumping a representative sample of drilling fluid to the apparatus of the invention and weighing the stress cage particles discarded by the wet sifting devices.
Description
I
A METHOD AND APPARTUS FOR MONITORING STRESS CAGE
MATERIAL CONCENTRATIONS IN A CIRCULATING DRILLING FLUID.
The global oil and gas drilling industry has established a range of options allowing drilling to continue through depleted formation zones, although in some cases it is virtually impossible to drill through a depleted zone.
Stress Cage Theory is one concept adopted to overcome lost circulation and sticking bottom hole assemblies. A detailed drilling fluid analysis is carried out on a 24 hour cycle to determine its physical and chemical properties and functional ability. A small representive sample of drilling fluid is collected from the circulating active system and used for this test.
Particle size distribution (PSD) is the volume classification of solid particles into each of the various size ranges as a percentage of the total solids of all particles in a fluid sample. Sieve analysis is a method used to determine (PSD). Sieve analyse is an offline process used to determine PSD for particles ranging from 20 micron to 6370 microns. Sieve size selection is important and consecutive sieves which follow R40/3 relationship are only necessary for detailed size analysis over a whole range. Alternate sieves which follow the R20/3 relationship are adequate for most purposes. A random sieve mesh selection is not recommended.
PSD monitoring technologies have improved and real time PSD systems are now available. Real time P50 monitoring technologies (online or inline) collect and measure a small sample of drilling fluid and record in excess of 30 different P50 size classes. As with any measurement it is important to establish a baseline. A baseline measurement is an accurate measurement of a process or process fluid before any input change occurs. The base line measurement can be used as a standard for measuring changes or efficiency in a process or process fluid. A suitable PSD baseline measurement for the vast majority of new unused water based or oil based drilling fluid would be 1 micron to 74 micron. A new drilling fluid when shipped from a liquid mud plant would not normally have any solid particles larger than 74 microns and would be a homogeneous fluid. All drill solids above 74 microns are undesirable in any drilling fluid.
Drill solids in drilling fluids are sized as Colloidal solids < 2 micron, Fine solids sized 44micron > 74 micron, Medium solids sized 74micron > 250 micron, Intermediate solids sized 25Omicron > 2000 micron, Course solids sized >2000 micron.
If collecting small volume samples from large volumes to conduct a representative measurement a confidence level should be established. A confidence level of 95 per cent or 0.95 means that there is a probability of at least 95 per cent of PSD results are reliable. A confidence level of 95% would mean 95 of 100 sample results would yield the same result. A confidence level of 95% could reasonably be expected when PSD testing is conducted with new baseline homogeneous drilling fluid at a liquid mud plant. As the drilling fluid is manufactured / mixed in a controlled batch process. The process loop encountered on a land based or offshore drilling rig is different. This difference will reduce the confidence level from the one established at a liquid mud plant. A 1000 barrel batch mix of invert oil emulsion drilling fluid with a mud weight (density) of 1.32 SG, oil: water ratio 75:25 may contain 196.8 pounds per barrel of solids, (53500lbs of drilling fluid additives+143,300lbs of HGS) which is used to increase the mud weight. The 196.8 pounds per barrelof solids will have a PSD range of 1 micron to 74 microns. When a drilling fluid is used to drill a well, the drilling fluid may acquire from the formation been drilled an additional range of medium solids. These additional solids are called drill solids and may enter the active system by passing the drilling rigs solids separation equipment. Solids separation equipment should remove all drill solids above 74 microns from a circulating mud system.
Before implementing a stress cage procedure an operator needs to determine accurately the current particle size distribution of the active drilling fluid system. A confidence level of below 95% may be expected; therefore continuous sampling for one or two circulations may produce an acceptable result. A real time PSD sensor can monitor particles in the range of 1 micron to 1000 microns. Real time PSD systems as discussed collect or measure a small sample of drilling fluid. A number of process issues should be assessed at this point. What are the expected confidence levels based on representive sample volume, overall size range of particles in drilling fluid system, is the circulating drilling fluid system a homogenous fluid. Real time PSD systems use different methods to generate their results a brief description follows. Focused beam reflective measurement. (FRBM) A high power laser beam is focused close to the surface of a sapphire window the laser beam rotates in a 7mm circumscribing circle. The surface area of the detection window in the sapphire window is 0.4cm2. This equates the sample volume of 0.00004 litres been within the sapphire lens detection zone at any one time. Drilling mud passing the detection window has particles counted to a depth of less than 1 mm. This device is a particle counter and not a particle sized distribution device it measures cord lengths of particles but has internal software to recalculate the cord length data into particle sized distribution data. Ultrasonic extinction (USE) applies sound waves instead of light. An electrical high frequency generator is connected to a piezoelectric ultrasound transducer. The generated ultrasonic waves are coupled into the suspension and interact with the suspended solid& The device collects a 400 ml mud sample which is diluted at a 3.1 ratio with a suitable carrier fluid. The sample is circulated / mixed in a vacuum vessel to extract any air or gas bubbles.The sensor measures the PSD of the sample as it flows past its detection zone. The size of the detection zone is 9.7cm2 and the ultrasound generator and receiver has a 2mm gap during this application. This system is classified as a particle sized distribution device. Each 400 ml sample takes 2 minutes to collect, mix, measure, and discharge.
Stress cage additions can be added to a circulating active drilling fluid system by using a mud hopper which is a cone shaped device for mixing dry solids or liquids into a drilling fluid stream. A example of stress cage additions are shown in Table 1.
Addition Approx. D50 Concentration number range (ppb) 1 20-60 20 2 100-250 10 3 300-450 10 4 600-750 10 -4000 10
Table 1
Using the previous example of a base line 1000 barrel batch mix of invert oil emulsion drilling fluid with a mud weight (density) of 1.32 SC containing 196.8 pounds per barrel of solids with a PSD range of lmicron to 74 microns. Table 2 shows the relative percentage of solids concentrations for each of the component parts of the stress cage mixture. When adding the listed additions in Table Ito the I000bbls of base line fluid.
% of volume Addition Approx. D50 Total pounds concentration of solids in original Number range per barrel (ppb) 1 000bbI of fluid base 1to74 196.8 196.8 76.6% line 1 20 to 60 20.00 216.8 7.8% 2 100 to 250 10.00 226.8 3.9% 3 300to450 10.00 236.8 3.9% 4 600 to 750 10.00 246.8 3.9% + 1000 10.00 256.8 3.9%
Table 2
Considering the representative sample volumes of the real-time PSD systems previously detailed. FRBM has a constant sample volume of 0.00004 litres. USE has a sample volume of 0.400 litres every two minutes. A standard drilling fluid process loop on a drilling rig may have 500 barrels (58,657 litres) of drilling fluid retained is an agitated active surface pit a further 500 barrels (58,657 litres) may be circulating down the drill pipe and returning to the surface via the open hole and casing string.
A circulation rate of 500 gallons I minute (1890 litres/ minute) is achievable using the drilling rigs mud pumps. With the additions of relativity small volumes of stress cage particles in the 250 to 1000 micron range doubts should exist that an acceptable confidence level could be attained to ensure PSD results are accurate and acceptable.
The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method of monitoring stress cage material concentration in a circulating drilling fluid with a particular interest in Medium stress cage material 74micron > 250 micron, Intermediate stress cage material 25omicron > 2000 micron and Course stress cage material >2000 micron.
Therefore according to the present invention there is provided an apparatus and method of measuring in real time for a period of time in excess of the total circulation time of active mud system. Stress cage particles in the range of Medium size 74micron > 250 micron, Intermediate size 25omicron > 2000 micron, Course size>2000 at concentration used throughout the oil and gas drilling exploration industry. Advantageous features of the apparatus according to the invention are set forth in the dependent patent claims 2 and 3.
Furthermore, the method is characterised in that it comprises of pumping an active drilling fluid stream from a circulating active mud flow containing stress cage materials and passing them over one, two or three multi deck wet sifting devices connected in series so they process the drilling fluid.
Then allowing each discharged stress cage fraction to be independently weighed when it's discarded at each of the discharge spouts of the wet sifting devices then determining the volume of drilling fluid pumped over each of the wet sifting devices using a positive displacement pump fitted with a stroke counter. Advantageous features of the apparatus according to the invention are set forth in dependent patent claims 4, 5 and 6.
One advantage of the apparatus according to the invention is that it will be capable of monitoring stress cage materials concentration continually as they are been added, mixed and circulating through the well bore. This will be an advantage when drilling through depleted zones that currently present many problems. The estimated value for stress cage applications annually for one global operator was calculated at $100 MM USD. The method and apparatus will improved on the current real-time particle counting and PSD technology by increasing the representative sample volume from existing volumes. FRBM 9.52 bbl. / hour or USE 8.16 barrels / hour increasing to between 75bb1 and > 200 bbl. / hour for stress cage particles in the medium, intermediated and course fraction sizes. Medium and fine stress cage partials retained in the drilling fluid may be sampled after processing by the apparatus using other particle counting and particle sized distribution systems.
The invention will now be described in more detail by means of examples and reference made to the appended drawings.
Figure 1 is a cross section view of the apparatus according to the invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus according to the invention.
Fig I shows a cross-section of the wet sifting devices (2) positive displacement pumps (3) with stroke counter and method of adjusting pump speed, suitable solids containment vessels (4) to collect and allow weighing of the stress cage materials (5) processed drilling fluid catch chamber for additional PSD testing and the apparatus (1).
Fig 2 shows a plan view of the wet sifting devices (2) positive displacement pumps (3) with stroke counter and method of adjusting pump speed, suitable solids containment vessels (4) to collect and allow weighing of the stress cage materials (5) processed mud catch chamber for additional PSD testing and the apparatus (1).
Typically the wet sifting devices (2) when dressed with a pretensioned square mesh would have an anti-blinding system incorporate below the square mesh.
Preferably the wet sifting devices (2) are placed downstream of the single or multiple numbers of shale shakers adjacent to the drilling fluid flow containing the stress cage particle material.
Typically the wet sifting devices (2) generate a circular horizontal and spiral pattern of travel to discharge any stress cage particle materials retained by the pretensioned square mesh screens filled into the wet sifting devices.
Typically a positive displacement pump (3) with the stroke counter is placed downstream of the signal or multiple shale shakers adjacent to the drilling fluid flow containing the stress cage materials.
Typically the first positive displacement pump (3) is connected to recover and transfer a representive sample of drilling mud containing the stress cage materials at an adjustable and measureable pump rate.
Typically the wet sifting devices (2) may have one, two, three, four or five screen decks and each screen deck assembly will include a single oversized fraction discharge spout.
Typically the wet sifting device (2) may have one, two, three, four or five screen decks and each screen deck would be dressed with a pretension square mesh of known separation ability.
Typically the wet sifting devices (2) may have up to ten containment vessels (4) to contain any oversized fraction discharged from each spout and allow any whole fluid to gravity drain out of the containment vessel.
Typically the wet sifting device (2) and apparatus (1) has particular interest in particles of Medium size 74micron > 250 microns, Intermediate size 25omicron > 2000 microns, Course size>2000 microns.
Typically a simple multiplication can be carried out to determine the volume in pounds/ barrel (wet weight) of the stress cage materials by the following steps.
a/Weight of containment vessel empty minus the weight of containment vessel full = wet weight of collected sample for that size fraction.
b/ Strokes of positive displacement pump multiplied by volume of fluid displaced per stroke of pump = volume of fluid processed by wet sifting device.
Example 1
Wet weigh of collected solids sample = 2 pounds.
Volume of fluid processed by wet sifting device = 0.5 barrels.
Therefore four pounds I barrel of stress cage materials are recorded for that size fraction.
Example 2
Wet weigh of collected solids sample = 0.5 pounds Volume of fluid processed by wet sifting device = 1 barrel Therefore 0.5 pounds / barrel of stress cage materials are recorded for that size fraction.
Dry weigh of the solids sample can be calculated by collecting a representive solids sample, using a 50m1 retort to heat the sample which will evaporate and separate fluid and solid fractions of the sample.
Typically if economically viable used and unserviceable pretensioned screen frame panels would be returned to the manufacturer for recycling.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB201409107A GB2512759A (en) | 2014-05-22 | 2014-05-22 | A method and apparatus for monitoring stress cage material concentrations in a circulating drilling fluid |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB201409107A GB2512759A (en) | 2014-05-22 | 2014-05-22 | A method and apparatus for monitoring stress cage material concentrations in a circulating drilling fluid |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201409107D0 GB201409107D0 (en) | 2014-07-02 |
| GB2512759A true GB2512759A (en) | 2014-10-08 |
Family
ID=51135283
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB201409107A Withdrawn GB2512759A (en) | 2014-05-22 | 2014-05-22 | A method and apparatus for monitoring stress cage material concentrations in a circulating drilling fluid |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2512759A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20180371307A1 (en) * | 2015-12-23 | 2018-12-27 | Agrana Beteiligungs-Aktiengesellschaft | Use of a process fluid with an environmentally compatible biostabilizer in a geothermal borehole |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20040016682A1 (en) * | 2002-07-26 | 2004-01-29 | Masataka Tsutsumi | Wet fine particle sizing and separating apparatus |
| WO2006112728A1 (en) * | 2005-04-20 | 2006-10-26 | 2K Tech As | Condition checking apparatus and method |
-
2014
- 2014-05-22 GB GB201409107A patent/GB2512759A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20040016682A1 (en) * | 2002-07-26 | 2004-01-29 | Masataka Tsutsumi | Wet fine particle sizing and separating apparatus |
| WO2006112728A1 (en) * | 2005-04-20 | 2006-10-26 | 2K Tech As | Condition checking apparatus and method |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20180371307A1 (en) * | 2015-12-23 | 2018-12-27 | Agrana Beteiligungs-Aktiengesellschaft | Use of a process fluid with an environmentally compatible biostabilizer in a geothermal borehole |
| US11873442B2 (en) * | 2015-12-23 | 2024-01-16 | Agrana Beteiligungs-Aktiengesellschaft | Use of a process fluid with an environmentally compatible biostabilizer in a geothermal borehole |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201409107D0 (en) | 2014-07-02 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |