Baker Hughes Corporation

D Duncan Blue

Rocco DiFoggio

Volker Krueger

John D Macpherson

Charles A Brecher

An apparatus for continuously flowing drilling fluid along a drill string includes a continuous circulation device having at least a first fluid path in fluid communication with a top drive and a second fluid path in communication with a diverter. The diverter is in selective fluid communication with a pipe stand associated with the drills string. The apparatus also includes at least one sensor that estimates at least one operating parameter associated with the continuous circulation device. A related method includes using a continuous circulation device as described to manipulate the drill string and controlling the continuous circulation device using at least one sensor configured to estimate at least one operating parameter associated with the continuous circulation device.

Monitoring and control systems for continuous circulating drilling operations

Apparatus and method for estimating a fluid property include an optic member having a material within the optic member responsive to the fluid property. A detector is operably associated with the optic member that detects a change in the material, the change being indicative of the fluid property.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

D Duncan Blue