Nl Industries

Nl Sperry Sun, Inc.

James G Stockton

Steven W Powell

A drilling mud flow rate detector, including a sub adapted for being positioned in the drill string, having a sonic signal generator located near the center of the sub in both the incoming mud flow path and the return mud flow path. A set of sonic signal receivers is located at both ends of the sub in both the mud input flow path and the mud return flow path and corresponding sets of sonic signal transmitters are located near the center of the sub. The distance between the transmitting transducers at the center of the sub and the receiving transducers located at each end of the sub are equal so that under a condition of no mud flow, the sonic signals arrive at each end of the sub simultaneously. During mud flow, 'doppler effect' will produce phase shifts in the sonic signals which are proportional to the direction and the rate of mud flow. Signals received by the receiving transducers are processed to produce an input mud flow rate signal and an output mud flow rate signal which are then compared. The occurrence of a change in the ratio of mud input flow to mud output flow above a preselected value will trigger an alarm indicative of the commencement of either a rapid influx of fluids from the formation into the mud stream, known as a 'blow-out', or a rapid outflow of mud into the formation, known as 'lost circulation'.

System for detecting blow out and lost circulation in a borehole

A surface activated multishot survey tool utilizes a dampened magnetic compass movably positioned within a probe to determine the direction of a borehole. Lamps in the probe are operable to light the face of the compass. A lens projects the image of the compass onto a movable film strip. An electrical cable is connected to the probe and is used to pass a current to the lamps and provide selective operation of the tool from the surface of the borehole. Electrical connectors are provided at each end of the probe so that the probe may be inverted within the borehole to accommodate surveys in which the angle of the borehole is greater than that at which the compass will operate without error. Because connectors are located at both ends of the probe, electrical current passes around the magnetic compass, thus creating a magnetic field about the compass. An alternating current is used to operate the tool, with the rate of change in direction of the current being faster than the movement response time of the dampened compass to the changing magnetic field generated by the current.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

James G Stockton