The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 24, 1976
Filed:
Sep. 12, 1975
Leo Donald Maus, Houston, TX (US);
Charles Emory Barton, Houston, TX (US);
The Offshore Company, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
Method and apparatus for determining on board a heaving drilling vessel, the flow rate of drilling fluid flowing from a well hole and into a telescoping marine riser connecting the well hole with the vessel. A measuring apparatus is associated with a drilling fluid return conduit of the riser in such a position that the measuring apparatus and the portion of the conduit between the measuring apparatus and the riser are at all times filled with drilling fluid. The measuring apparatus generates a first signal proportioned to the flow rate of drilling fluid flowing therethrough, measures the drilling fluid level in the riser and generates a second signal proportional to the change in volume of the drilling fluid contained therein above the point at which the conduit intersects the riser. The telescoping movement of the riser is measured and a third signal is generated proportional to the change in volume of the flow path provided by the riser between the well hole and said point. The first, second and third signals are correlated with each other whereby the measured flow rate of the drilling fluid is modified to compensate for the telescoping of the marine riser and the drilling fluid stored in the marine riser above the point the conduit intersects with the marine riser, whereby the true flow rate of the drilling fluid flowing out of the wellhole and into the marine riser is determined onboard the heaving vessel.