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:
Feb. 17, 1981
Filed:
Sep. 25, 1978
Applicant:
Inventors:
Joe K Heilhecker, Houston, TX (US);
Leon H Robinson, Jr, Houston, TX (US);
Beldon A Peters, Houston, TX (US);
Assignee:
Exxon Production Research Company, Houston, TX (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
E21B / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
175 48 ; 73155 ; 175206 ;
Abstract
Abnormal drilling conditions are detected by monitoring mud volume of the mud system or rate of change of the mud volume. In one embodiment, makeup mud is automatically added to the system as solids are removed from the mud. Abnormal conditions are indicated by when the rate of makeup mud addition differs from the rate of solids removal. The mud system is maintained at a substantially constant volume by means of tanks specially constructed to provide a small mud/air interface.