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:
Jul. 10, 2001
Filed:
Nov. 20, 1998
Hartmut Schrader, Nienhagen, DE;
Frank Reiber, Didderse, DE;
Baker Hughes Incorporated, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a fluid flow measurement system for an oil well drilling system that includes a supply of drilling fluid to a wellbore under pressure and a return line carrying fluid leaving the wellbore during drilling of the wellbore. The system includes at least one floating sensor in the return line that provides a measure of the velocity of the fluid in the return line. The sensor may be a thermal sensor, an electromagnetic sensor or an ultrasonic sensor. A height sensor provides the fluid level in the return line and a density sensor provides the density of the returning fluid. A controller determines the inflow rate and out flow rate of the drilling fluid and further determines the presence of a kick and wash out from the flow rates. The system also determines the operating condition of the pumps supplying fluid to the wellbore.