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:
Nov. 26, 2002
Filed:
Jan. 26, 2001
William L. Koederitz, Cedar Park, TX (US);
Martin-Decker Totco, Inc., Cedar Park, TX (US);
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for maintaining fluid pressure control of a well bore drilled through a subterranean formation using a drilling rig and a drill string whereby a kick may be circulated out of the well bore and/or a kill fluid may be circulated into the well bore, at a kill rate that may be varied. A programmable controller may be included to control execution of a circulation/kill procedure whereby a mud pump and/or a well bore choke may be regulated by the controller. One or more sensors may be interconnected with the controller to sense well bore pressure conditions and/or pumping conditions. Statistical process control techniques may also be employed to enhance process control by the controller. The controller may further execute routine determinations of circulating kill pressures at selected kill rates. The controller may control components utilized in the circulation/kill procedure so as to maintain a substantially constant bottom hole pressure on the formation while executing the circulation/kill procedure.