Research on Mud Flow Rate Measurement Method Based on Continuous Doppler Ultrasonic Wave

Abstract

In deep-water drilling processes, the flow rate of drilling mud inside an annular pipe is significant judgment data for early kick detection. On the basis of the continuous-wave Doppler ultrasound, this paper proposes a new detection method of nonoriented continuous-wave Doppler ultrasound. The method solves the problem of the ultrasound having great attenuation in mud and not receiving effective signals by using a continuous ultrasound. Moreover, this method analyzes the nonoriented characteristics of ultrasound reflection on principle and proposes the detection of ultrasound Doppler frequency shift by detecting Lamb wave, which releases the detection of oil-based mud flow rate in a nonintrusive annular pipe. The feasibility of the method is verified through theoretical analysis and numerous experiments on a gas kick simulation platform. The measurement result has reached a flow accuracy approximating to the intrusive flow meter. OverviewEarly kick detection is an important method in preventing blowout accidents and plays a significant role in deepwater drilling processes. As an important judgment factor, emphasis is always placed on the flow detection of drilling mud in an annular pipe. However, the complicated nature of underwater environment and the detection of the mud flow that can only be conducted at the mud outlet cause serious hysteresis in gas kick detection results. The serious blowout accident that happened in the Gulf of Mexico, USA, in 2010 was greatly connected with the hysteresis in gas kick detection results. Knowing how to realize the detection of mud flow rate inside the annular pipe near the seabed and identifying the occurrence of the gas kick accident as early as possible are of great importance. However, two kinds of fluid flow detection methods exist: intrusive and nonintrusive. The intrusive flow meter will damage the original pipeline system and influence the drilling of the mud field, which makes the application of the intrusive method inevitably affect the original technological process. However, the deep-water drilling technology is complicated, and the requirement is high; thus, the change of the original technological process will bring about a cost increase. To have no influence on the original technological process, the best option is to have a nonintrusive flow detection method. Ultrasound flow detection is a typical nonintrusive flow detection method; however, mud drilling will cause ultrasound attenuation, and the common ultrasound detection method cannot detect effective echo signals. The continuous ultrasound will form a strong sound field in the mud and can spread further than the impulse ultrasound for the wave superposition factor. Nevertheless, few methods exist for detecting the flow rate of the continuous ultrasound. In addition, the measurement of the nonintrusive flow is difficult, because the flow mode of the annular pipe mud is complicated and the pressure at the seabed is remarkably high. On this basis, this study analyzes the nonoriented reflection of the contin...

Advances in Well Control: Early Kick Detection and Automated Control Systems

“…This problem is resolved by continuous detection of non-oriented reflected ultrasound Doppler frequency shift, which relates the drilling fluid flow rate to the collected repeated Lamb waves. A related flow rate algorithm is obtained through the even distribution characteristics of the reflection angles [25]. The installation of three ultrasonic sensors in an open channel with Venturi constriction provided high accuracy flow rate measurement comparable to electromagnetic flowmeter measurements which are not susceptible to cuttings settlement at low flow velocity [23].…”

Real-time monitoring and control of flow rate in transportation pipelines using Matlab-based interactive GUI and PID controller

“…Time dependent method for different porous material for transportation of fluid is presented [6]. A reduction algorithm is introduced for ultrasound detection of flow rate [7]. PID controller is used for oil pipe line control and the flow conrol is monitored [8].…”