Systems and methods comprising smart auto cleaning pipe screen for drilling operations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10596496-B2
Application number	US-201715788270-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2017
Priority date	Oct 19, 2017
Publication date	Mar 24, 2020
Grant date	Mar 24, 2020

Abstract

An auto cleaning system for cleaning a drilling fluid in a drilling operation, includes a controller configured to determine the difference between a pressure reading by a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor is above a predetermined threshold value, and at least partially open an entrance valve on a second line to divert drilling fluid intake from a first line to the second line, and close the entrance valve on the first line to stop the drilling fluid from entering the first line.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An auto cleaning system for cleaning a drilling fluid in a drilling operation, the auto cleaning system comprising:
a first line comprising a first entrance valve configured to allow the drilling fluid to flow into the first line, a first pressure sensor configured to measure a first pressure of the drilling fluid in the first line at an entrance point, a second pressure sensor configured to measure a second pressure of the drilling fluid in the first line at an exit point, and a first auto clean valve configured to allow the drilling fluid to flow out of the first line;
a second line comprising a second entrance valve configured to allow the drilling fluid to flow into the second line, and a second auto clean valve configured to allow the drilling fluid to flow out of the second line;
an auto clean pump operatively connected to the first auto clean valve and the second auto clean valve via an auto clean line, the auto clean pump configured to receive the drilling fluid from the first line or the second line and remove unwanted material from the drilling fluid; and
a controller operatively connected at least to the first entrance valve, the first pressure sensor, the second pressure sensor, the first auto clean valve, the second entrance valve, the second auto clean valve, and the auto clean pump, wherein the controller is configured to:
determine the difference between the second pressure and the first pressure is above a predetermined threshold value;
at least partially open the second entrance valve to divert drilling fluid intake from the first line to the second line; and
close the first entrance valve to stop the drilling fluid from entering the first line.

2. The auto cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to at least partially open the first auto clean valve to divert the drilling fluid in the first line to the auto clean pump for removal of unwanted material from the drilling fluid.

3. The auto cleaning system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third line comprising two or more valves configured to control flow of the drilling fluid into and out of the third line, and two or more auto clean valve configured to allow the drilling fluid to flow out of the third line, wherein the auto clean pump is operatively connected to the two or more auto clean valves via an auto clean line, the auto clean pump configured to receive the drilling fluid from the third line and remove unwanted material from the drilling fluid.

4. The auto cleaning system of claim 3 , wherein the second line further comprises a third pressure sensor configured to measure a third pressure of the drilling fluid in the second line at an entrance point, and a fourth pressure sensor configured to measure a fourth pressure of the drilling fluid in the second line at an exit point, wherein the controller is operatively connected to the third pressure sensor, the fourth pressure sensor, the two or more valves of the third line, wherein the controller is configured to:
determine the difference between the third pressure and the fourth pressure is above the predetermined threshold value;
at least partially open an entrance valve of the third line to divert drilling fluid intake from the second line to the third line; and
close the second entrance valve to stop the drilling fluid from entering the second line.

5. The auto cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the first entrance valve and the second entrance valve comprise a High Closing Ratio or Hydraulic Control Remote (HCR) valve.

6. The auto cleaning system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a bypass line controlled by a dedicated bypass valve connected to the controller, the dedicated bypass valve configured to allow the drilling fluid to bypass the auto cleaning system.

7. The auto cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the unwanted material comprises at least one of debris and formation pebbles.

8. The auto cleaning system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a human machine interface operatively connected to the controller for displaying an alert message when the drilling fluid is switched from the first line to the second line, and receiving an instruction from an operator.

9. The auto cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the auto cleaning system is installed between a mud pump and a standpipe of the drilling rig.

10. The auto cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to at least partially open the first auto clean valve to divert the drilling fluid in the first line to the auto clean pump for removal of unwanted material from the drilling fluid.

11. A method for cleaning a drilling fluid in a drilling operation using an auto cleaning system, the method comprising:
measuring, by a first pressure sensor installed on a first line, a first pressure of the drilling fluid at a first point;
measuring, by a second pressure sensor installed on the first line, a second pressure of the drilling fluid at a second point, the first line having a first entrance valve configured to allow the drilling fluid to flow into the first line, and a first auto clean valve configured to allow the drilling fluid to flow out of the first line;
determining, by a controller operatively connected to the first pressure sensor, the second pressure sensor, the first entrance valve, and the first auto clean valve, that a difference between the second pressure and the first pressure is above a predetermined threshold value;
at least partially opening a second entrance valve configured to allow the drilling fluid to flow into a second line; and
closing, by the controller, the first entrance valve to stop the drilling fluid from entering the first line.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
the controller at least partially opening the first auto clean valve to divert the drilling fluid in the first line to an auto clean pump operatively connected to the first auto clean valve via an auto clean line for removal of unwanted material from the drilling fluid.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving, by the auto clean pump, the drilling fluid from the first line to remove unwanted material from the drilling fluid.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
providing a third line comprising two or more valves configured to control flow of the drilling fluid into and out of the third line, and two or more auto clean valve configured to allow the drilling fluid to flow out of the third line;
connecting the auto clean pump to the two or more auto clean valves via an auto clean line, wherein the auto clean pump configured to receive the drilling fluid from the third line and remove unwanted material from the drilling fluid.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
providing a third pressure sensor configured to measure a third pressure of the drilling fluid in the second line at an entrance point;
providing a fourth pressure sensor configured to measure a fourth pressure of the drilling fluid in the second line at an exit point;
connecting the controller to the third pressure sensor, the fourth pressure sensor, the two or more valves of the third line, wherein the controller is configured to:
determine the difference between the third pressure and the fourth pressure is above the predetermined threshold value;
at least partially open an entrance valve of the third line to divert drilling fluid intake from the second line to the third line; and
close the second entrance valve to stop the drilling fluid from entering the second line.

16. The method of claim

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Sehsah Ossama
• Costa De Oliveira Victor Carlos
• Rivas Martinez Mario Augusto

Classifications

• B01D35/26

  Filters with built-in pumps {filters provided with a pump mounted in or on the casing (aquarium pumps or filters A01K63/04)} · CPC title

• B01D21/283

  Settling tanks provided with vibrators · CPC title

• G05D7/0641

  using a plurality of throttling means (G05D7/067 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B21/065 Primary

  Separating solids from drilling fluids · CPC title

• B01D35/02

  Filters adapted for location in special places, e.g. pipe-lines, pumps, stop-cocks, (B01D35/05 takes precedence; {water pipe system filters E03B3/18, E03B7/07; dirt catchers in sewers E03F; filters or strainers for pipe-lines in general B08B, E03F; object or dirt catching devices in sinks or the like E03C1/26; suction strainers or filters for pumps F04B53/005, F04D29/70}) · CPC title