Measuring bottom-hole temperature with smart polymers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12540547-B2
Application number	US-202217960353-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 5, 2022
Priority date	Oct 5, 2022
Publication date	Feb 3, 2026
Grant date	Feb 3, 2026

Abstract

Systems and methods include techniques for using smart polymers. Units of smart polymers with heat sensitivity are inserted by a monitoring system into drilling fluid pumped into a well. The smart polymers are configured to be triggered by exposure to increasing levels of heat. An insertion timestamp associated with each unit is stored. Each insertion timestamp indicates a time that each unit was inserted. Continuous images and observed characteristics of returning mud exiting through an annulus of the well and containing the units of smart polymer are captured by a camera positioned at a sensing location and linked to the monitoring system. An estimate of temperatures at a drill bit of the drilling operation is determined using continuous images, observed characteristics, and insertion timestamps, based at least in part on executing image processing algorithms, machine-learning models, and deep-learning models. Suggested changes to be made to drilling parameters are provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
storing an insertion timestamp associated with insertion of each unit of smart polymers, each insertion timestamp indicating a time that each unit of smart polymers was inserted into a drilling fluid pumped into a well during a drilling operation, the smart polymers being configured to be triggered by exposure to increasing levels of heat experienced in the well; controlling, a camera positioned at a sensing location, to continuously capture images and observed characteristics of returning mud exiting through an annulus of the well and comprising the units of smart polymer; determining, by using the images and the observed characteristics and the insertion timestamps associated with each unit of smart polymer, an estimate of temperatures at a drill bit of the drilling operation, wherein determining the estimate is based at least in part on executing image processing algorithms; and triggering, by based at least in part on the estimate of the temperatures, an adjustment of drilling parameters for the drilling operation.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the units of smart polymers have a pill shape.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
pumping the units of smart polymers into the drilling fluid at different time intervals or every one stand.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the units of smart polymers are configured to change properties as a function of changing temperatures exposed to the units of smart polymers by downhole conditions.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein capturing the images comprises capturing, in the units of smart polymers, evidence of changing temperatures experienced by the units of smart polymers.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining the estimate of temperatures comprises correlating an arrival timestamp identifying a time of arrival of each unit of smart polymer at the sensing location with a respective hole depth by utilizing a rig sensor for mud flow rate and based on an annular area of the well.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the sensing location is selected from the group consisting of a shale shaker, a centrifuge, a de-sander, and a de-silter.

8 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing one or more instructions executable by a computer system to perform operations comprising:
storing an insertion timestamp associated with insertion of each unit of smart polymers, each insertion timestamp indicating a time that each unit of smart polymers was inserted into a drilling fluid pumped into a well during a drilling operation, the smart polymers being configured to be triggered by exposure to increasing levels of heat experienced in the well; controlling, a camera positioned at a sensing location, to continuously capture images and observed characteristics of returning mud exiting through an annulus of the well and comprising the units of smart polymer; determining, by using the images and the observed characteristics and the insertion timestamps associated with each unit of smart polymer, an estimate of temperatures at a drill bit of the drilling operation, wherein determining the estimate is based at least in part on executing image processing algorithms; and triggering, by based at least in part on the estimate of the temperatures, an adjustment of drilling parameters for the drilling operation.

9 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the units of smart polymers have a pill shape.

10 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8 , the operations further comprising:
pumping the units of smart polymers into the drilling fluid at different time intervals or every one stand.

11 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the units of smart polymers are configured to change properties as a function of changing temperatures exposed to the units of smart polymers by downhole conditions.

12 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein capturing the images comprises capturing, in the units of smart polymers, evidence of changing temperatures experienced by the units of smart polymers.

13 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein determining the estimate of temperatures comprises correlating an arrival timestamp identifying a time of arrival of each unit of smart polymer at the sensing location with a respective hole depth by utilizing a rig sensor for mud flow rate and based on an annular area of the well.

14 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the sensing location is selected from the group consisting of a shale shaker, a centrifuge, a de-sander, and a de-silter.

15 . A computer-implemented system, comprising:
one or more processors; and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium coupled to the one or more processors and storing programming instructions for execution by the one or more processors, the programming instructions instructing the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
storing an insertion timestamp associated with insertion of each unit of smart polymers, each insertion timestamp indicating a time that each unit of smart polymers was inserted into a drilling fluid pumped into a well during a drilling operation, the smart polymers being configured to be triggered by exposure to increasing levels of heat experienced in the well;
controlling, a camera positioned at a sensing location, to continuously capture images and observed characteristics of returning mud exiting through an annulus of the well and comprising the units of smart polymer;
determining, by using the images and the observed characteristics and the insertion timestamps associated with each unit of smart polymer, an estimate of temperatures at a drill bit of the drilling operation, wherein determining the estimate is based at least in part on executing image processing algorithms; and
triggering, by based at least in part on the estimate of the temperatures, an adjustment of drilling parameters for the drilling operation.

16 . The computer-implemented system of claim 15 , wherein the units of smart polymers have a pill shape.

17 . The computer-implemented system of claim 15 , the operations further comprising:
pumping the units of smart polymers into the drilling fluid at different time intervals or every one stand.

18 . The computer-implemented system of claim 15 , wherein the units of smart polymers are configured to change properties as a function of changing temperatures exposed to the units of smart polymers by downhole conditions.

19 . The computer-implemented system of claim 15 , wherein capturing the images comprises capturing, in the units of smart polymers, evidence of changing temperatures experienced by the units of smart polymers.

20 . The computer-implemented system of claim 15 , wherein determining the estimate of temperatures comprises correlating an arrival timestamp identifying a time of arrival of each unit of smart polymer at the sensing location with a respective hole depth by utilizing a rig sensor for mud flow rate and based on an annular area of the well.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Albassam Mohammed
• Mora Arturo Magana
• Gooneratne Chinthaka Pasan
• Aljubran Mohammad
• Boul Peter

Classifications

• G01N33/24 Primary

  Earth materials (G01N33/42 takes precedence) · CPC title

• C09K8/24

  Polymers · CPC title

• E21B49/0875 Primary

  determining specific fluid parameters · CPC title

• E21B47/07

  Temperature · CPC title