Method and system for tracking lubricant leakage from downhole drilling equipment

Abstract

A method of detecting leakage from a drilling tool comprising putting at least one transmitter ( 110 ) in lubricant within the tool ( 26 ) and scanning for the transmitter ( 120 ) with a receiver ( 120 ) at the surface or in a downhole measurement and communications system ( 25 ). If the transmitter ( 110 ) is detected, then one can deduce that the lubricant has leaked from the tool ( 26 ). The method therefore provides an early warning of potential or impending tool failure.

1 . A method of detecting leakage from a drilling tool comprising the steps of:
 providing, within a reservoir of an assembly, at least one liquid;   providing, within the reservoir, at least a first device operable to transmit a signal, the first device having a transmission range beyond which the signal is normally undetectable; and   providing a second device operable to receive the signal, and thereby detect the presence of the first device, wherein the second device is provided beyond the transmission range with respect to the reservoir during operation of the assembly.   
   
   
       2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is a lubricant operable to protect the assembly from premature failure. 
   
   
       3 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first device is a transponder that replies to an interrogation from the second device. 
   
   
       4 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first device is a radio frequency identification device (RFID) and the second device is a RFID reader. 
   
   
       5 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the assembly is a drill bit and the second device is located near an opening of a hole drilled by the drill bit. 
   
   
       6 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein, during normal operation, the reservoir is located more than one thousand feet away from the second device. 
   
   
       7 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein, upon detection of the presence of the first device, the second device initiates a warning of an impending failure of the assembly. 
   
   
       8 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein, during normal operation, at least a portion of the assembly is in contact with a fluid, different from the liquid, and the second device is positioned to scan the fluid after the fluid exits a hole drilled by the assembly. 
   
   
       9 . A method of detecting leakage from a drilling tool comprising the steps of:
 providing an assembly with at least a first reservoir and a second reservoir;   providing, within the first reservoir, at least a first liquid;   providing, within the first reservoir, at least a first device operable to transmit a first signal, the first device having a first transmission range beyond which the first signal is normally undetectable;   providing, within the second reservoir, at least a second liquid;   providing, within the second reservoir, at least a second device operable to transmit a second signal, the second device having a second transmission range beyond which the second signal is normally undetectable; and   providing a third device operable to receive both the first signal and the second signal, wherein the third device is provided beyond the transmission ranges with respect to the reservoirs during operation of the assembly.   
   
   
       10 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the liquids are lubricants operable to protect the assembly from premature failure. 
   
   
       11 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the first and second devices are transponders that reply to an interrogation from the second device. 
   
   
       12 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the first and second devices are radio frequency identification devices (RFID) and the third device is a RFID reader. 
   
   
       13 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the assembly is a drill bit and the third device is located near an opening of a hole drilled by the drill bit. 
   
   
       14 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein, during normal operation, the reservoirs are located more than one thousand feet away from the third device. 
   
   
       15 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein, upon detection of the presence of the first device, the second device, or both, the third device initiates a warning of an impending failure of the assembly. 
   
   
       16 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein, during normal operation, at least a portion of the assembly is in contact with a fluid, different from the liquids, and the third device is positioned to scan the fluid after the fluid exits a hole drilled by the assembly. 
   
   
       17 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the third device is operable to distinguish between the first and second signals, and thereby initiate an indication of which reservoir is leaking. 
   
   
       18 . A method of detecting leakage from a drilling tool comprising the steps of:
 drilling a hole with a drilling assembly, the assembly including at least a first reservoir and a second reservoir therein;   transporting cuttings from the hole with a drilling fluid;   providing, within the first reservoir, at least a first lubricant;   providing, within the first reservoir, a first plurality of radio frequency identification devices operable to respond to an interrogation signal with a first response signal identifying the first reservoir;   providing, within the second reservoir, at least a second lubricant;   providing, within the second reservoir, a second plurality of radio frequency identification devices operable to respond to the interrogation signal with a second response signal identifying the second reservoir;   scanning the fluid after the fluid has left the hole with a radio frequency reader operable to initiate the interrogation signal and receive the response signals; and   indicating, upon reception at least one of the response signals, which reservoir is leaking based upon the received response signal.