Method And System For Monitoring Bend And Torque Forces On A Drill Pipe

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring bend radius and torque force exerted on a drill string. A sensor system is supported within a pipe section of the drill string and has a light source supported within the pipe section to emit a light beam within the pipe section. An optical sensing device is supported within the pipe section and spaced apart from the light source. The optical sensing device transmits a detection signal indicative of the position of the light beam on a surface of the optical sensing device to a processor that determines the bend radius and torque force exerted on the pipe section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for monitoring a force exerted on a pipe section, the system comprising:
 a light source supported within the pipe section to emit a light beam within the pipe section;   an optical sensing device supported within the pipe section and spaced apart from the light source, wherein the optical sensing device transmits a detection signal indicative of the position of the light beam on a surface of the optical sensing device; and   a processor for receiving the detection signal and processing the detection signal to determine the force exerted on the pipe section.