Ultrasound color flow imaging for drilling applications

Abstract

A system and method for rheology measurement of a drilling fluid. The system may comprise an ultrasound transmitter positioned to direct ultrasound pulses into the drilling fluid; an ultrasound receiver positioned to receive sound waves reflected from the drilling fluid; and a computer system configured to determine a velocity profile of the drilling fluid based at least in part on the reflected sound waves. The method may comprise flowing at least a portion of the drilling fluid through a rheology measurement system; directing ultrasound pulses into the drilling fluid while the drilling fluid is flowing through the rheology measurement system; measuring sound waves reflected by the drilling fluid; and determining a velocity profile of the drilling fluid based at least on the measured sound waves.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for rheology measurement of a drilling fluid comprising:
 an ultrasound transmitter positioned to direct ultrasound pulses into the drilling fluid;   an ultrasound receiver positioned to receive sound waves reflected from the drilling fluid; and   a computer system configured to determine a velocity profile of the drilling fluid based at least in part on the reflected sound waves.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system is fluidically coupled to a drilling system to receive the drilling fluid from the drilling system. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a conduit to receive the drilling fluid. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the ultrasound transmitter and the ultrasound receiver are disposed on opposite sides of the conduit. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound transmitter and the ultrasound receiver are a single element. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the computer system is configured to generate a color flow display of fluid flow in the conduit. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system is disposed inline in a drilling system. 
     
     
         8 . A system for rheology measurement of a drilling fluid comprising
 an ultrasound transmitter positioned to directed ultrasound pulses into a drilling fluid circulating in a drilling system;   an ultrasound receiver positioned to receive sound waves reflected from the drilling fluid; and   a computer system configured to determine a velocity profile of the drilling fluid based at least in part on the reflected sound waves.   
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein the ultrasound transmitter is placed in one of the following positions in the drilling system: (1) between a reserve pit and a retention pit; (2) between the reserve pit and a mud pump; or (3) between a mud pump and a kelly. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein the ultrasound transmitter is placed in one of the following positions in the drilling system: (1) a flow line in a fluid processing unit; (2) a flow line before a solids control system; or (3) between a solids control system and a retention pit. 
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein the ultrasound transmitter is placed in one of the following positions in the drilling system: (1) between a shale shaker and cones; (2) between cones and a centrifuge; and or (3) between the centrifuge and the shale shaker. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein one or more additional ultrasound transmitters and receivers are placed at additional measurement positions in the drilling system. 
     
     
         13 . A method of monitoring rheology of a drilling fluid comprising:
 flowing at least a portion of the drilling fluid through a rheology measurement system;   directing ultrasound pulses into the drilling fluid while the drilling fluid is flowing through the rheology measurement system;   measuring sound waves reflected by the drilling fluid; and   determining a velocity profile of the drilling fluid based at least on the measured sound waves.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the ultrasound pules are directed into the drilling fluid flowing in a drill string below the surface. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the rheology measurement system is installed inline in a drilling system to measure rheology as the drilling is circulating in the drilling system. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising drawing the drilling fluid into the rheology measurement system from one or more locations in a drilling system. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising directing one or more additional ultrasound pulses into the drilling fluid at one or more additional locations as the drilling fluid is circulating through a drilling system. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising generating a color flow display of the treatment fluid. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising determining viscosity of the drilling fluid based at least on the determined velocity profile. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising adjusting concentration of one or more components of the drilling fluid based at least in part on the velocity profile and/or rheology of the treatment fluid.