SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING DRILLING FLUID FOR EARTH DRILLING

Abstract

It is described how to provide a drilling fluid for earth drilling, wherein the drilling fluid comprises a liquid and at least one mineral. A recycling device preconditions supplied drilling fluid. At least one drilling fluid analyzer is provided for determining the state of drilling fluid that comes out of the borehole. There is also a mixing device for mixing drilling fluid reconditioned by the recycling device with liquid and/or mineral, wherein the mixing device is coupled to the drilling fluid analyzer in order to perform mixing according to the state of the drilling fluid.

Claims

1. A system for providing a drilling fluid for earth drilling, wherein the drilling fluid comprises a liquid and at least one mineral, comprising: a recycling device for preconditioning of supplied drilling fluid, at least one drilling fluid analyzer for determining the state of drilling fluid that comes out of the borehole, and a mixing device for mixing drilling fluid reconditioned by the recycling device with liquid and/or mineral, wherein the mixing device is coupled to the drilling fluid analyzer in order to perform mixing according to the state of the drilling fluid.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit coupled to the drilling fluid analyzer and with which the mixing device can be actuated to provide a particular condition.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a conduit which connects the recycling device and the mixing device, wherein a sensor of a drilling fluid analyzer is arranged in the conduit.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one wireless coupling.

5. The system according to one of claim 1, wherein the at least one drilling fluid analyzer comprises a plurality of drilling fluid analyzers.

6. A method for providing a drilling fluid for earth drilling, wherein the drilling fluid comprises a liquid and at least one mineral, the method comprising: recycling of supplied drilling fluid, determining the state of the drilling fluid before and/or after the recycling, and mixing of the recycled drilling fluid with liquid and/or mineral according to the ascertained state of the drilling fluid.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of determining the state of the drilling fluid is performed before and after the recycling.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising wireless transmission of a signal corresponding to the ascertained state of the drilling fluid.

9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising transmission of a signal corresponding to a setpoint from a ground drilling device.

10. (canceled)

Description

[0034] The invention shall now be explained more closely with the aid of exemplary embodiments presented in the drawing.

[0035] The single FIGURE of the application shows schematically a system according to the invention for providing of drilling fluid for the earth drilling.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows in a schematic representation how a drilling fluid is prepared for the earth drilling. FIG. 1 represents a system comprising a ground drilling device 1, a recycling device 2, a mixing device 3 and several drilling fluid analyzers 4, 5, 6.

[0037] With the ground drilling device 1, an (earth) borehole 7 is produced with the aid of a drilling fluid. The drilling fluid used for the drilling of the earth borehole 7 is recovered and its condition is ascertained by means of a drilling fluid analyzer 4. For this, a sensor of the drilling fluid analyzer 4 can be arranged in a conduit 8 carrying the (spent) drilling fluid used for the earth drilling. Depending on the condition as ascertained by the drilling fluid analyzer 4, a signal is sent, coordinated with the particular condition. For the transmission of the signal, the drilling fluid analyzer 4 has a transmitter, so that the transmission of the signal is wireless.

[0038] The drilling fluid used for the earth borehole 7 is taken to the recycling device 2. For this, the conduit 8 is provided between the earth borehole 7 and the recycling device 2, in which the sensor of the drilling fluid analyzer 4 is also arranged. The recycling device 2 has at least one receiver, which can receive a signal in wireless manner. In particular, the recycling device 2 can receive the signal of the drilling fluid analyzer 4 in order to take steps for reconditioning the drilling fluid. Thus, the reconditioning can be adjusted with the recycling device 2 according to the condition of the drilling fluid in the conduit 8 as determined by the drilling fluid analyzer 4.

[0039] The drilling fluid reconditioned by the recycling device 2 is taken to the mixing device 3, for which a conduit 9 is used. In the conduit 9 there is situated a sensor of the drilling fluid analyzer 5, in order to ascertain the condition of the drilling fluid as present after the reconditioning by the recycling device 2. The drilling fluid analyzer 5 has a transmitter which sends a signal in dependence on the condition of the drilling fluid.

[0040] The mixing device 3 has a receiver, which can receive a signal relayed wirelessly. In particular, the signals of the drilling fluid analyzer 4 and most particularly 5 can be used in order to mix the drilling fluid reconditioned by the recycling device 2 with liquid and/or mineral in the mixing device 3. The mixing device 3 is coupled with the drilling fluid analyzers 4 and/or 5 in order to mix the drilling fluid according to its condition. The mixing device 3 is connected by means of a conduit 10 to the ground drilling device 1 in order to supply newly mixed drilling fluid to the ground drilling device 1. In the conduit 10 is arranged a sensor of the drilling fluid analyzer 6 in order to ascertain the condition of the drilling fluid as it is provided by the mixing device 3. The drilling fluid analyzer 6 also has an antenna with which signals can be transmitted wirelessly.

[0041] The ground drilling device 1 has a unit for sending signals wirelessly. The unit can operate as a transmitter and a receiver. The unit can receive signals from the drilling fluid analyzer 6 that indicate the condition of the drilling fluid as supplied to the ground drilling device 1, in order to adapt the settings for the earth drilling. But the unit can also be used for sending of signals in order to send signals to the recycling device 2 and/or the mixing device 3 as to how the earth borehole 7 should be produced, i.e., which parameters should be used in the ground drilling device 1. For example, by means of the parameters used it is possible to infer the soil in which the earth borehole 7 is being produced. In this way, it is possible to respond to the requirements for the drilling fluid in particular soils.

[0042] A control unit 11, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is arranged at the ground drilling device 1, can receive the signals and actuate the recycling device 2 and/or the mixing device 3 by means of signals sent.