Drilling mud is a heavy lubricating fluid which is circulated during drilling into bore holes. This fluid is conveyed from the surface down into the bore hole. It returns to the surface with cuttings, water and debris which are picked up from the bottom of the bore hole as they are cut by the drill bit.
Drilling mud is expensive and therefore the recirculation process requires accurate flow detection. Traditional flow devices installed in line are expensive and simply require too much maintenance. Newer linings and technology has allowed extended life span on pipes and flowmeters but abrasion and erosion of pipes is inevitable. A further problem is the low velocity in many pipes due to the high density of the material and large diameter pipes.
Successful trials conducted at a number of sites has proven that non invasive or clamp on style meters perform best.
Test:
A portable Flow Meter from CompuFlow™ was connected to “Drilling Mud” rig and set up within a few minutes. Pipes were left intact and no cutting or modification to the pipe was required.
The flow medium –Drilling mud circulated for this test was a high Viscosity and high density.
The ultra sonic Doppler measurement method is used in determining the velocity of the fluid inside the pipe..Pipe dimensions are entered into the meter which then converts it to the flow rate.
CompuFlow™ delivers stable results with their method of measuring the flow. Even
though this mud system was far more viscose than most drilling lubricants. An innovative method is used to reduce the measuring frequency and has proven to be most accurate. CompuFlow™ low frequency transducers are robust and easy to mount and suited to a wide range of pipe diameters.
