No Drilling without Mud
Drilling mud, as a lubricating and cooling agent for the drill bit, as well as a sealing material for the well bore, is an important resource for the development of oil and gas deposits. Due to varying soil conditions and drill holes that are adapted to the raw material deposits, different compositions of liquid mud are required. High quality and continuous availability guarantee cost-effective and safe drilling as well as trouble-free access to the oil and gas within the formation.
Non-Contact Level Measurement in Mud Pits with the VEGAPULS 66
The different kinds of mud are stored in various tanks, the so-called mud pits. Agitators in the tanks stir the mud and ensure a constant composition. The levels in the mud pits are measured with VEGAPULS 66 non-contact radar sensors. This measurement delivers reliable results even in case of extreme tank fouling and fluctuating pressures and temperatures. The sensor is maintenance-free and can be easily mounted from above.
VEGAWELL 52 for Density Measurement in Mud
The density of the mud, known as mud weight, is essential for ensuring safe and productive drilling on an oil rig. The mud must be heavy enough so that fluids from the formation do not enter the well bore causing the well to kick or blow out. On the other hand, the mud cannot be so heavy that it causes the formation to collapse around the well bore. Two VEGAWELL 52 hydrostatic pressure transmitters mounted at a defined height differential can precisely measure the density in the mud storage tanks. The design of the VEGAWELL 52 as a suspended, submersible pressure transmitter makes easy installation possible from above. Constructed of materials resistant to corrosion caused by oil and seawater, combined with a ceramic measuring cell, guarantee the most reliable performance from the VEGAWELL 52.
Non-Contact Density Measurement with the DSG
The mud is important for low-friction drilling as well as sealing of the bore hole. During transport into the bore hole, the density of the mud is checked again by means of a radiation-based measurement. At pressures up to 900 bar, the DSG makes non-invasive measurement possible directly on the feed pipes without disturbing or interrupting the flow of mud. The sensor and the radioactive source are mounted on the outside of the pipe. Through careful planning, the source is sized for each application, guaranteeing the safest, lowest activity source while still providing the most reliable measurement.
