APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTINUOUS MEASUREMENT OF DRILLING FLUID PROPERTIES

摘要

The present invention relates to an apparatus (100) suitable for use in substantially continuous measurement of a physical property of a drilling mud during use thereof in a drilling mud flow circuit of a drilling device. The apparatus (100) comprises a sample chamber (114) having an inlet (113) and an outlet (122) and is arranged to allow a drilling mud to flow therethrough from the inlet (113) to the outlet (122). A detector device (116) such as a densiometer and/or viscometer is provided for substantially continuous measurement of a physical property of the drilling mud flowing through the sample chamber (114) in use of the apparatus (100). Supply and return conduits (103a, 126) are provided for connection of the inlet (113) and outlet (122) respectively, in use of the apparatus (100), to a drilling mud flow circuit for delivering at least part of the drilling mud flow through the apparatus (100) for measurement. A pump (112) produces a controlled flow of the diverted drilling mud through the apparatus (100) so that the properties of the mud, particularly density and viscosity can be measured on a more or less continuous basis.