George Wayne Milner

US Patent:

20170081931, Mar 23, 2017

Filed:

Sep 23, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/274746

Inventors:

- McLean VA, US
George Martin Milner - Round Rock TX, US

Assignee:

COVAR APPLIED TECHNOLOGIES, INC. - McLean VA

International Classification:

E21B 21/08
E21B 47/10

Abstract:

A system and method for determining if well influx is due to ballooning or a formation kick. The system and method employing flow-in, flow-out, and pit volume data from a series of both pumps-off and pumps-on events. The system determining a standard amount of fluid lost into the formation at a previous pumps-on event and comparing that with the amount of fluid released into the well during a pumps-off event. The system and method producing a confidence reading that the influx is due to ballooning as opposed to a formation kick.

US Patent:

20160298996, Oct 13, 2016

Filed:

Apr 11, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/095562

Inventors:

- McLean VA, US
George Martin Milner - Round Rock TX, US
Hendrik Gilmer - Fairfax VA, US

Assignee:

COVAR APPLIED TECHNOLOGIES, INC. - McLean VA

International Classification:

G01F 23/26
G01F 1/66

Abstract:

The invention relates to a system and method for measuring the flow stream height and velocity and other properties of water, drilling mud, or other liquid flowing through a pipe. The system comprises at least one and preferably a plurality of capacitive pads, connected to a data acquisition system capable of measuring the capacitance of each pad. These capacitive pads may be arranged radially around the inner diameter of a pipe or on a vertical probe inserted into the pipe. The pads that are submerged below the liquid level within the pipe will have a larger capacitance due to their proximity with a high dielectric fluid such as water or drilling mud. Conversely, the pads above the flow stream will have a lower capacitance due to their proximity to air. The fluid level can be inferred by determining the number of pads submerged in the fluid and by analysis of the capacitive values of pads nearest the fluid-air interface.