Mud level sensing system

Abstract

A non-contact measuring system using emitted and received electromagnetic radiation or microwaves is mounted on the return line carrying oil drilling mud and cuttings from an oil drilling apparatus. The system measures the height and flow of the mud and cuttings in the pipe. In one embodiment, it is mounted to the pipe in a low profile manner to protect it, and it uses a reflective surface to reflect the signal to the flow being measured.

1 . A non-contact level sensing system for measuring an attribute of mud and: cutting flow returning from an oil-drilling hole comprising:
 a mounting connectable to a conduit that is connected to the oil-drilling hole and contains the flowing mud and cuttings;   an electromagnetic signal emitter and an electromagnetic signal receiver,   a housing adapted to hold said emitter and said receiver and to mount on said mounting; and   circuitry within said housing for processing signals from said receiver to generate a measure of said attribute.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the signal emitter and the signal receiver are a microwave emitter and receiver. 
   
   
       3 . A level sensing system for measuring an attribute of mud and cutting flow returning from an oil-drilling hole comprising:
 a mounting connectable to a conduit that is connected to the oil-drilling hole and contains the flowing mud and cuttings;   a signal emitter and a signal receiver,   a housing adapted to hold said emitter and said receiver and to mount on said mounting;   circuitry within said housing for processing signals from said receiver to generate a measure of said attribute, and   wherein the emitter and the receiver do not send or receive signals in a straight line path to or from the mud and cutting flow being measured.   
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the signal emitter and the signal receiver are an electromagnetic emitter and receiver. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the signal emitter and the signal receiver are a microwave emitter and receiver. 
   
   
       6 . An oil drilling system with a non-contact gauge for measuring an attribute of mud and cuttings flow returning from an oil-drilling hole comprising:
 a system for supplying pumped mud;   a drill bit delivering the pumped mud into the bottom of the oil-drilling hole;   a return system including a conduit that carries the mud and cuttings flow from the oil-drilling hole;   a mounting that is connected to said conduit;   an electromagnetic signal emitter emitting signals that reach the mud and cuttings in said conduit;   an electromagnetic signal receiver that receives reflected signals from the mud and cuttings in said conduit;   a housing adapted to hold said signal emitter and said signal receiver and to mount on said mounting such that the signal emitter and the signal receiver are in reflective contact with said mud and cuttings; and   circuitry to process said reflected signals into an attribute of a measurement of flow.   
   
   
       7 . The oil drilling system of  claim 6  wherein the signal emitter and the signal receiver are a microwave emitter and receiver. 
   
   
       8 . A non-contact method for measuring an attribute of mud and cuttings flow returning from an oil-drilling hole comprising:
 emitting an electromagnetic signal that reaches and reflects off of said mud and cuttings in the form of a reflected signal;   receiving the reflected signal; and   processing the reflected signal to arrive at an attribute of mud and cuttings flow.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said reflected signal is a microwave signal. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said emitted and reflected signals do not follow a straight-line path to or from the mud and cutting flow. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said signals are microwave signals.