Development of automated equipment for radioisotope monitoring of flushing fluid and cement slurry parameters

Selecting the right drilling fluid while drilling oil and gas wells, can be the starting point for developing the field and successfully completing the drilling process. Incorrectly, selected mud can lead to problems such as hydraulic fracturing, drilling fluid absorption, gas and water leakage, and large pressure differentials in the wellbore-to-wellbore system. The solution to the problem of drilling fluid density and moisture control by using gamma density measurement and neutron moisture sensing methods is under consideration. For this purpose, the authors are developing the equipment for radioisotope density and quantity control of drilling fluids. Principle of apparatus work consists in registration of gamma-rays and fast neutrons by detectors in drilling mud, further indication of pulse flows and their transformation into a direct current.