Dual Gas Trap Mud Logging Efficiency Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for extracting hydrocarbons from drilling mud are inefficient, as they fail to accurately quantify and compare the gas extraction efficiency of primary and secondary gas traps, leading to incomplete hydrocarbon recovery and inaccurate measurements.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a primary and secondary gas trap, with a gas analyzer, where the secondary trap extracts all extractable gas from a known volume of mud, allowing for comparison and adjustment of extraction efficiency based on operational parameters like flow rates, temperatures, and pressures, to determine the efficiency of the primary trap.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional single gas trap extraction is used, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision of gas extraction efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the gas extraction function into two separate gas traps: a primary gas trap for continuous extraction during drilling operations and a secondary gas trap for batch extraction of known volume mud. This segmentation allows each trap to be optimized for its specific function and enables comparison of extraction efficiencies between the two systems, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring a single overly complex device
2Measurement precision
If continuous operation extraction is used, then the productivity is high, but the measurement precision of extraction efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by using the secondary gas trap to completely extract all extractable gas from a known volume of mud before comparison. This preliminary complete extraction establishes a reference standard that allows the continuous operation primary trap's efficiency to be accurately determined by comparison, enabling precise measurement without requiring time-consuming repeated trials
3Reliability
If secondary gas trap complete extraction is implemented, then the reliability of hydrocarbon recovery is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary gas trap acts as an intermediary reference system that provides a known complete extraction standard. By comparing the primary trap's output against this intermediary reference, the system achieves reliable determination of extraction efficiency and hydrocarbon recovery completeness without requiring the primary trap itself to be overly complex
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables precise measurement and comparison of hydrocarbon gas extraction efficiency, ensuring complete removal and accurate analysis of hydrocarbons (C1 to C8), improving the reliability of gas/oil contacts and oil/water contact determinations in mud logging.
Implementation Method 1
the measured hydrocarbons are only from the milled formation and can, therefore, provide highly valuable information when correlated with corresponding depths and corrected for artifacts. Depending on the mud and hydrocarbon combination, the amount of hydrocarbons in solution may vary, and single components may have a different solubility. Conventional hydrocarbon extraction is accomplished by feeding mud through a vessel having a mechanical agitator and sucking the evaporated hydrocarbons from the headspace of a gas trap device
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for mud logging wherein the effectiveness of a primary gas trap is measured during operation.