Gas Extraction Device for Drilling Mud Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas-extraction devices for drilling muds face reliability issues due to the maintenance challenges of vacuum pumps, which are often expensive and not certified for explosive zones, leading to unpredictable gas flow rates and disrupted analysis.
Innovation Solution
A gas-extraction device with a pressure controller and flow regulator that maintains a constant pressure difference, eliminating the need for vacuum pumps by using a Venturi pump or sonic nozzle to regulate gas flow, and incorporating a gas analyzer connected via a short, maintenance-free gas-extraction pipe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vacuum pump is used to extract gas from drilling mud, then gas extraction is achieved, but maintenance requirements increase and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the vacuum pump from the system entirely and replaces it with a pressure-driven flow system. The gas extraction function is achieved by creating a pressure difference between the enclosure and the gas line, eliminating the need for mechanical pumping components that require maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical vacuum pump system is replaced with a pressure-based flow control system using pressure controllers and flow regulators. This substitutes mechanical pumping action with pressure differential-driven gas flow, reducing mechanical complexity and maintenance needs.
2Length of moving object
If a vacuum pump is installed close to the analyzer, then gas transport distance is reduced, but the pump requires certification for explosive zones increasing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum pump is removed from the system, eliminating the need for expensive explosion-zone certified equipment. The gas transport function is achieved passively through pressure differential, allowing standard components to be used instead of specialized expensive equipment.
3Productivity
If gas pump rate decreases, then maintenance is needed, but this disrupts gas analysis continuity
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure controller and flow regulator system maintains continuous and stable gas flow to the analyzer without interruptions. By eliminating the vacuum pump, the system avoids pump rate degradation and maintains consistent gas extraction and transport, ensuring uninterrupted analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The system self-regulates gas flow through pressure differential control without requiring external maintenance interventions. The pressure controllers and flow regulators maintain automatic balance, ensuring continuous operation without the need for pump maintenance that would disrupt analysis.
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
Enhances the reliability and accuracy of gas extraction and analysis by maintaining a constant gas flow, reducing maintenance needs, and allowing safe installation in explosive zones with real-time measurements.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure controller is set so that the one of the pressure controller and enclosure which is situated upstream from the flow regulator has a higher pressure than the one situated downstream
Implementation Method 2
It may be a Venturi pump
Implementation Method 3
the flow regulator is a sonic nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
Gas-extraction device (152) for extracting at least one gas contained in a drilling mud, the device comprising: —an enclosure (162), —an equipment (164) for supplying the drilling mud to the enclosure (162), —an equipment (170) for introducing a carrier gas into the enclosure (62; 162), wherein the device comprises a flow regulator (204) able to regulate the flow rate of a gas flow containing at least carrier gas, and a pressure controller situated downstream of the enclosure (162) configured for locally setting a pressure lower than the pressure of the enclosure (162), wherein the flow, regulator (204) is interposed between the pressure controller and the enclosure (162).