Apparatus for determining the gas content of drilling muds

Claim 2

Apparatus adapted for determining the gas content of a drilling mud and comprising: means defining a sample chamber; first means adapted for inducting drilling mud into said sample chamber and including a first piston cylinder in communication with said sample chamber, a first piston cooperatively arranged in said first cylinder and adapted for movement therein from a predetermined retracted position to a predetermined extended position, and first actuating means coupled to said first piston and adapted for selectively moving said first piston from its said retracted position to its said extended position to induct a predetermined volume of drilling mud into said sample chamber corresponding to the displacement volume defined in said first cylinder between said predetermined positions of said first piston; second means adapted for reducing the pressure of a sample of drilling mud inducted into said sample chamber and including a second piston cylinder in communication with said sample chamber, a second piston cooperatively arranged in said second cylinder and adapted for movement therein from a retracted position to extended positions, and second actuating means coupled to said second piston and adapted for selectively moving said second piston away from its said retracted position to reduce the pressure of a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber in accordance with the gas content of a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber and the increased volume therein as said second piston is moved away from its said retracted position; pressure-responsive means adapted for determining when the pressure of a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber is reduced to a predetermined value in response to movement of said second piston away from its said retracted position; and third means operable upon movement of said second piston away from its said retracted position for determining the increase in the volume of said sample chamber upon movement of said second piston to an extended position where the pressure of a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber is reduced to said predetermined value.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pressure-responsive means include means operatively associated with said second actuating means and adapted for discontinuing operation of said second actuating means whenever the pressure of a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber is reduced to said predetermined value.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said third means include means operatively associated with said second actuating means and adapted for providing an indication representative of the distance between said retractEd position of said second piston and said extended position thereof whenever the operation of said second actuating means is discontinued.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said third means include means operatively associated with said second actuating means and adapted for providing an indication representative of the distance between said retracted position of said second piston and said extended position thereof when the pressure in said sample chamber is reduced to said predetermined value.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 further including means selectively operable for introducing a flushing agent into said sample chamber and said first and second cylinders after a sample of drilling mud has been discharged therefrom.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 further including gas-receiving means in communication with said sample chamber and adapted for receiving gas contained in a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber after such a sample has been discharged therefrom.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 further including control means operatively associated with said first and second means and adapted for sequentially operating said first actuating means to move said first piston to its said extended position and thereafter operating said second actuating means to move said second piston away from its said retracted position.

Claim 9

Apparatus adapted for determining the gas content of a drilling mud and comprising: means defining a sample chamber and first and second piston chambers in fluid communication therewith; first means adapted for inducting a predetermined volume of drilling mud into said sample chamber and including a mud conduit in communication with said sample chamber, a mud-control valve in said mud conduit and operatively arranged to be opened and closed for controlling the flow of drilling mud between said sample chamber and a source of drilling mud to be tested, a first piston cooperatively arranged in said first cylinder and adapted for movement therein between predetermined retracted and extended positions, and first actuating means coupled to said first piston and adapted for selectively moving said first piston from its said retracted position to its said extended position to induct a predetermined volume of drilling mud into said sample chamber corresponding to the displacement volume defined in said first cylinder between said predetermined positions of said first piston; second means adapted for reducing the pressure of a sample of drilling mud inducted into said sample chamber and including a second piston cooperatively arranged in said second cylinder and adapted for movement therein between retracted and extended positions, and second actuating means coupled to said second piston and adapted for selectively moving said second piston away from its said retracted position to reduce the pressure of a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber in accordance with the gas content of a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber and the increased volume therein as said second piston is moved away from its said retracted position; pressure-responsive means adapted for providing a control signal whenever the pressure of a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber is reduced to a predetermined value in response to movement of said second piston away from its said retracted position; indicating means operable upon movement of said second piston away from its said retracted position for indicating the volumetric increase of said sample chamber upon movement of said second piston to an extended position where the pressure in said sample chamber is reduced to said predetermined value; and control means operatively associated with said actuating means and said pressure-responsive means and adapted for operating said first actuating means to move said first piston from its said retracted position to its said extended position for inducting said predetermined volume of drilling mud into said sample chamber and thereafter opErating said second actuating means to move said second piston from its said retracted position until said pressure-responsive means provides said control signal.

Claim 10

Apparatus adapted for determining the gas content of a drilling mud and comprising: means defining a sample chamber and first and second piston chambers in fluid communication therewith; first means adapted for inducting a predetermined volume of drilling mud into said sample chamber and including a mud conduit in communication with said sample chamber, a mud-control valve in said mud conduit and operatively arranged to be opened and closed for controlling the flow of drilling mud between said sample chamber and a source of drilling mud to be tested, a first piston cooperatively arranged in said first cylinder and adapted for movement therein between predetermined retracted and extended positions, and first actuating means coupled to said first piston and adapted for selectively moving said first piston from its said retracted position to its said extended position to induct a predetermined volume of drilling mud into said sample chamber corresponding to the displacement volume defined in said first cylinder between said predetermined positions of said first piston; second means adapted for reducing the pressure of a sample of drilling mud inducted into said sample chamber and including a second piston cooperatively arranged in said second cylinder and adapted for movement therein between retracted and extended positions, and second actuating means coupled to said second piston and adapted for selectively moving said second piston away from its said retracted position to reduce the pressure of a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber in accordance with the gas content of a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber and the increased volume therein as said second piston is moved away from its said retracted position; pressure-responsive means adapted for providing a control signal whenever the pressure of a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber is reduced to a predetermined value in response to movement of said second piston away from its said retracted position; indicating means operable upon movement of said second piston away from its said retracted position for indicating the volumetric increase of said sample chamber upon movement of said second piston to an extended position where the pressure in said sample chamber is reduced to said predetermined value; and control means operatively associated with said actuating means and said pressure-responsive means and adapted for operating said first actuating means to move said first piston from its said retracted position to its said extended position for inducting said predetermined volume of drilling mud into said sample chamber and thereafter opErating said second actuating means to move said second piston from its said retracted position until said pressure-responsive means provides said control signal.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said indicating means include means responsive to movement of said second piston for providing an output signal representative of the distance said second piston is moved away from its said retracted position for determining the volume increase in said sample chamber required to reduce the pressure therein to said predetermined value.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 further including recording means operatively associated with said indicating means and adapted for recording said output signal.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said control means further include valve-actuating means operatively associated with said mud-control valve and adapted for opening said mud-control valve at least before said first actuating means move said first piston away from its said retracted position and closing said mud-control valve after said first piston reaches its said extended position and at least before said second actuating means move said second piston away from its said retracted position.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 8 further including a fluid conduit in communication with said sample chamber, a conduit-control valve in said fluid conduit and operatively arranged to be opened and closed for controlling the flow of fluid through said fluid conduit, and means coupled to said fluid conduit and adapted for introducing a flushing fluid into said sample chamber and said first and second cylinders after a sample of drilling mud has been discharged therefrom upon opening of said valves.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 8 further including a fluid conduit in communication with said sample chamber, a conduit-control valve in said fluid conduit and operatively arranged to be opened and closed for controlling the flow of fluid through said fluid conduit, and means coupled to said fluid conduit and adapted for receiving gas contained in a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber after said pistons have been moved to their respective said extended positions and at least after said conduit-control valve is opened.

Claim 16

Apparatus adapted for determining the gas content of a drilling mud and comprising: means defining a sample chamber having upper and lower fluid openings; first means adapted for inducting a predetermined volume of drilling mud into said sample chamber and including a mud conduit coupled to said lower opening, a mud-control valve in said mud conduit, first valve-actuating means coupled to said mud-control valve and adapted for opening and closing said mud-control valve to control the flow of drilling mud between said sample chamber and a source of drilling mud to be tested, a first piston cylinder in communication with said sample chamber, a first piston cooperatively arranged in said first cylinder and adapted for movement therein from a predetermined retracted position to a predetermined extended position, and first piston-actuating means coupled to said first piston and adapted for selectively moving said first piston from its said retracted position to its said extended position to induct a predetermined volume of drilling mud into said sample chamber corresponding to the displacement volume defined in said first cylinder between said predetermined positions of said first piston; second means adapted for reducing the pressure of a sample of drilling mud inducted into said sample chamber and including a fluid conduit coupled to said upper opening, a fluid-control valve in said fluid conduit, second valve-actuating means coupled to said fluid-control valve and adapted for opening and closing said fluid-control valve to control the flow of fluids through said fluid conduit, a second piston cylinder in communication with said sample chamber, a second piston cooperatively arranged in said second cylinder and adapted for movement therein from a retracted posiTion to extended positions, and second piston-actuating means coupled to said second piston and adapted for selectively moving said second piston away from its said retracted position to reduce the pressure of a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber in accordance with the gas content of a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber and the increased volume therein as said second piston is moved away from its said retracted position; pressure-responsive means in communication with said sample chamber and adapted for producing an output signal when the pressure of a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber is reduced to a predetermined value in response to movement of said second piston away from its said retracted position; control means cooperatively associated with said actuating means and said pressure-responsive means and adapted for sequentially operating said first and second valve-actuating means and said first piston-actuating means to open said mud-control valve, close said fluid-control valve and enable said first piston-actuating means to move said first piston from its said retracted position to its said extended position for inducting said predetermined volume of drilling mud through said mud conduit into said sample chamber and thereafter operating said first valve-actuating means and said second piston- actuating means to close said mud-control valve and enable said second piston-actuating means to move said second piston from its said retracted position until said second piston-actuating means halt in response to said output signal to stop said second piston at one of its extended positions; and indicating means cooperatively associated with said second piston-actuating means for providing an indication representative of the increased volume of said sample chamber required to reduce the pressure of a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber to said predetermined value.

Claim 17

Apparatus adapted for determining the gas content of a drilling mud and comprising: means defining a sample chamber having upper and lower fluid openings; first means adapted for inducting a predetermined volume of drilling mud into said sample chamber and including a mud conduit coupled to said lower opening, a mud-control valve in said mud conduit, first valve-actuating means coupled to said mud-control valve and adapted for opening and closing said mud-control valve to control the flow of drilling mud between said sample chamber and a source of drilling mud to be tested, a first piston cylinder in communication with said sample chamber, a first piston cooperatively arranged in said first cylinder and adapted for movement therein from a predetermined retracted position to a predetermined extended position, and first piston-actuating means coupled to said first piston and adapted for selectively moving said first piston from its said retracted position to its said extended position to induct a predetermined volume of drilling mud into said sample chamber corresponding to the displacement volume defined in said first cylinder between said predetermined positions of said first piston; second means adapted for reducing the pressure of a sample of drilling mud inducted into said sample chamber and including a fluid conduit coupled to said upper opening, a fluid-control valve in said fluid conduit, second valve-actuating means coupled to said fluid-control valve and adapted for opening and closing said fluid-control valve to control the flow of fluids through said fluid conduit, a second piston cylinder in communication with said sample chamber, a second piston cooperatively arranged in said second cylinder and adapted for movement therein from a retracted posiTion to extended positions, and second piston-actuating means coupled to said second piston and adapted for selectively moving said second piston away from its said retracted position to reduce the pressure of a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber in accordance with the gas content of a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber and the increased volume therein as said second piston is moved away from its said retracted position; pressure-responsive means in communication with said sample chamber and adapted for producing an output signal when the pressure of a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber is reduced to a predetermined value in response to movement of said second piston away from its said retracted position; control means cooperatively associated with said actuating means and said pressure-responsive means and adapted for sequentially operating said first and second valve-actuating means and said first piston-actuating means to open said mud-control valve, close said fluid-control valve and enable said first piston-actuating means to move said first piston from its said retracted position to its said extended position for inducting said predetermined volume of drilling mud through said mud conduit into said sample chamber and thereafter operating said first valve-actuating means and said second piston- actuating means to close said mud-control valve and enable said second piston-actuating means to move said second piston from its said retracted position until said second piston-actuating means halt in response to said output signal to stop said second piston at one of its extended positions; and indicating means cooperatively associated with said second piston-actuating means for providing an indication representative of the increased volume of said sample chamber required to reduce the pressure of a sample of drilling mud in said sample chamber to said predetermined value.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said indicating means include means responsive to movement of said second piston for providing an output signal representative of the distance said second piston is moved away from its said retracted position for determining the volume increase in said sample chamber required to reduce the pressure therein to said predetermined value.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 15 further including recording means operatively associated with said indicating means and adapted for recording said output signal.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said control means further include means operable after said second piston-actuating means halt for operating said actuating means to return said pistons to their said retracted positions and open said control valves for displacing drilling mud from said sample chamber through said mud conduit and displacing gas from said sample chamber through said fluid conduit.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 17 further including gas-collection means in communication with said fluid conduit and adapted for receiving gas displaced from said sample chamber upon return of said pistons to their said retracted positions.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 17 further including chamber-flushing means in communication with said fluid conduit and adapted for discharging a flushing agent through said sample chamber upon return of said pistons to their said retracted positions.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 19 further including gas-collection means in communication with said fluid conduit and adapted for receiving gas displaced from said sample chamber upon return of said pistons to their said retracted positions.