Method and apparatus for releasing fluid inclusion volatiles from rock samples

Claim 2

Apparatus for releasing fluid-inclusion volatiles from a sedimentary rock sample and for delivering released volatiles to analysis comprising: a receptacle for receiving a sedimentary rock sample and for supporting the rock sample during crushing; an enclosure for enclosing the receptacle and for collecting and delivering a volatiles sample released from fluid inclusions in the rock sample to an outlet of the enclosure; crushing means for impacting the rock sample and for releasing substantially the entire volume of fluid-inclusion volatiles in the rock sample, the crushing means exerting an impact load having a magnitude effective for releasing by a single impact substantially all by volume of fluid-inclusion volatiles from unaggregated quartz-grain sand.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the crushing means is effective for exerting an impact load over a nominal period of time of one second or less and for releasing substantially all by volume fluid-inclusion volatiles from unaggregated quartz-grain sand having diameters of 250 microns or less.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: crushing means comprises a plurality of fluid-pressure-actuated pistons; each piston having a reservoir adjacent its drive fluid inlet having a reservoir volume greater than 2× the piston-displacement volume; and each drive-fluid inlet being connected to its reservoir by a duct having substantially no pressure drop therein.

Claim 5

The Apparatus of claim 1 for releasing fluid inclusion volatiles from a rock sample to an outlet for analysis comprising: a plurality of receptacles within the enclosure for receiving a plurality of separate rock samples, each receptacle means for receiving a separate rock sample and for supporting each separate rock sample as each rock sample is individually crushed; crushing means within the enclosure for individually impacting in sequence each rock sample of said plurality of rock samples, by single-impact crushing effective for releasing substantially the entire volume of fluid-inclusion volatiles therein from each rock sample.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein crushing means comprises a double-acting piston and a fluid-pressure-drive system comprising: means for controllably connecting a first drive-inlet port of the piston to one of a source supply of pressurized drive fluid and ambient air; and means for controllably connecting a second drive-inlet port of the piston to one of a first source supply of pressurized drive fluid, a second source supply of pressurized drive fluid, and ambient air.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising controlling means for controlling pressure experienced by the first inlet port according to a repeating sequence of source supply and ambient air; and controlling means for controlling pressure experienced by the second inlet port according to a sequence of first source supply, second source supply, and ambient air.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein crushing means comprises a double-acting piston and a fluid-pressure-drive system including: a first source of drive fluid connectable to a first drive-inlet port of a first side of the piston for driving a rod attached to the piston to impact a rock sample; a second source of drive fluid connectable to a second drive-inlet port of a second side of the piston for retracting the rod after impacting the rock sample; a third source of drive fluid connectable to the second drive-inlet port, the second source comprising a higher pressure source than the second source; and means for sequentially controlling pressure experienced by each inlet port.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each of the first drive-inlet port and second drive-inlet port is controllably connectable to ambient pressure.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first source of drive fluid comprises a source supply connectable via a reservoir of drive fluid and a valve-controllable duct to the first drive-inlet port.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the second source of drive fluid comprises a valve-controllable duct connecting the source supply to the second drive-inlet port.

Claim 12

Apparatus for releasing fluid-inclusion volatiles from a rock sample and for delivering released volatiles to analysis comprising: a receptacle for receiving a rock sample and for supporting the rock sample during crushing; an enclosure for enclosing the receptacle and for collecting and delivering a volatiles sample released from fluid inclusions in the rock sample to an outlet of the enclosure; a crushing ram within the enclosure for impacting the rock sample and for releasing a preponderance of fluid-inclusion volatiles from a sedimentary rock sample; wherein the crushing ram comprises a double-acting piston comprising a housing, a reciprocable piston therein defining a piston displacement volume, and first and second drive fluid inlets in the housing on first and second sides respectively of the reciprocable piston; drive means for driving the crushing ram; said drive means including means for maximizing impact load exerted by the crushing ram on the rock sample at impact; wherein the means for maximizing impact load comprises: a reservoir of drive fluid having a reservoir volume at least two times the piston displacement volume; reservoir delivery means for delivering drive fluid from the reservoir to the first side of the piston substantially without pressure drop; the apparatus comprising: first delivery means for delivering drive fluid of a first pressure to the second side of the piston; second delivery means for delivering drive fluid of a second pressure, lower than the first pressure, to the second side of the piston; exhaust means for exhausting fluid from the second side of the housing to ambient pressure; and means for controlling reservoir delivery means, first delivery means, and second delivery means for maximizing piston impact when drive fluid is delivered from the reservoir to the first side of the piston.

Claim 13

Apparatus for releasing fluid-inclusion volatiles from a rock sample and for delivering released volatiles to analysis comprising: a receptacle for receiving a rock sample and for supporting the rock sample during crushing; an enclosure for enclosing the receptacle and for collecting and delivering a volatiles sample released from fluid inclusions in the rock sample to an outlet of the enclosure; a crushing ram within the enclosure for impacting the rock sample and for releasing a preponderance of fluid-inclusion volatiles from a sedimentary rock sample; wherein the crushing ram comprises a double-acting piston comprising a housing, a reciprocable piston therein defining a piston displacement volume, and first and second drive fluid inlets in the housing on first and second sides respectively of the reciprocable piston; drive means for driving the crushing ram; said drive means including means for maximizing impact load exerted by the crushing ram on the rock sample at impact; wherein the means for maximizing impact load comprises: a reservoir of drive fluid having a reservoir volume at least two times the piston displacement volume; reservoir delivery means for delivering drive fluid from the reservoir to the first side of the piston substantially without pressure drop; the apparatus comprising: first delivery means for delivering drive fluid of a first pressure to the second side of the piston; second delivery means for delivering drive fluid of a second pressure, lower than the first pressure, to the second side of the piston; exhaust means for exhausting fluid from the second side of the housing to ambient pressure; and means for controlling reservoir delivery means, first delivery means, and second delivery means for maximizing piston impact when drive fluid is delivered from the reservoir to the first side of the piston.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: the piston-displacement volume at full stroke is less than one-half of the reservoir volume.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: piston-displacement volume at full stroke is less than one-fifth of reservoir volume.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: piston-displacement volume at full stroke is less than one-tenth of reservoir volume.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: piston-displacement volume at full stroke is less than one-hundredth of reservoir volume.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: the means for controlling is effective for providing drive fluid to inlet ports during operations of impacting, retracting, rest and pre-impact periods of the piston as follows. ______________________________________ Pressure at Pressure at Piston State First Inlet Port Second Inlet Port ______________________________________ Impact High Ambient Retract Ambient High Rest Ambient High Preimpact Ambient Low ______________________________________

Claim 19

Method for releasing fluid-inclusion volatiles from a rock sample and for delivering released volatiles to analysis comprising: providing a receptacle for receiving a rock sample and for supporting the rock sample during crushing; providing an enclosure for enclosing the receptacle and for collecting and delivering a volatiles sample released from fluid inclusions in the rock sample to an outlet of the enclosure; placing a rock sample in the receptacle and evacuating the enclosure; and impacting the rock sample with a crushing ram exerting an impact load on the rock sample having a force effective for releasing a substantially all, by volume, fluid-inclusion volatiles by single-impact crushing from unaggregated quartz-grain sand.

Claim 20

Method for releasing fluid-inclusion volatiles from a rock sample and for delivering released volatiles to analysis comprising: providing a receptacle for receiving a rock sample and for supporting the rock sample during crushing; providing an enclosure for enclosing the receptacle and for collecting and delivering a volatiles sample released from fluid inclusions in the rock sample to an outlet of the enclosure; placing a rock sample in the receptacle and evacuating the enclosure; and impacting the rock sample with a crushing ram exerting an impact load on the rock sample having a force effective for releasing a substantially all, by volume, fluid-inclusion volatiles by single-impact crushing from unaggregated quartz-grain sand.

Claim 21

The method of claim 17 for releasing fluid inclusion volatiles from a rock sample to an outlet for analysis comprising: placing a plurality of sedimentary rock samples in an enclosure in a plurality of receptacles each receptacle for receiving a separate rock samples and for supporting each separate rock sample as each rock sample is individually crushed; evacuating the enclosure; crushing within the enclosure in sequence each rock sample of said plurality of rock samples by single-impact crushing effective for releasing substantially the entire volume of fluid-inclusion volatiles therein from each rock sample.

Claim 22

The method of claim 18 wherein: crushing is effected by a plurality of fluid-pressure-actuated pistons, each piston having a reservoir adjacent its drive fluid inlet having a reservoir volume greater than 2× the piston displacement volume; and each drive fluid inlet being connected to its reservoir by a duct having substantially no pressure drop therein.

Claim 23

The method of claim 19 wherein each piston comprises a double-acting piston and a fluid-pressure-drive system including: connecting a first source of drive fluid to a first drive inlet port of a first side of the piston for driving a rod to impact a rock sample; connecting a second source of drive fluid to a second drive inlet port of a second side of the piston for retracting the rod after impacting the rock sample; prior to repeating the foregoing steps, connecting a third source of drive fluid to the second drive inlet port, the third source being a lower pressure source than the second source; and repeating the foregoing steps.

Claim 24

Apparatus for releasing fluid-inclusion volatiles from a sedimentary rock sample and for delivering released volatiles to analysis comprising: a receptacle for receiving a sedimentary rock sample and for supporting the rock sample during crushing; an evacuable enclosure for enclosing the receptacle and for collecting and delivering a volatiles sample released from fluid inclusions in the rock sample to an outlet of the enclosure; engagable means for reducing volume within the enclosure into which fluid-inclusion volatiles are released; crushing means for impacting the rock sample and for releasing fluid-inclusion volatiles in the rock sample into the reduced volume of enclosure effected by the engagable means; and control means for directing a cooperative movement of said crushing means and said engagable means.

Claim 25

Apparatus for releasing fluid-inclusion volatiles from a sedimentary rock sample and for delivering released volatiles to analysis comprising: a receptacle for receiving a sedimentary rock sample and for supporting the rock sample during crushing; an evacuable enclosure for enclosing the receptacle and for collecting and delivering a volatiles sample released from fluid inclusions in the rock sample to an outlet of the enclosure; engagable means for reducing volume within the enclosure into which fluid-inclusion volatiles are released; crushing means for impacting the rock sample and for releasing fluid-inclusion volatiles in the rock sample into the reduced volume of enclosure effected by the engagable means; and control means for directing a cooperative movement of said crushing means and said engagable means.