Abstract: Automated systems and methods for obtaining of the concentration of impurities in a liquid ethylene oxide product stream are shown and described. The systems and methods employ remote injection and flash vaporization of small volumes of liquid ethylene oxide into a carrier gas to minimize polymerization of the ethylene oxide and accumulation of polymerized ethylene oxide. Ethylene oxide peaks are diverted from the gas chromatograph effluent detector to stabilize baseline signal errors and avoid errors in the calculation of an impurity with an adjacent retention time peak. The systems and methods may be used for feedback, feedforward, dynamic matrix, and/or model-based predictive control of ethylene oxide purity. The systems and methods reduce lag times and errors associated with relying on laboratory analyses to make process adjustments.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to measuring the ability of the soil to transport gases at any location of the soil column, rather than just the flow of gases out of the soil. This enables the measurement of gas transport for various reactive and non-reactive species that often do not reach the ground level, such as methane, as it is used by microbes as a carbon source when there is sufficient oxygen for aerobic respiration. Thus, the invention helps understand transport and reactive processes at different locations in the soil, rather than just the limited information available at ground level. The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to conducting microcosm studies in situ which enables direct estimates of degradation rate of specific soil contaminants.

Abstract: An in-oil gas concentration measuring system comprises: gas extracting which extracts an in-oil gas from an insulating oil sample; component detecting which detects gas components of the in-oil gas extracted by the gas extracting; extracted-gas concentration calculating which calculates, on the basis of data detected by the component detecting, extracted-gas concentrations of the gas components being detected; extracted-gas concentration storing which stores information on the extracted-gas concentrations calculated by the extracted-gas concentration calculating as a result of two or more extractions performed by the gas extracting, the information being stored in each of the extractions; and in-oil gas concentration calculating which calculates in-oil gas concentrations of the gas components on the basis of the extracted-gas concentrations thus stored in the extracted-gas concentration storing.

Abstract: A degassing system includes a vessel. A liquid inlet lets liquid into the vessel. A liquid outlet lets liquid out of the vessel. A liquid receiving chamber receives the liquid that enters the vessel through the liquid inlet. The liquid receiving chamber is open on one side. The degassing system further includes a motor having a shaft and a pump coupled to the shaft. The pump has the shape of a cone. The cone has an axis, a narrow end and a wide end. The pump is positioned so that its narrow end is inserted into the open side of the liquid receiving chamber and so that its wide end is close enough to a wall of the vessel so that fluid ejected from the wide end when the pump is spinning will strike the wall. The degassing system includes a gas outlet for releasing gas from the vessel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for obtaining a mass spectrum of a sample and determining a concentration of a component of the sample by utilizing a model of chemical and electron ionization and the obtained mass spectrum.

Abstract: A method of measuring the in-situ Total Gas content of an unconventional reservoir rock, the method including: drilling a borehole through a measurement interval in the reservoir to generate an annular volume of drilling mud that includes cuttings and gas, the annular volume having a leading edge and a trailing edge; diverting the leading edge of the annular volume such that all of the annular volume is captured in a degassing storage system without being exposed to atmosphere; discontinuing the diversion of the annular volume when the trailing edge of the annular volume has been captured in the degassing storage system; measuring the gas volume in the degassing storage system to determine the amount of gas per annular volume; and calculating the in-situ Total Gas content of the reservoir with reference to the amount of gas and cuttings per annular volume.

Abstract: A method of measuring the in-situ Total Gas content of an unconventional reservoir rock, the method including: drilling a borehole through a measurement interval in the reservoir to generate an annular volume of drilling mud that includes cuttings and gas, the annular volume having a leading edge and a trailing edge; diverting the leading edge of the annular volume such that all of the annular volume is captured in a degassing storage system without being exposed to atmosphere; discontinuing the diversion of the annular volume when the trailing edge of the annular volume has been captured in the degassing storage system; measuring the gas volume in the degassing storage system to determine the amount of gas per annular volume; and calculating the in-situ Total Gas content of the reservoir with reference to the amount of gas and cuttings per annular volume.

Abstract: The inventive method is designed to test contaminants in soil that is contaminated with petroleum related products. The method involves the use of a container that will separate soil into a head space for analysis. The container consists of two halves and the container is partially filled with a soiled dirt specimen. The container is then hermetically sealed against the environment by way of a cover snapped over the container rim. The container with the contaminated specimen therein is allowed to accumulate a vapor head space within a certain time period. An instrument will puncture a sealed orifice in the top cover and a sample of the vapor is withdrawn for further analysis.

Abstract: A method of characterizing formation fluid present in a subsurface earth formation during drilling using methods for correcting the measured concentrations of gas components in drilling mud. Gas trap values for the gas components of interest, light hydrocarbons, are measured during mud logging and are corrected using relative response factors, determined from laboratory fluid analysis values and relative extraction efficiency values. The relative response factors for each gas component of interest can be used for correcting additional gas trap values measured in the same well or for correcting gas trap values measured in surrounding wells utilizing a similar drilling fluid. The corrected gas trap values for each of the gas components of interest can be utilized to calculate gas/oil ratios for characterizing the formation fluid from the volume of drilling mud.

Abstract: A low maintenance adjustable gas trap with a plurality of couplings, each coupling securing to a flow line of a drilling rig; a plurality of hammer unions each engaging a coupling; a plurality of base manifold pipes, each engaging a hammer union; a base manifold flow line engaging the base manifold pipes, a chimney pipe connected to the base manifold flow line with a controllable valve, a reducer connected to the chimney opposite the base manifold flow line; an expansion chamber component connected to the reducer; a restrictor mounted to the expansion chamber component opposite the reducer, wherein the restrictor has a diameter no more than ?rd a diameter of the expansion chamber component; and a conduit connection connected to the restrictor for engaging a conduit to flow a gas sample from the gas trap to a gas analyzer.

Abstract: A low maintenance adjustable system for sampling gas from a well using a gas analyzer; a conditioning and filtering device; a gas trap having a plurality of couplings, a plurality of hammer unions, a plurality of base manifold pipes, a base manifold flow line, a chimney pipe connected to the base manifold flow line, a controllable valve, a reducer connected to the chimney, an expansion chamber component connected to the reducer, a restrictor mounted to the expansion chamber component, and a conduit connection connected to the restrictor for engaging a conduit to flow a gas sample from the gas trap to a gas analyzer.

Abstract: A variable position gas trap apparatus and method to separate gases entrained in drilling fluid in a tank. The apparatus includes a gas trap attached to a carriage and a frame attached to the tank. A lever moveable by the float rod, activates the control valve to raise or lower the carriage having the gas trap container attached thereto. A feedback control loop is responsive to changes in the level of the drilling fluid in the tank. A mechanism is provided to mechanically and automatically move the carriage with respect to the frame in response to the feedback control loop.

Abstract: The inventive device (53) comprises an enclosure (63), means (65) for supplying the drilling mud into the enclosure (63), and means (67) for discharging the drilling mud from the enclosure (63). The device also comprises means (69) for introducing a carrier gas into the enclosure (63) and a pipe (71), which serves to extract the gas discharging into the enclosure (63) and which is connected to suction means (109). The device (53) additionally comprises selective venting means (72) comprising a vent pipe (115) perforated over the extracting pipe (71) and means (117) for closing the vent pipe (115). These means (117) are designed for opening the vent pipe (115) when the pressure at at least one point (121) of the device is less than a predetermined set value. The invention is used for analyzing the gaseous content of muds from drilling oil wells.

Abstract: A method for determining a property of formations surrounding an earth borehole being drilled with a drill bit at the end of a drill string, using drilling fluid that flows downward through the drill string, exits through the drill bit, and returns toward the earth's surface in the annulus between the drill string and the periphery of the borehole, including the following steps: obtaining, downhole near the drill bit, a pre-bit sample of the mud in the drill string as it approaches the drill bit; obtaining, downhole near the drill bit, a post-bit sample of the mud in the annulus, entrained with drilled earth formation, after its egression from the drill bit; implementing pre-bit measurements on the pre-bit sample; implementing post-bit measurements on the post-bit sample; and determining a property of the formations from the post-bit measurements and the pre-bit measurements.

Abstract: A method of characterizing formation fluid present in a subsurface earth formation during drilling using methods for correcting the measured concentrations of gas components in drilling mud. Gas trap values for the gas components of interest, light hydrocarbons, are measured during mud logging and are corrected using relative response factors, determined from laboratory fluid analysis values and relative extraction efficiency values. The relative response factors for each gas component of interest can be used for correcting additional gas trap values measured in the same well or for correcting gas trap values measured in surrounding wells utilizing a similar drilling fluid. The corrected gas trap values for each of the gas components of interest can be utilized to calculate gas/oil ratios for characterizing the formation fluid from the volume of drilling mud.

Abstract: The inventive device (53) comprises an enclosure (63), means (65) for supplying the drilling mud into the enclosure (63), and means (67) for discharging the drilling mud from the enclosure (63). The device also comprises means (69) for introducing a carrier gas into the enclosure (63) and a pipe (71), which serves to extract the gas discharging into the enclosure (63) and which is connected to suction means (109). The device (53) additionally comprises selective venting means (72) comprising a vent pipe (115) perforated over the extracting pipe (71) and means (117) for closing the vent pipe (115). These means (117) are designed for opening the vent pipe (115) when the pressure at at least one point (121) of the device is less than a predetermined set value. The invention is used for analyzing the gaseous content of muds from drilling oil wells.

Abstract: A method for determining a property of formations surrounding an earth borehole being drilled with a drill bit at the end of a drill string, using drilling fluid that flows downward through the drill string, exits through the drill bit, and returns toward the earth's surface in the annulus between the drill string and the periphery of the borehole, including the following steps: obtaining, downhole near the drill bit, a pre-bit sample of the mud in the drill string as it approaches the drill bit; obtaining, downhole near the drill bit, a post-bit sample of the mud in the annulus, entrained with drilled earth formation, after its egression from the drill bit; implementing pre-bit measurements on the pre-bit sample; implementing post-bit measurements on the post-bit sample; and determining a property of the formations from the post-bit measurements and the pre-bit measurements.

Abstract: A method for determining a property of formations surrounding an earth borehole being drilled with a drill bit at the end of a drill string, using drilling fluid that flows downward through the drill string, exits through the drill bit, and returns toward the earth's surface in the annulus between the drill string and the periphery of the borehole, including the following steps: obtaining, downhole near the drill bit, a pre-bit sample of the mud in the drill string as it approaches the drill bit; obtaining, downhole near the drill bit, a post-bit sample of the mud in the annulus, entrained with drilled earth formation, after its egression from the drill bit; implementing pre-bit measurements on the pre-bit sample; implementing post-bit measurements on the post-bit sample; and determining a property of the formations from the post-bit measurements and the pre-bit measurements.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for degassing a fluid including a sample probe in operable communication with a pump which is in operable communication with a gas trap wherein one or more nozzles are located to accelerate and expel the fluid into the gas trap thereby liberating dissolved gases in the fluid. A method for degassing a fluid is also disclosed. The method includes directing a pressurized fluid toward one or more nozzles and accelerating and expelling fluid through the nozzles.

Abstract: A process to analyze fluid entrained in well boreholes. The process includes gathering trap gas samples from return of drilling mud at multiple depths. The process also includes the steps of subjecting the samples to mass spectrometry in order to determine mass to charge ratios data of hydrocarbons and analyzing the mass to charge ratios data in relation to depth or time. Samples from at least one other source may also be gathered and analyzed chosen from the group consisting of mud fluid analysis, cuttings backgrounds analysis and cuttings crush analysis.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are disclosed for in situ measurement of downhole fluid flow using Doppler techniques. First, a baseline speed of sound is established as close to the desired measurement point as possible. This speed of sound measurement is then used in Doppler calculations for determining flow velocities based from induced Doppler shift resulting from fluid flow. A heterodyne receiver arrangement is preferably used for processing so that the flow direction can be determined and the detection sensitivity for low flow velocities can be enhanced. From in situ measurements, well kicks may be spotted and dealt with in real-time. In addition, current theoretical models of rheological properties may be verified and expounded upon using in situ downhole measurement techniques. Furthermore, the velocity measurements described herein can be used to recognize downhole lost circulation and/or gas/water/oil influxes as early as possible, even when the mud recirculation pumps are turned off.

Abstract: The abundance of methane, from a rock sample recovered from a subsurface formation, is determined by submerging the rock sample in a container with aqueous acid solution for release of natural gas from the rock sample and then determining the amount of released gas contained in submerged gas bubbles adhering to undisolved portions of the rock sample and the container as a measure of the amount of methane released from the rock sample. The relative abundance of methane from each of plurality of rock samples, treated with aqueous acid solution as described above, is determined by comparing the amount of gas contained in the adhering submerged gas bubbles from each rock sample with the amount of gas contained in adhering submerged gas bubbles from each of the other rock samples of the plurality of rock samples as a measure of the relative abundance of methane in each rock sample.

Abstract: A gas trap liberates subterranean gases entrained in drilling muds. The trap introduces a stripping gas into a flow of mud gas for liberating mud gases. The trap comprises a pair of opposing truncated right circular vessels and having a concentric bottom mud inlet, a side mud outlet and a gas collection port in the freeboard area, at the top. A stirrer depends vertically into the trap. The stirrer has radial tubes extending from its lower end and inlet ports at its top end for forming a continuous bore and flow passage therethrough. The radial tube ends are bevelled on the trailing edge. The trap is partially immersed in mud forming a mud level in the trap and a freeboard area above containing air. When rotated, the hollow shaft spins the mud, establishing a flow through the trap and forming a turbulent low pressure area at the bevels, drawing air down the shaft from the upper ports and injecting stripping air into the mud, all of which aids in liberating gases from the mud.

Abstract: A gas analyzer for an oil drilling rig normally flows gas captured from a mud pit source through parallel paths from the gas source to a total gas analyzer. One of the paths is a loop path. Periodically the loop path is switched from the source to the total gas analyzer and connected to a path from an air supply to a chromatograph. After a short time during which the gas from the loop path is transferred to the chromatograph then the loop path is switched back to the original parallel path. This arrangement permits a small instrument to perform both the functions of total gas analyzer and chromatograph.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating vapor extraction from the headspace of a septum-sealed vial containing a sample to be analyzed. The vial is heated, driving dissolved volatile organics out of solution and into the vapor headspace. A first end of a hollow probe penetrates the septum of the sample vial and is submerged within the sample. The second end of the probe is connected to the first port of a two-port gas-tight valve. A first end of a flexible tube is connected to the second port of the valve. The second end of the tube is submerged in a heated liquid source. In one embodiment, the vapor is extracted from the vial through the septum by a vapor extraction means. During vapor extraction, the valve is opened, thereby connecting the vial to the heated liquid via the tube, thereby allowing the liquid to replace the vapor as it is extracted for analysis from the otherwise closed headspace volume. In an alternate embodiment, the heated liquid source is pressurized.

Abstract: Apparatus and process is provided for establishing values of the quality of gaseous hydrocarbons in gas extracted from mud while drilling. Two rare earth sensors, without a coating, are exposed to the extracted gas. The first sensor is pre-calibrated and outputs a signal proportional to the relative concentration of light hydrocarbons. The second sensor is precalibrated and outputs a signal proportional to the relative concentration of heavy hydrocarbons. Preferably a second sensor is selected which, during calibration outputs a signal which is also proportional to the relative concentration of light hydrocarbons in a light sample gas and outputs a signal which is inversely proportional to the relative concentration of heavy hydrocarbons in a heavy sample gas. The difference of the two signals is obtained and is compared to the first sensor signal as being indicative of the quality of any hydrocarbons present in the extracted gases.