US 12,247,448 B2
System and method for automated drill cutting sampling, preparation, analysis, and packaging
Mokhles M. Mezghani, Dhahran (SA); and Mustafa Ali H. Al Ibrahim, Safwa (SA)
Assigned to SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Nov. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/456,299.
Prior Publication US 2023/0160269 A1, May 25, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 21/06 (2006.01); E21B 49/00 (2006.01); G01N 33/24 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 21/066 (2013.01) [E21B 49/003 (2013.01); G01N 33/24 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A modular system for analyzing drilled cuttings, the modular system comprising:
a sampler unit comprising:
a first flexible pipe configured to receive the drilled cuttings from a shale shaker disposed on a rig site and configured to obtain the drilled cuttings;
a high viscosity pump fluidly connected to the first flexible pipe, where the high viscosity pump is configured to fill with the drilled cuttings while transferring the drilled cuttings from the sampler unit;
a scale configured to weigh the high viscosity pump and the drilled cuttings filling the high viscosity pump;
an inflow door fixed to the high viscosity pump and configured to be open while filling the high viscosity pump with the drilled cuttings;
an outflow door fixed to the high viscosity pump and configured to be closed while filling the high viscosity pump with the drilled cuttings;
a washer unit configured to remove debris from the drilled cuttings;
a second flexible pipe configured to transport the drilled cuttings from the sampler unit to the washer unit;
an analysis unit configured to determine lithological properties of the drilled cuttings;
a packager unit configured to package the drilled cuttings; and
a central processing unit (CPU) configured to coordinate operations to process the drilled cuttings through each of the sampler unit, washer unit, analysis unit and packager unit; and
wherein the CPU facilitates a processing link among the sampler unit, washer unit, analysis unit and packager unit such that the sampler unit, washer unit, analysis unit and packager unit are integrated to form the modular system,
wherein the lithological properties of the drilled cuttings comprise a grain pattern, a grain shape, and a porosity of the drilled cuttings,
wherein the CPU is configured to actuate the inflow door and the outflow door according to a predetermined sampling frequency such that the drilled cuttings are received with the high viscosity pump and weighed by the scale at predetermined drilling intervals.