US 12,480,930 B2
Multi-column gas chromatography for analysis of a formation sample
Mathew Dennis Rowe, Houston, TX (US); and Jhanvi Manishkumar Kevadiya, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Nov. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/070,046.
Prior Publication US 2024/0175858 A1, May 30, 2024
Int. Cl. G01N 30/46 (2006.01); G01N 30/20 (2006.01); G01N 30/60 (2006.01); G01N 30/86 (2006.01); G01N 33/24 (2006.01); G01N 30/02 (2006.01); G01N 30/88 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/24 (2013.01) [G01N 30/20 (2013.01); G01N 30/6043 (2013.01); G01N 30/8679 (2013.01); G01N 2030/025 (2013.01); G01N 2030/8804 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
a gas chromatography instrument comprising:
a sample injector configured to inject a gas sample that includes a number of chemical compounds;
a primary column to separate out a hydrocarbon subset that includes hydrocarbons from the number of chemical compounds;
a secondary column valve coupled to an output of the primary column;
a primary detector coupled to a first output of the secondary column valve and configured to analyze the hydrocarbons of the hydrocarbon subset;
a heart cutting unit coupled to a second output of the secondary column valve, the heart cutting unit configured to cut, from the hydrocarbon subset, isomers having a weight greater than a threshold;
a secondary column coupled to an output of the heart cutting unit, the secondary column configured to separate out at least one isomer from the cut isomers; and
a secondary detector configured to analyze the at least one isomer separated out; and
a controller to control the secondary column valve such that the controller is to open the secondary column valve to output the hydrocarbons to the heart cutting unit in response to at least one trigger event having occurred.