Bypass flushing for gas extraction systems

A gas extraction system, comprising:

• a flow meter that receives a drilling fluid sample via a flow meter inlet conduit and discharges the drilling fluid sample into a flow meter outlet conduit;
• a first inline mud valve positioned in the flow meter inlet conduit and a second inline mud valve positioned in the flow meter outlet conduit;
• a bypass flow meter valve positioned in a flow meter bypass conduit that extends between the flow meter inlet conduit and the flow meter outlet conduit;
• and
• a flushing circuit that includes:
• a first flow meter flushing valve arranged in an inlet flushing conduit fluidly coupled to the flow meter inlet conduit downstream from the first inline mud valve and upstream from the flow meter;
• a second flow meter flushing valve arranged in an outlet flushing conduit fluidly coupled to the flow meter outlet conduit downstream from the flow meter and upstream from the second inline mud valve;
• and
• a pump arranged in the inlet flushing conduit to circulate a flushing fluid through the flushing circuit,
• wherein the gas extraction system is transitioned between a flow measurement configuration and a bypass flushing configuration by closing the first and second inline mud valves and opening the bypass flow meter valve, and
• wherein the flow meter is flushed with the flushing fluid by opening the first and second flow meter flushing valves and starting the pump.