# US 10,478,754 B2 · Systems and methods comprising smart sample catcher for drilling operations

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- Number: US 10,478,754 B2
- Document ID: US10478754B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/788,284
- Filed: 2017-10-19
- Published: 2019-04-25
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-10-19
- Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Inventors: Ossama Sehsah; Victor Carlos Costa de Oliveira; Mario Augusto Rivas Martinez
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478754B2

## CPC

- B01D 19/0063: {Regulation, control including valves and floats (for construction and details of valves F16K)}
- B01D 19/0031: {by filtration}
- E21B 21/067: {Separating gases from drilling fluids}
- G05D 7/0658: {the plurality of throttling means being arranged for the control of a single flow from a plurality of converging flows (G05D7/0652 takes precedence; ratio control G05D11/13)}
- E21B 21/065: {Separating solids from drilling fluids}
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES

## Abstract

A sample catching system for cleaning a drilling fluid in a drilling operation includes a first line having a first entrance valve configured to allow the drilling fluid to flow into the first line, a first chemical sensor for measuring the amount of hydrogen sulfide of the drilling fluid in the first line, and a first sample catch valve configured to allow the drilling fluid to flow out of the first line. The system also includes a second line having a second entrance valve configured to allow the drilling fluid to flow into the second line, a sample catch pump, and a controller configured to determine the amount of hydrogen sulfide is above a predetermined threshold value, and open the second entrance valve to divert drilling fluid intake from the first line to the second line, and close the first entrance valve to stop the drilling fluid from entering the first line.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sample catch system for cleaning a drilling fluid in a drilling operation, the sample catch system comprising:
a first line comprising a first entrance valve configured to allow the drilling fluid to flow into the first line, a first chemical sensor configured to measure a first amount of hydrogen sulfide of the drilling fluid in the first line, and a first sample catch valve configured to allow the drilling fluid to flow out of the first line;
a second line comprising a second entrance valve configured to allow the drilling fluid to flow into the second line, a second chemical sensor configured to measure a second amount of hydrogen sulfide of the drilling fluid in the second line, and a second sample catch valve configured to allow the drilling fluid to flow out of the second line;
a sample catch pump operatively connected to the first sample catch valve and the second sample catch valve via a sample catch line, the sample catch pump configured to pump the drilling fluid from the first line, the second line and remove unwanted material from the drilling fluid; and
a controller operatively connected to the first entrance valve, the first chemical sensor, the first sample catch valve, the second entrance valve, the second chemical sensor, the second sample catch valve, and the sample catch pump, wherein the controller is configured to:
determine the first amount of hydrogen sulfide is above a predetermined threshold value;
at least partially open the second entrance valve to divert drilling fluid intake from the first line to the second line; and
close the first entrance valve to stop the drilling fluid from entering the first line.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sample catching system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to at least partially open the first sample catch valve to divert the drilling fluid in the first line from the sample catch pump to the sample catch for removal of unwanted material from the drilling fluid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sample catching system of claim 1, further comprising:
a third line comprising two or more valves configured to control flow of the drilling fluid into and out of the third line, and two or more sample catch valve configured to allow the drilling fluid to flow out of the third line, wherein the sample catch pump is operatively connected to the two or more sample catch valves via a sample catch line, the sample catch pump configured to pump the drilling fluid from the third line into the sample catch line and to the sample catch and remove unwanted material from the drilling fluid.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The sample catching system of claim 3, wherein the second line further comprises a third chemical sensor configured to measure a third amount of hydrogen sulfide of the drilling fluid in the second line at an entrance point, and a fourth chemical sensor configured to measure a fourth amount of hydrogen sulfide of the drilling fluid in the second line at an exit point, wherein the controller is operatively connected to the third chemical sensor, the fourth chemical sensor, the two or more valves of the third line, wherein the controller is configured to:
determine the third amount or the fourth amount of hydrogen sulfide is above the predetermined threshold value;
at least partially open an entrance valve of the third line to divert drilling fluid intake from the second line to the third line; and
close the second entrance valve to stop the drilling fluid from entering the second line.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The sample catching system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold value is either 10 ppm or 15 ppm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The sample catching system of claim 1, wherein the first entrance valve and the second entrance valve comprise a High Closing Ratio or Hydraulic Control Remote (HCR) valve.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The sample catching system of claim 1, further comprising:
a bypass line controlled by a third valve connected to the controller, the third valve configured to allow the drilling fluid to bypass the sample catching system.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The sample catching system of claim 1, further comprising:
a human machine interface operatively connected to the controller for displaying an alert message when the drilling fluid is switched from the first line to the second line, and receiving an instruction from an operator.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The sample catching system of claim 1, wherein the sample catching system is installed between a drilling rig and a shaker.