# US 10,767,477 B1 · Systems and methods for collecting cutting samples during oil and gas drilling operations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,477 B1 - Document ID: US10767477B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/871,844 - Filed: 2018-01-15 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2014-11-21 - Assignees: Solid Automated Geological Solutions, LLC - Applicants: Solid Automated Geological Solutions, LLC - Inventors: Jay Leeper; James Martin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767477B1 ## CPC - E21B 49/086: {Withdrawing samples at the surface} - B65B 9/02: Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs - B65B 41/16: by rollers - B65B 51/02: Applying adhesives or sealing liquids - B65B 51/16: by rotary members - B65B 51/225: {by ultrasonic welding} - B65B 61/26: for marking or coding completed packages - B65B 63/00: Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on articles or materials to be packaged - E21B 21/066: {with further treatment of the solids, e.g. for disposal} - E21B 49/005: {Testing the nature of borehole walls or the formation by using drilling mud or cutting data} - G01N 33/24: Earth materials (G01N33/42 takes precedence) - B65B 2220/22: Interconnected packages concurrently produced from the same web, the packages not being separated from one another - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A system for automated collection of cutting samples produced during the drilling of a well includes a venturi-effect extractor, which receives a flow of carrier fluid, input fluid containing cuttings in response to suction generated by the flow of the carrier fluid, and output the carrier fluid and the fluid containing the cuttings to a packaging system. The packaging system separates the cuttings from carrier fluid and the fluid containing the cuttings, deposits the cuttings at a corresponding point along a moving elongated strip of base material, covers the elongated strip of base material and the cuttings deposited on the base material with an elongated strip of cover material, and advances the covered elongated strip of base material and covered cuttings onto a reel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for automated collection of cutting samples produced during drilling of a well comprising: a venturi-effect extractor adapted to: receive a flow of carrier fluid through a first port; in response to suction generated by the flow of the carrier fluid, input fluid containing cuttings through a second port; and output the carrier fluid and the fluid containing the cuttings through a third port; a packaging system operable to: receive the carrier fluid and the fluid containing the cuttings output from the third port of the extractor; separate the cuttings from carrier fluid and the fluid containing the cuttings; deposit the cuttings at a corresponding point along a moving elongated strip of base material; cover the elongated strip of base material and the cuttings deposited on the base material with an elongated strip of cover material; and advance the covered elongated strip of base material and covered cuttings onto a reel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a shaker board for presenting the fluid containing the cuttings to the second port of the venturi-effect extractor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the shaker board receives carrier fluid for washing the cuttings toward the second port of the venturi-effect extractor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the carrier fluid is selected from the group consisting of water and diesel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a pump for generating the flow of carrier fluid at the first port of the extractor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the packaging system further comprises an analysis unit for determining an elemental composition of the cuttings. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the analysis unit comprises an x-ray fluorescent analysis unit. ### Claim 8 A method of collecting cutting samples produced during drilling of a well comprising: extracting fluid containing cuttings from a source by generating suction using a venturi-effect in response to a flow of carrier fluid; separating the cuttings from carrier fluid; depositing the cuttings at a corresponding point along a moving elongated strip of base material; covering the elongated strip of base material and the cuttings deposited on the base material with an elongated strip of cover material; and advancing the covered elongated strip of base material and covered cuttings onto a reel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein extracting fluid containing cuttings from a source comprises: receiving the flow of carrier fluid through a first port of a venturi-effect extractor; in response to suction generated by the flow of the carrier fluid, inputting the fluid containing the cuttings through a second port of the venturi-effect extractor; and outputting the carrier fluid and the fluid containing the cuttings through a third port of the venturi-effect extractor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising presenting the fluid containing the cuttings to the second port of the venturi-effect extractor with a shaker board. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the carrier fluid is selected from the group consisting of water and diesel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising generating the flow of carrier fluid with a pump. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising determining an elemental composition of the cuttings. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein determining the elemental composition of the cuttings comprises performing x-ray fluorescent analysis unit. ### Claim 15 A system for automated collection of cutting samples produced during drilling of a well comprising: a packaging system operable to: receive fluid containing cuttings; separate the cuttings from the fluid; deposit the cuttings at a corresponding point along a moving elongated strip of base material; cover the elongated strip of base material and the cuttings deposited on the base material with an elongated strip of cover material; determine an elemental composition of the cuttings; and advance the covered elongated strip of base material and covered cuttings onto a reel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the packaging system comprises an x-ray fluorescent analysis unit for determining the elemental composition of the cuttings. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, further comprising: a venturi-effect extractor adapted to: receive a flow of carrier fluid through a first port; in response to suction generated by the flow of the carrier fluid, input the fluid containing cuttings through a second port; and output the carrier fluid and the fluid containing the cuttings through a third port to the packaging system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, further comprising a shaker board for presenting the fluid containing the cuttings to the second port of the venturi-effect extractor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the shaker board receives carrier fluid for washing the cuttings toward the second port of the venturi-effect extractor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the carrier fluid is selected from the group consisting of water and diesel.