# US 12,111,273 B2 · Systems and methods for determining the mineralogy of drill solids > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,111,273 B2 - Document ID: US12111273B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/063,729 - Filed: 2022-12-09 - Published: 2023-06-15 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2021-12-10 - Assignees: Schlumberger Technology Corporation - Applicants: Schlumberger Technology Corporation - Inventors: Jonathan Mitchell; Débora Campos de Faria; Ashley Bernard Johnson; Adam Colbourne; Trevor Hughes; Sean Lovett - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111273B2 ## CPC - G01N 24/081: {Making measurements of geologic samples, e.g. measurements of moisture, pH, porosity, permeability, tortuosity or viscosity} - E21B 49/005: {Testing the nature of borehole walls or the formation by using drilling mud or cutting data} - G01N 21/65: Raman scattering - G01N 23/223: by irradiating the sample with X-rays or gamma-rays and by measuring X-ray fluorescence - G01N 33/2823: {Raw oil, drilling fluid or polyphasic mixtures} - G01N 33/2835: {Specific substances contained in the oils or fuels} - G01N 21/3563: for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor - G01N 21/3581: using far infrared light; using Terahertz radiation - G01N 2223/076: X-ray fluorescence - G01N 2223/507: secondary-emission detector - G01N 2223/637: liquid - 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) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A method for measuring at least one property of a sample includes obtaining a sample of fluid including at least fines from a downhole environment, exposing the sample to a magnetic field, measuring a magnetic susceptibility of the fines in the sample in response to the magnetic field, and identifying at least one mineral present in the fines based at least partially on the magnetic susceptibility. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of measuring at least one property of a material from a wellbore, the method comprising: obtaining at least one sample of fluid including at least fines from a downhole environment; exposing the at least one sample to a magnetic field produced by a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer; measuring a magnetic susceptibility of the fines in the at least one sample in response to the magnetic field; and identifying at least one mineral present in the fines based at least partially on the magnetic susceptibility. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sample further includes cuttings from the downhole environment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the at least one sample includes separating at least a portion of drill solids in the fluid from the fines. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein separating the at least the portion of the drill solids includes magnetically separating ferrous material from the fluid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the at least one sample includes collecting the sample from or downstream of a shaker table. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein measuring the magnetic susceptibility of the fines is performed at a drill site. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field is up to 0.5 Tesla. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein measuring the magnetic susceptibility of the fines in the at least one sample includes measuring a magnetic susceptibility contrast between the fines and a liquid medium of the at least one sample. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein measuring the magnetic susceptibility of the fines in the at least one sample includes measuring a line broadening of an NMR spectral line. ### Claim 10 A method of measuring material from a wellbore, the method comprising: obtaining at least one sample of fluid including at least fines from a downhole environment; exposing the at least one sample to a magnetic field in an NMR device; measuring a magnetic susceptibility contrast of the fines in the at least one sample in response to the magnetic field; identifying a concentration of at least one mineral present in the fines based at least partially on the magnetic susceptibility contrast; comparing the concentration of the at least one mineral to a mineralogy log of the downhole environment; and determining a provenance of the fines in the downhole environment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein measuring the magnetic susceptibility contrast includes a free induction decay measurement using a radio frequency probe. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein determining the provenance of the fines includes measuring a flow rate of drilling fluid and comparing the flow rate to a depth of the wellbore. ### Claim 13 A method of measuring material from a wellbore, the method comprising: obtaining at least one sample of fluid including fines and cuttings from a downhole environment; measuring at least one property of the fines in the at least one sample and thereby collecting a fines value; creating a log of fines values for the at least one property; measuring the at least one property of the cuttings in the at least one sample and thereby collecting a cuttings value, wherein measuring the at least one property of the fines and measuring the at least one property of the cuttings includes different analysis techniques; creating a log of cuttings values for the at least one property; comparing the log of fines values to the log of cuttings values; and depth matching the fines and the cuttings. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein depth matching the fines and the cuttings includes comparing the log of fines values to a drilling fluid flow rate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of measuring the at least one property of the fines or the cuttings includes using NMR spectrometry. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of measuring the at least one property of the fines or the cuttings includes X-ray fluorescence. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of measuring the at least one property of the fines or the cuttings includes optical lithology. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of measuring the at least one property of the fines or the cuttings includes Raman spectroscopy.