Removing metal contaminants from drilling mud

A system for monitoring and removing metal contaminants from drilling mud, the system comprising:

• a ditch magnet;
• a sensor coupled to the ditch magnet, the sensor operable to measure at least one characteristic of the ditch magnet associated with an amount of metal material attached to the ditch magnet;
• a computer system in electronic communication with the sensor comprising at least one processor and a memory storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor causes performance of operations comprising:
• determining an amount of metal material attached to the ditch magnet based on the at least one characteristic of the ditch magnet;
• and
• triggering an alert when the amount of metal material attached to the ditch magnet exceeds a threshold value;
• wherein the sensor comprises a load cell;
• and
• wherein the ditch magnet is suspended from the load cell.

A method for monitoring and removing metal contaminants from drilling mud, the method comprising:

• disposing a ditch magnet and a sensor in drilling mud, wherein the sensor is operable to measure at least one characteristic of the ditch magnet associated with an amount of metal material attached to the ditch magnet;
• using a computer system in electronic communication with the sensor, determining an amount of metal material attached to the ditch magnet based on the at least one characteristic of the ditch magnet;
• and
• using the computer system, triggering an alert when the amount of metal material attached to the ditch magnet exceeds a threshold value;
• wherein the ditch magnet comprises plates on opposite ends of a central body and the sensor comprises an electrical circuit measuring electrical resistance between the plates.

A method for monitoring and removing metal contaminants from drilling mud, the method comprising:

• disposing a ditch magnet and a sensor in drilling mud, wherein the sensor is operable to measure at least one characteristic of the ditch magnet associated with an amount of metal material attached to the ditch magnet;
• using a computer system in electronic communication with the sensor, determining an amount of metal material attached to the ditch magnet based on the at least one characteristic of the ditch magnet;
• and
• using the computer system, triggering an alert when the amount of metal material attached to the ditch magnet exceeds a threshold value;
• wherein the sensor comprises a load cell;
• and
• wherein the ditch magnet is suspended from the load cell.