Gas Trap Extraction Processes

A system for mud logging comprising:

• a mud conduit to supply drilling mud from a mud line;
• a primary gas trap which receives a first amount of drilling mud and is operable to extract hydrocarbon gas from the first amount of drilling mud;
• a secondary gas trap which receives a second amount of drilling mud and is operable to extract substantially all extractable hydrocarbon gas from the second amount of drilling mud;
• and
• a gas analyzer that receives hydrocarbon gas separated from the first amount of drilling mud and from the second amount of drilling mud, the gas analyzer being operable to measure the hydrocarbon gas removed from each of the first and second amounts.

A method of determining efficiency of a primary gas trap used in mud logging, the method comprising the steps of:

• removing hydrocarbon gas from a first amount of drilling mud in the primary gas trap;
• completely removing hydrocarbon gas from a second amount of drilling mud with a secondary gas trap;
• measuring the amounts of hydrocarbon gas removed from the first amount of drilling mud and the second amount of drilling mud;
• and
• determining the relative effectiveness of the primary gas trap by comparing the amount of hydrocarbon gas removed from the first amount of drilling mud with the amount of hydrocarbon gas completely removed from the second amount of drilling mud.