Gas sensor
First Claim
1. In an oil or gas drilling operation, an apparatus for sensing hydrocarbon gases released from drilling mud used in the drilling operation, comprising:
- a housing having an opening in the lower portion thereof for receiving the drilling mud therein,first means for supporting said housing with said opening positioned to receive mud from the drilling operation therein and with an upper portion of the housing above the normal level of the drilling mud,second means positioned in the upper portion above the openings in said housing for receiving a hydrocarbon sensor thereon, anda hydrocarbon semiconductor detector sensor mounted on said second means for detecting hydrocarbon gases released from the drilling mud.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A detection unit (20) for detecting hydrocarbon gases includes a cylindrical housing (20) having a pair of opposed rectangular slots (56, 58) formed in the wall of the housing near the lower end (52). A support (60) is mounted within the housing (50) adjacent the upper end (54). A pair of baffle plates (62, 64) are mounted within the housing from the walls thereof. A semiconductor hydrocarbon gas detector (61) is mounted to the support (60) and is connected by electrical leads (30) to an analyzer and recorder (28). The detection unit (20) is mounted at the mouth of an oil or gas drilling rig and receives drilling mud into the housing (50) at the rectangular slots (56, 58) such that gases released from the drilling mud are analyzed by the gas detector (61) to determine the hydrocarbon gas content therein.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. In an oil or gas drilling operation, an apparatus for sensing hydrocarbon gases released from drilling mud used in the drilling operation, comprising:
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a housing having an opening in the lower portion thereof for receiving the drilling mud therein, first means for supporting said housing with said opening positioned to receive mud from the drilling operation therein and with an upper portion of the housing above the normal level of the drilling mud, second means positioned in the upper portion above the openings in said housing for receiving a hydrocarbon sensor thereon, and a hydrocarbon semiconductor detector sensor mounted on said second means for detecting hydrocarbon gases released from the drilling mud. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for sensing hydrocarbon gases released from a drilling fluid circulated to facilitate the drilling of an oil or gas well, comprising:
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a housing having upper and lower ends with an opening in the lower end thereof, support means for supporting said housing with the opening in said lower end in communication with the drilling fluid such that hydrocarbon gases released from the fluid are received within said housing, a support positioned in said housing and above said opening in the lower end, said support being positioned adjacent said upper end, and a hydrocarbon semiconductor detector sensor mounted on said support means for detecting hydrocarbon gases released from the drilling fluid. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In an oil or gas drilling operation, a method for detecting hydrocarbon gases released from drilling mud used in the drilling operation, comprising:
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receiving the drilling mud from the mouth of the well through a housing, positioning a hydrocarbon semiconductor detector in the housing above the flow of mud therethrough to produce a signal in response to the presence of hydrocarbon gas, and transmitting the signal from the detector to a remote recorder. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification