Detecting gas in fluids

Abstract

A method for detecting gas in a fluid, the system including flowing fluid bearing gas through a gas trap apparatus, flowing gas trapped by the gas trap apparatus to and through an infra-red gas detection system for detecting the gas, the infrared gas detection system having apparatus for isolating absorption spectra of the gas, producing with the infra-red gas detection system analog signals indicative of levels of the gas, transmitting the analog signals to a first processor for converting the analog signals to digital signals, transmitting the digital signals from the first processor to a second processor, producing with the second processor digital signals indicative of the level of the gas.

1 . A method for detecting gas in a fluid, the method comprising 
 flowing fluid bearing gas through a gas trap apparatus,    flowing gas trapped by the gas trap apparatus to and through an infra-red gas detection system for detecting the gas, the infrared gas detection system having a first processor and apparatus for isolating absorption spectra of the gas,    producing with the infra-red gas detection system analog signals indicative of levels of the gas,    converting the analog signals to digital signals with the first processor,    transmitting the digital signals from the first processor to a second processor, and    producing with the second processor digital signals indicative of the level of gas.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fluid is drilling fluid and the gas is hydrocarbon gas from a wellbore.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the analog signals are transmitted wirelessly.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising 
 producing with the second processor a visual display of a level of the gas.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the production of the analog signals and the production of the digital signals is done in real time.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein 
 the first processor includes an interface board for receiving the analog signals, for converting the analog signals to the digital signals, and for then transmitting the digital signals to the second processor,    the second processor including a host computer for receiving the digital signals and for processing the digital signals to produce an indication of level of the gas, 
 the method further comprising  
   the interface board receiving the analog signals and converting the analog signals to the digital signals,    the interface board transmitting the digital signals to the host computer, and    producing with the host computer an indication of the level of the gas.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the host computer produces an indication of a level of total gas in the fluid.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the interface board has a programmable medium programmed to calibrate the infra-red gas detection system and the method further comprising 
 calibrating the infra-red gas detection system with the interface board.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the host computer provides a user interface for conducting the method.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising 
 conditioning the analog signals with the interface board to reduce noise in said signals.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the infra-red gas detection system has gas sensor apparatus and there is no physical reaction between the gas and the gas sensor apparatus.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising 
 controlling temperature of the infra-red gas detection system.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the infra-red gas detection system includes the first processor and the infra-red gas detection system is in an enclosure and heater apparatus and cooling apparatus are connected to the enclosure for controlling temperature therein.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the infra-red gas detection system is portable.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the gas is hydrocarbon gas.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the hydrocarbon gas is methane and propane.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydrocarbon gas is methane.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydrocarbon gas is propane.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the infra-red gas detection system includes a gas detector with a detection channel and a reference channel, the method further comprising 
 detecting with the detection channel infra-red radiation absorbed by the gas, and    compensating with the reference channel for variations in the gas.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising 
 filtering moisture from the gas prior to flowing the gas to the infra-red gas detection system to inhibit or prevent the generation of false readings due to moisture.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the infra-red gas detection system includes an infra-red lamp, an infra-red lamp drive, and a gas sensor and the interface board provides an interface between the infra-red lamp drive and the gas sensor.  
   
   
       22 . A method for detecting gas in drilling fluid, the method comprising 
 flowing drilling fluid bearing hydrocarbon gas from a wellbore through a gas trap apparatus,    flowing gas trapped by the gas trap apparatus to and through an infra-red gas detection system for detecting the hydrocarbon gas, the infrared gas detection system having narrow band infrared filter apparatus for isolating absorption spectra of the hydrocarbon gas,    producing with the infra-red gas detection system analog signals indicative of levels of the hydrocarbon gas,    transmitting the analog signals to a first processor for converting the analog signals to digital signals,    transmitting the digital signals from the first processor to a second processor, producing with the second processor digital signals indicative of the level of hydrocarbon gas,    the first processor including an interface board for receiving the analog signals, for converting the analog signals to the digital signals, and for then transmitting the digital signals to the second processor,    the second processor including a host computer for receiving the digital signals and for processing the digital signals to produce an indication of level of the gas, 
 the method further comprising  
   the interface board receiving the analog signals and converting the analog signals to the digital signals,    the interface board transmitting the digital signals to the host computer,    producing with the host computer an indication of the level of the gas,    wherein the infra-red gas detection system has gas sensor apparatus and there is no physical reaction between the gas and the gas sensor apparatus,    controlling temperature of the infra-red gas detection system,    wherein the infra-red gas detection system includes the first processor and the infra-red gas detection system is in an enclosure and heater apparatus and cooling apparatus are connected to the enclosure for controlling temperature therein.    
   
   
       23 . A system for detecting gas in a fluid, the system comprising 
 an enclosure,    an infra-red gas sensor apparatus within the enclosure,    an interface board apparatus within the enclosure and in communication with the infra-red gas sensor apparatus,    analog signal apparatus in the infra-red gas sensor apparatus for producing analog signals indicative of a level of gas in a fluid,    conversion apparatus on the interface board apparatus for converting the analog signals to digital signals, and    transmission apparatus on the interface board apparatus for transmitting the digital signals to a host system.