Drilling Fluid Sampling System and Sampling Heat Exchanger

Abstract

A system for sampling drilling fluid to identify one or more species of interest within the drilling fluid includes a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage. Each fluid passage has an inlet and an outlet. In addition, the system includes a supply line coupled to the inlet of the first fluid passage. Further, the system includes a return line coupled to the outlet of the second fluid passage. Still further, the system includes a drilling fluid heater having an inlet coupled to the outlet of the first fluid passage and an outlet. The system also includes a drilling fluid degasser having an inlet coupled to the outlet of the heater, a first outlet coupled to an analyzer configured to identify the one or more species of interest, and a second outlet coupled to the inlet of the second fluid passage.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A heat exchanger for pre-heating samples of drilling fluid, the heat exchanger comprising:
 a metal core;   a first metal tubular extending through the metal core; and   a second metal tubular extending through the metal core;   wherein the second metal tubular is spaced-apart from the first metal tubular and is oriented parallel to the first metal tubular.   
     
     
         26 . The heat exchanger of  claim 25 , wherein the metal core is elongate and has a linear longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end;
 wherein the first metal tubular extends axially through the metal core from the first end of the metal core to the second end of the metal core; and   wherein the second metal tubular extends axially through the metal core from the first end of the metal core to the second end of the metal core.   
     
     
         27 . The heat exchanger of  claim 26 , wherein the first metal tubular has an inlet end at the first end of the metal core and an outlet end at the second end of the metal core;
 wherein the second metal tubular has an inlet end at the second end of the metal core and an outlet end at the first end of the metal core.   
     
     
         28 . The heat exchanger of  claim 25 , wherein the first metal tubular has an inner radius, and wherein the first metal tubular is spaced from the second metal tubular by a distance greater than or equal to twice the inner radius and less than or equal to six times the inner radius. 
     
     
         29 . The heat exchanger of  claim 28 , wherein the second metal tubular has an inner radius, and wherein the inner radius of each tubular is between 0.25 in. and 2.0 in. 
     
     
         30 . The heat exchanger of  claim 25 , wherein the metal core extends from the first metal tubular to the second metal tubular and is configured to allow conduction of thermal energy directly from the second metal tubular to the first metal tubular. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the metal core is solid aluminum and each tubular is stainless steel. 
     
     
         32 . The heat exchanger of  claim 25 , wherein the metal core has a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end;
 wherein the metal core includes a first throughbore extending axially from the first end to the second end and a second throughbore extending axially from the first end to the second end;   wherein the first metal tubular is disposed in the first throughbore and has an outer surface that engages the core;   wherein the second metal tubular is disposed in the second throughbore and has an outer surface that engages the metal core.   
     
     
         33 . The heat exchanger of  claim 25 , wherein there are no gaps between the first metal tubular and the metal core, and wherein there are no gaps between the second metal tubular and the metal core. 
     
     
         34 . The heat exchanger of  claim 25 , wherein the first metal tubular has an outer surface that engages the metal core along the entire length of the metal core, and wherein the second metal tubular has an outer surface that engages the metal core along the entire length of the metal core. 
     
     
         35 . The heat exchanger of  claim 25 , wherein the metal core is cast around the first metal tubular and the second metal tubular.