Device for extracting gas from a drilling fluid for a system for conducting subterranean drilling operations

Abstract

A gas extraction device includes a housing having a drilling fluid inlet and a drilling fluid outlet. A drilling fluid path can extend between the drilling fluid inlet to the drilling fluid outlet. Moreover, a plurality of drilling fluid disruptors, e.g., baffles, can be installed along the drilling fluid path. The drilling fluid disruptors liberate entrapped gas in the drilling fluid as the drilling fluid flows across the drilling fluid disruptors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for extracting gas from a drilling fluid, the device comprising:
 a housing having an exterior wall;   a housing having a drilling fluid inlet and a drilling fluid outlet;   a drilling fluid path extending between the drilling fluid inlet to the drilling fluid outlet; and   a plurality of drilling fluid disruptors installed along the drilling fluid path, wherein the drilling fluid disruptors liberate entrapped gas in the drilling fluid as the drilling fluid flows across the drilling fluid disruptors.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of drilling fluid disruptors extend inwardly from the exterior wall, and wherein the drilling fluid disruptors cause the drilling fluid to tumble within the housing to release the entrapped gas from the drilling fluid as the drilling fluid moves along the drilling fluid path within the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the drilling fluid disrupters comprise a series of baffles that extend inwardly from the exterior wall of the housing in alternating directions. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein each baffle extends at an angle, α, with respect to a horizontal axis of the device and α is the same for each baffle. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein α is greater than or equal to 5°, and wherein α is less than or equal to 30°. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein each baffle extends at an angle, α, with respect to a horizontal axis of the device and α is different for each baffle. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein α increases from an uppermost baffle to a lowermost baffle. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein an increase in a between adjacent ones of the baffles is greater than or equal to 1.0°. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein each baffle includes a tail that extends in an upward direction from an end of the baffle. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein each tail includes a height, HT, measured from the lowermost portion of the tail to the uppermost portion of the tail. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein HT is the same for the tail of each baffle, and wherein HT is less than or equal to 5 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein HT is different for the tail of each baffle, and wherein HT decreases from an uppermost baffle to a lowermost baffle. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device has an overall height, HO, measured from a top of the housing to a bottom of the housing and HO is less than or equal to 5 feet, and wherein the device has an overall diameter, DO, and DO is less than or equal to 3.0 feet. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each baffle further comprises at least one surface feature to promote tumbling of the drilling fluid within the device as the drilling fluid flows over each baffle and surface feature. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an impellor located along the drilling fluid path within the housing, wherein the impellor configured to rotate as fluid engages the impellor, and wherein rotation of the impellor drives a generator that generates electricity. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an internal volume that is less than or equal to 15.0 cubic feet. 
     
     
         17 . A system for conducing subterranean drilling operations, the system comprising:
 at least one drill having a drill string and a drill bit;   at least one pump for providing a drilling fluid to the drill string and the drill bit, the pump having an in-line and a return line;   a bypass valve installed along the return line; and   a gas extraction device connected to the bypass valve, wherein the bypass valve can be selectively opened to provide drilling fluid to the gas extraction device, wherein the gas extraction device tumbles drilling fluid within a housing of the gas extraction device to extract entrapped gas from the drilling fluid.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the housing has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and wherein the gas extraction device further comprises:
 a fluid path extending between the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet; and   a plurality of fluid disruptors installed along the fluid path, wherein the fluid disruptors liberate entrapped gas in the drilling fluid as the drilling fluid flows across the fluid disruptors.   
     
     
         19 . A method of extracting gas from a drilling fluid, the method comprising:
 bypassing a portion of a drilling fluid from a return line to a gas extraction device;   tumbling the drilling fluid within the gas extraction device to release entrapped gas from the drilling fluid; and   transmitting the entrapped gas to a test station for analysis.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the gas extraction device comprises:
 a housing having an exterior wall; and   a plurality of drilling fluid disruptors extending inwardly from the exterior wall, wherein the drilling fluid disruptors cause the drilling fluid to tumble within the housing to release entrapped gas from the drilling fluid as the drilling fluid moves along a drilling fluid path within the housing.