System and method for improved cuttings measurements
A method and system for improving cuttings measurements in drilling operations includes rotating a helical screw in a trough at a first speed, measuring a first weight of a cuttings mixture within the trough, measuring a first torque required to maintain rotation of the helical screw at the first speed through the cuttings mixture, and calculating a difference between the first torque and a second torque required to maintain rotation of the helical screw at the first speed through a second weight of natural cuttings equal to the first weight.
1. A method for improved cuttings measurements in drilling operations, the method comprising:
rotating a helical screw in a trough at a first speed;
measuring a first weight of a cuttings mixture within the trough;
measuring a first torque required to maintain rotation of the helical screw at the first speed through the cuttings mixture;
calculating a difference between the first torque and a second torque required to maintain rotation of the helical screw at the first speed through a second weight of natural cuttings equal to the first weight.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cuttings mixture comprises at least one of drilling fluid and discharged cuttings.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
determining at least one of a percentage of the discharged cuttings in the cuttings mixture and a percentage of the drilling fluid in the cuttings mixture, using the difference between the first torque and the second torque.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
calculating a third weight of the discharged cuttings using the first weight and the percentage of the discharged cuttings in the cuttings mixture.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
determining a fourth weight of predicted cuttings output.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
comparing the third weight to the fourth weight.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein an alarm is activated if the third weight does not equal the fourth weight.
8. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
comparing the percentage of the drilling fluid in the cuttings mixture to a threshold percentage.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein an alarm is activated if the percentage of the drilling fluid is greater than the threshold percentage.
10. A system for improved cuttings measurements in drilling operations, the system comprising:
a trough;
a helical screw in the trough;
a motor that rotates the helical screw within the trough at a first speed;
a weight sensor that measures a first weight of the trough; and
a torque meter that measures a first torque required to maintain rotation of the helical screw at the first speed.
11. The system of claim 10 ,
wherein the trough comprises a cuttings mixture, and
wherein the cuttings mixture comprises at least one of drilling fluid and discharged cuttings.
12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a processor that:
calculates a second weight of the cuttings mixture using the first weight of the trough; and
calculates a difference between the first torque and a second torque required to maintain rotation of the helical screw at the first speed through a third weight of natural cuttings equal to the second weight; and
a memory coupled to the processor.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor further determines at least one of a percentage of the discharged cuttings in the cuttings mixture and a percentage of the drilling fluid in the cuttings mixture, using the difference between first torque and the second torque.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor further calculates a fourth weight of the discharged cuttings using the second weight and the percentage of the discharged cuttings in the cuttings mixture.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the processor further determines a fifth weight of predicted cuttings output.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor further compares the fourth weight to the fifth weight.
17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:
an alarm that activates if the fourth weight does not equal the fifth weight.
18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor further compares the percentage of the drilling fluid in the cuttings mixture to a threshold percentage.
19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising:
an alarm that activates if the percentage of the drilling fluid is greater than the threshold percentage.