Slot tester

1. A system comprising:

a test cell comprising:

a perforated plate disposed proximate a first end of the test cell, the perforated plate comprising at least one perforation spanning a substantial majority of the chord along which it lies;

a piston disposed within the test cell;

a first chamber formed between the perforated plate and the piston, the first chamber configured to receive lost circulation material (LCM);

a second chamber formed between the piston and a second end of the test cell, the piston providing a seal between the first and second chambers;

a fluid inlet disposed proximate the second end of the test cell configured to introduce fluid into a second chamber of the test cell;

a filtrate outlet disposed proximate the first end of the test cell to discharge filtrate;

a pump in communication with the fluid inlet; and

a central control unit coupled to the test cell configured to monitor a pressure in the second chamber and a flow rate at the filtrate outlet and provide instructions to the pump based on the pressure and the flow rate.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid inlet configured to introduce fluid to the first chamber.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the perforated plate includes at least one slot, the at least one slot having a width ranging from about 1 mm to 5 mm.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure measuring device coupled to the pump.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a filtrate collection vessel in communication with the filtrate outlet.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a volume measuring device, a flow meter, or pressure sensor coupled to the filtrate outlet.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the central control unit is further configured to provide instructions to the apparatus for testing fluids at a drilling location.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a spacer ring disposed between the perforated plate and the filtrate outlet, wherein the spacer ring interfaces an inner surface of a body of the test cell.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a third chamber formed between the perforated plate and the first end of the test cell.

10. A method of testing well fluid comprising:

filling a first chamber of test cell with lost circulation material (“LCM”);

applying a first pressure to a piston in the test cell by introducing fluid into a second chamber of a test cell wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are separated by the piston;

wherein the first pressure forces a filtrate to exit the test cell through a perforated plate within the first chamber and forms a seal by depositing the LCM on the perforated plate;

incrementally increasing pressure on the piston until the seal breaks at a second pressure; and

determining a relationship between a flow rate of the filtrate and the increasing pressure.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first or pressure is a lower threshold, and the second pressure is an upper threshold.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising directing the filtrate to a filtrate collection vessel.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

monitoring at least one filtrate property of volume and material composition of the filtrate; and

analyzing the at least one filtrate property a function of pressure.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising automatically testing the well fluid, the automatically testing comprising:

sending a signal from a pressure sensor coupled to the test cell to the central control unit, sending a signal from a filtrate monitoring device to the central control unit; and

sending a signal from a central control unit to a pump in communication with the second chamber.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein

the first chamber is between the perforated plate proximate a first end of the test cell and the piston; and

the second chamber is between the piston and a second end of the test cell.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein applying the first pressure to the piston Ante comprises:

maintaining a higher pressure in the second chamber than the first chamber.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising monitoring changes in the pressure applied to the piston.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the pressure of the second chamber is monitored with a transducer.