US2713010A - Method of conditioning hot wire gas detectors - Google Patents

Description

July 12, 1955 L. F. BONNER 2,713,010

METHOD OF CONDITIONING HOT WIRE GAS DETECTORS Filed Oct. 19, 1955 32 PLAT/HUI HIRE 61. ocx SHAFT FIG. I.

INDICATOR 14 IIIDICAT'INGV ELE'EIVT 0/ -40 HETIH'LALCOHOL FROU DRILL/N6 OPERATION INVENTOR. FIG. 4.

Louis E Bonner;

a Ew A 7' TOR/V5 K United States Patent 2,713,010 Patented July 12, 1955 Fice METHGD 6F CONDITIQNING HOT WIRE GAS DETECTORS Louis F. Bonner, Houston, Tex., assignor, by mesne assi ments, to Esso Research and Engineering Comp .113 Elizabeth, N. 3., a corporation of Delaware Application @ctober 19, 1953, Serial No. 386,845

3 Claims. (Cl. 134--2) samples are tested to determine the presence of hydrocarbons from subsurface earth formations. The specific feature of the invention is contacting the hot wire with vapors of a volatile oxygenated organic compound such as the aliphatic alcohols, aliphatic ketones and aliphatic ethers, these oxygenated compounds having a carbon chain in which there are no more than three carbon atoms. The vapors are then ignited whereby any deposits on the hot wire are removed by combustion of the volatile oxygenated organic compounds.

The present invention also is concerned with apparatus for use in mud and sample logging in which oil-emulsion muds are employed comprising a housing defining a chamher having an electrical element arranged in the chamber. This element becomes fouled with combustible deposits on use in said mud logging operations where oil-emulsion muds are employed. The apparatus comprises a container adapted to receive a body of a volatile oxygenated organic compound selected from the group consisting of the aliphatic alcohols, ketones and ethers having a carbon chain of no more than three carbon atoms. The container is provided with means for injecting air thereinto at a lower point in the container below the surface of the body. A conduit is connected to the container at an upper point remote from the lower point and above the surface of the body. This conduit projects into the container and is partially or substantially enclosed by baffie members in the container which prevent entry of the liquid into the conduit. The conduit is connected to an introducing means for introducing the combustible mixture into the chamber. The chamber is provided with means for energizing the electrical element to ignite the mixture and burn off combustible deposits. The air injection means may comprise a plunger and a biasing means, such as a spring, for causing the plunger to inject air in the container. Likewise, the air injection means may comprise a solenoid operated plunger which is electrically energized.

The invention will be further illustrated by reference to the drawing in which:

Fig. l is an illustration of a preferred embodiment showing the biased plunger for injecting air into the container;

Fig. 2 is an illustration of a solenoid operated plunger; Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of the hot wire detector; and Fig. 4 shows the application of the apparatus of the present invention to mud logging.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly Fig. 1, numeral 11 designates a hot wire detecting device which is provided with electrical leads 12 connected to a recorder or indicator 13 of the balanced-bridge type. The indicator 13 has a scale 14 and an indicating means 15 to show the deflection of the instrument. The indicator 13 is provided with electrical leads 18a and 18b for energizing the hot wire from a battery such as 36.

The apparatus includes a container 19 in which is arranged a body of the volatile oxygenated organic compound Ztl. The container is provided with an inlet pipe 21 which leads to a lower point in the container below the surface 22 of the body of volatile oxygenated organic compound. The pipe 21 is connected by a coupling 23 to a check valve 24 which, in turn, is connected by conduit 25 to a plunger mechanism generally indicated by the numeral 26 and including a piston or plunger 27, a plunger shaft 28 and a biasing means, such as spring 29, which normally urges the plunger 27 downwardly. The lower end of the spring 29 bears against the plunger 27 while the upper end is confined by an annular sleeve 3b. The plunger mechanism generally indicated by 26 has a cove 31 through which the shaft 28 loosely projects. The shaft 23 is provided with a shoulder 32. Arranged adjacent the shoulder 32 is a cam or eccentric 33 connected by means of a shaft 34 to a clock mechanism or suitable other energizing means.

Connected to the container 19 is a conduit 35 which projects into the container 19. The projection of the conduit 35 in the container 19 is partially or substantially enclosed by bafile members 36 and 37 which serve to prevent entry of liquid in the conduit 35. The conduit 35 is connected to a check valve 3? for introducing gaseous mixture into the indicating element 11. The indicator element is provided with ports 4-9 to allow the gaseous mixture to circulate freely over the hot wire or detecting element and for withdrawal of the combustion products.

The container 19 is provided with a closure member 41 which is threadably connected by threads 42 to the container, the conduit 35 passing through the closure member 41.

The check valves 24 and 39 are constructed similarly and are comprised of spheres or balls 43 which are designed to seat against seats The spheres 43 are biased against the seats 44 by means of a biasing means or spring 4-5 arranged on a spring member 36, the spring 45 and the spring member 46 being mounted on a plate 47 arranged in the check valves 24 and 39.

Referring now to Fig. 2 in which the air injecting means is a solenoid operated plunger, the numeral 59 designates generally the solenoid operated mechanismin which is arranged a plunger 51, provided with O-ring seals 51:: and 51b which is normally biased in an upward position by a spring 52. The plunger 51 is provided with a shaft 53 on which is arranged a shoulder 54. A closure member 55 through which the shaft 53 projects is threadably connected by threads 56 to the solenoid member 56, the shaft 53 being slidably sealed by an O-ring S7. Wound around the upper end of the member 55? is a solenoid winding 58 which is connected by electrical connections 5'9 and 6% to a source of power illustrated by a battery 61. Arranged in the circuit is a solenoid switch 62 which is eonnec ed to a snap switch assembly 63 which carries a stroke adjustment assembly 63a and which has a projecting means 6%, the snap switch assembly and the solenoid switch being connected by a spring 64.

The solenoid assembly 50 is provided with first and second air intake check valves 65a and 65b, respectively, having spheres 66a and 66b biased against the seats 57a and 6711 by means of springs 63:: and 68b. A bleeder control valve 69 is provided to fit against the seat 70 which is actuated manually by a valve wheel 71, the valve housing 72 being provided with a port 73. Thus bleeder valve 69 controls the rate of return of plunger 51 and,

therefore, the time cycle of injection.

' being connected by means of electrical connections 12 to the recorder or detector element 13; The Wheatstone bridge, which is generally indicated by the numeral 85,

i is provided witha source of power, such as battery 86, and connected thereto by .means of electrical connections 18a and718b. An ammeter 89 is arranged in electrical connection 18a and is provided with ampere control means, such as a resistor 90.

The apparatus of'the present invention may suitably be used in mud logging operations, such as illustrated in Fig. 4,.in which a mud line 100 is connected to a drilling operation, not shown, and delivers mud to a mud pit, not

shown. The mud line 100 isprovided with a standpipe 101 which allows the mud to rise therein as a column 102 due to the pressure head. Above the mud column 102 in standpipe 101' there is a vaporous atmosphere 104 in which the indicator element 11 is arranged as shown.

The standpipe 101 is provided witha closure member 103.

Carried through. the closure member 103 are the electrical connecting means 12 leading to the recorder 13 -which has been described. Also carried through'the closure member 103 is a conduit 38 including the check valve 39 which is connected to the conduit 35. The elec- 'trical connections 12.may be carried either through the closure member 103 or through the wall of the standpipe 101. vBaflie 105 diverts mud from the line, 100 through the standpipe 101 and assures continuous mud supply to the system.

. The device of the present invention works in the following'manner with respect to Figs. 1 and 3:

For the purpose of this description, it will be assumed that the hot wire element 80 which may be a fine platinum wire having an overall coiled length of A to /8 of an inch has become fouled with deposits resulting from well logging operations. The device of Fig. 1 is connected to the indicating element 11 including a platinum wire 80 and air is injected into the container 19 by operating the shaft 34; as the eccentric or cam 33 rotates in the direction-indicated by the arrow, the cam bears 7 against the'shoulder 32 raising the shaft 28 embracing the spring 29. As the cam or eccentric continues the rotation, the collar 32 is released allowing air to be forced downwardly by the plunger 27, the air being sucked or drawn past the plunger 27 as itis raised by the rotation of the cam. When the plunger is released from the high part of the earn, the plunger is forced downwardly and the air is forced through the check valve 24 causing the sphere 43 to bear against the spring 45. The air hobbies in;

check valve 65b by the sphere 66b moving off seat 6712' and the stroke adjustment screw 63a is then contacted and caused ,to rotate.

' the center of the spring 64, the snap switch assembly d ii gized by electrical connections 18 and 18a by battery 86. 7 As the combustible deposits are removed from the wire,

the indicating means 1 5 Will become deflected and then returned to zero.

The device of Fig. 2 operates in a similar manner to supply air to the container 19.1 With reference to Fig. 2

sembly 50, air is drawn in below piston 5, through second 63b will snap the solenoid switch 62 into a closed position thereby actuating the solenoid again and pulling the plunger shaft 53 downwardly compressing the spring 52, air having been trapped below the plunger 51 on the upstroke of the plunger 51 causing air to pass through the first check valve 65a forcing the sphere 66:: off the seat 67a. The operation with respect to Fig. 2 thereafter is similar to that of Fig, 1.

In the operation with respect to Fig. 4, the mud flowing through the mud line 100 will rise as a column 102 in standpipe 100 and provide a vaporous atmosphere 103. The detector element 11 including the platinum wire 80 is in contact through ports 40 with the vaporous atmosphere. By energizing the hot wire,the presence of combustible vapors in the atmosphere 104 may be determined on the scale 14 by the indicating means 15.

When the hot Wire 80 becomes fouled with combustible products, volatile oxygenated organic compounds are introduced by introducing means 38 as has been described and the combustible deposits. removed from the wire 80. Thereafter the mud logging operation may be resumed, the removal of combustible deposits being conducted periodically and automatically as occasion re-' quires.

The present invention is particularly adaptable for use emulsion muds are .used. In fact, heretofore it has been substantially impossible to conduct mud logging operations where oil-emulsion muds have beenused. Efforts have been made to remove deposits from platinum wires using hot wire detectors by. injecting vapors of gasoline and light hydrocarbons into the detector element and then energizing the hot wire to burn off the deposits. This has been unsuccessful in that the longchain hydrocarbons either do not burn with a sufiiciently hot flame or leave in themselves a depositwhich interferes with the accuracy of the device.

'In mud logging where a well is drilled with oil-emulsion mud, the hot wire gas detector rapidly becomes inoperative due to the coating formed on the element. Prior to the present invention, the remedy was to remove the elementor either replace it or clean it by burning out using hydrocarbon vapors. As will be clear, this requires considerable time and had to be performed many times a day, such as possibly every 15 minutes. The present invention obviates this difficulty since the device of the present invention may be connected to the hot wire detector and automatically and periodically employed to condition the element without removing it from the gas collection chamber. Thus the cam, such as described in Fig. 1, may be run at a controlledspeed by a suitable gear which may be variable from one revolution in 5 rninutes to 1 revolution an hour and likewise with respect to the solenoid actuated embodiment.

While especially useful in operations involving oil emulsion muds, the present invention is also applicable to use in logging drill cuttings, examination of bottom hole and side wall cores, aqueous drilling mud, and any media which comes into contact with. subsurface formations whichmay contain hydrocarbons.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completely described and illustrated, what I wish to claim as new and useful and to secure by Letters Patent is: e

1. A method for conditioning a hot wire gas detector .for use in well logging operations in which said hot wire becomes fouled with combustible deposits, which com- As this adjustment rotates past prises contacting said hot wire with vapors of a volatile oxygenated organic compound selected from the group consisting of the aliphatic afcohols, ketones, and ethers having a carbon chain of no more than 3 atoms, and igniting said vapors whereby said deposits are removed from said hot wire.

2. A method for conditioning a hot wire gas detector for use in well logging operations in which said hot wire becomes fouled with combustible deposits, which comprises contacting said hot wire with vapors of a volatile oxygenated organic compound selected from the group consisting of the aliphatic alcohols, ketones, and others having a carbon chain of no more than 3 carbon atoms, igniting said vapors whereby said deposits are removed from said hot wire, and removing products formed by igniting said vapors.

3. A method for conditioning a hot Wire gas detector for use in logging of well samples in which said hot wire becomes fouled with combustible deposits which comprises forming a combustible mixture of air and vapors of a volatile oxygenated organic compound selected from the group consisting of the aliphatic alcohols, ketones, and others having a carbon chain of no more than 3 carbon atoms, contacting said hot wire with said mixture, igniting said mixture to burn off said deposits, and removing products formed by igniting said mixture and burning off said deposits.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,224,321 Philip May 1, 1917 1,643,155 Eisenschitz Sept. 20, 1927 2,595,411 Ripoche May 6, 1952 2,655,455 Steele Oct. 13, 1953

Claims (1)

1. A METHOD OF CONDITIONING A HOT WIRE GAS DETECTOR FOR USE IN WELL LOGGING OPERATION IN WHICH SAID HOT WIRE BECOMES FOULED WITH COMBUSTIBLE DEPOSITS, WHICH COMPRISES CONTACTING SAID HOT WIRE WITH VAPORS OF A VOLATILE OXYGENATED ORGANIC CONPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP

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