An example method for analyzing drilling fluid used in a drilling operation within a subterranean formation may comprise placing a TOF-MS in fluid communication with a drilling fluid. The drilling fluid may be flowing through a fluid conduit coupled to a drilling assembly. A chemical composition of the drilling fluid may be determined using the TOF-MS. And a formation characteristic may be determined using the determined chemical composition.

A method may include collecting a sample of mud gas during a wellbore drilling operation, associating the sample with a depth of the wellbore, and detecting concentrations of methane, ethane and ethylene. With the detected concentrations, a determination can be made as to the degree of a mud gas artifact event occurring, including determining the differences between the logarithmic values of concentrations of methane and total C2 concentration and the logarithmic values of total C2 concentration and ethane. A visually displayed mud gas log is modified to indicate the degree of the determined mud gas artifact event.

There are provided methods, systems and processes for the utilization of microbial and related genetic information for use in the exploration, determination, production and recovery of natural resources, including energy sources, and the monitoring, control and analysis of processes and activities.

A method for evaluating a formation fluid includes the steps of drilling a borehole intersecting a formation with a drill string, circulating a drilling fluid in the wellbore, selectively liberating a formation fluid from the formation, injecting the liberated fluid into the drilling fluid returning to the surface, drawing a sample of the returning drilling fluid at the surface, and estimating at least one parameter of the drawn sample at the surface.

Various methods and well systems are provided for characterizing a hydraulically-fractured hydrocarbon-bearing formation that is traversed by a well partitioned into a number of intervals. The methods and well systems analyze surface flow characteristics of fluid that flows from the well (for example, using a multiphase flow meter) in order to characterize local formation properties for one or more intervals for one or more intervals (or other sections) of the well.

A method and system is provided that analyzes flow characteristics of return fluid that flows to a surface-located facility during well operations (such as plug mill-out or cleanout/workover operations) in order to characterize local formation properties of the formation. The method and system can be used to characterize a hydraulically-fractured hydrocarbon-bearing formation that is traversed by a well having a number of intervals that are hydraulically isolated from one another by corresponding plugs.

A disclosed example embodiment of a fluid extraction system includes a fluid circuit fluidly coupled to a source of a fluid and configured to receive a fluid sample from the source, and a fluid separator arranged in the fluid circuit and configured to receive the fluid sample. The fluid separator includes a body that defines at least one fluid inlet, a flow chamber defined within the body, and is configured to receive and spin the fluid sample from the at least one fluid inlet. The fluid sample spirals inward and forms a vortex, and gases entrained within the fluid sample separate and migrate toward a center of the vortex. An outlet defined in the flow chamber provides a gas outlet that entrains and removes the gases and a liquid outlet receives and removes a remaining portion of the fluid sample.

A device for sampling a fluid, includes a sampling chamber including a first piston driven by the fluid, and an additional device configured to increase the volume of the sampling chamber. The sampling chamber serves as both a sampler and also as a container for the sampled fluid and it can also be used as a cell for the analysis of the fluid.

Systems and methods for extracting hydrocarbon gas utilize a vacuum chamber with a mud chamber portion that is expandable and contractible. Gas is extracted at vacuum pressures.

A testing system for a wellbore operation and method of testing a fluid sample from a wellbore. A fluid sample is obtained from the wellbore operation. The fluid sample is received at a first test station having a first robot arm for performing a test on the fluid sample. A controller receives data on the wellbore operation, selects the test based on the data and controls the first robot arm to perform the test. A result of the test is used to adjust a parameter of the wellbore operation.