oa Mud Gas Acquisition - Alignment to the Engineering Rig Design that Impact Equipment and Methods

Mud log gas acquisition techniques remained fairly constant for a long period. Modern gas acquisition techniques have improved from technical innovation, resulting in truly digital mud log gas data. Modern rig design has evolved at a greater pace than mud log gas acquisition techniques. The type of gas data acquisition equipment chosen is now more important to assure quality data is obtained. Wells examined that were expected to have similar gas readings actually had highly variable measurements. Investigation showed this variation was due to mud levels changing dramatically over short periods of time. There is a direct relation between gas acquisition equipment and rig circulation system design. A review should be done of the planned rig design and efficiencies prior to determining the gas acquisition system to be used on the rig. If a modern gas acquisition system is chosen for the first time in an area, added efforts to recalibrate these data to traditional gas acquisition should be considered to assure results.