Fast sampling field deployable mud gas carbon isotope analyzer

Abstract

We report the details of a field deployable mud gas carbon isotope analyzer for mud gas analysis based on coupling a gas chromatograph with a mid-infrared spectrometer using a quantum cascade laser and hollow waveguide. The GC–IR2 (gas chromatograph–infrared isotope ratio) system features a fast sampling cycle as short as 123 s for analyzing all three components, i.e., methane, ethane and propane. The samples are automatically diluted so the system could carry out effective measurements while sample concentrations vary from 400 ppm to 100% purity. The accuracy is guaranteed through periodic reference calibration, and variations due to field temperature changes are minimized.