Sample preparation

Once the composite sample of drill cuttings is retrieved from the mud
system, it is typically split or subdivided into a bulk, unwashed wetcut sample and a washed and sieved dry-cut sample.
Wet-cut sample
A small portion of the unwashed wet-cut sample is set aside and used for
blender gas analysis (see Mudlogging: gas extraction and monitoring ).
Although this sample should not be rigorously washed, discretion can be
used in lightly rinsing the sample to remove surface drilling mud film.
The remainder of the sample is packaged for later analysis and
archiving.
Dry-cut sample
These samples are washed and sieved before they are analyzed.
Consolidated cuttings are cleaned by washing or hosing the sample in a
container of water to remove the mud film. Washing of poorly
consolidated sandstones and shales is more difficult and requires
several precautions. Clays and shales are often soft and tend to be
washed away. In samples with swelling clays, it is often helpful to wash
the sample in formation water or a 2% solution of KC1 to prevent
defloculation.
Cuttings from wells with oil-based muds are usually more representative
of the formation than cuttings from water-based mud because the oil
emulsion prevents sloughing and dispersion of clays and shales. However,
these samples cannot be cleaned by washing in water alone. It is usually
necessary to wash the cuttings in a detergent solution to remove the
drilling fluid. In extreme cases, it may be necessary to wash the
cuttings first with a nonfluorescent solvent and then wash them in a
detergent solution. Use of a solvent is not advisable unless absolutely
necessary because of the risk of removing any oil staining present.
Solvents and material contaminated by solvents should be properly
disposed of in accordance with safety and hazardous materials
procedures.
After washing the cuttings to remove any drilling mud, the samples are
typically washed through a 5-mm sieve. Particles greater than 5 mm
usually contain a high percentage of lost circulation material and
cavings. This material should be cursorily examined and discarded.

Basic sample analysis

A split of the washed and sieved cuttings is examined wet under a
binocular microscope. From this sample, the mudlogger estimates the

percentages of the various sample constituents and records the following

information:

Rock type and lithological composition

Color
Hardness (induration)
Grain size
Grain shape
Sorting
Luster
Cementation or matrix
Sedimentary structures
Porosity
Hydrocarbon show
Stain
Odor
Fluorescence
Cut
Gas (total and petroleum vapor)

The quality of the description is directly related to the quality of the

cuttings. Factors that adversely affect cuttings quality are summarized
as follows:
Excessive weight on bit, which results in cuttings being ground
into a fine powder
Insufficient mud viscosity , which results in cuttings not being
transported to the surface; can be a significant problem in highly
deviated and horizontal wells
Improper mud chemistry, which results in (1) a high percentage of
cavings that can mask the true drilled lithology, (2) loss of soluble
minerals such as gypsum and salt and some shales, and (3) a high
percentage of contamination by cement, lost circulation material
(LCM), and metal.
Drill cuttings samples can be laid out in small partitioned trays so
that vertical changes in rock properties are easier to observe and
interpret. The first occurrence of a specific lithology reflects the
highest possible position of that bed. However, because the borehole may
tend to cave or slough during drilling, a lithology may continue to be
present in samples from deeper drilled depths.

Sample packaging
Wet-cut samples are packaged in cloth bags and labeled with the well

name, operator, API number or well location, and sample depth. Dry-cut
samples are either dried in the air or under heat lamps. Each dried
sample is then placed in a small paper envelope which is labeled. All
labeling should be done with a dark, waterproof marker because
nonwaterproof markers will inevitably smudge and streak, and pencil
marks will fade with time.
The packaged samples may be sent to the operator at regular intervals
during the drilling of the well or sent en masse at the end of the well.
Sample sets are usually required for all partners and may be required
for the appropriate state and/or federal agencies, depending on the
location.
Samples for special analysis
In general, samples used in special analyses should not be artificially
dried or stored near intense heat (such as in the dog house near the
generators). This is because the heat causes more of the light
hydrocarbons to volatilize, which will bias subsequent analyses. If
precision is required, the bulk wet-cut samples should be placed in
glass jars and covered with formation water (or a compatible fluid).
Bactericide should be added and the containers sealed and labeled