Abstract
INTRODUCTION Results frrrom recent testing of a new cuttings collection system are promising and should lead to improved for- mation evaluation. The automated cuttings collection system consists of a mud pump, mini-shaker, elutriator and collection vessels. This system, placed downstream of the bell nipple, is designed to minimize contamination of cuttings due to mud solids, cavings and recirculated drill solids. Drill cuttings are collected in clear plastic tubes and are available for analysis at the wellsite or in the laboratory. The cuttings are ideally suited for tradi- tional wellsite cuttings analysis, cuttings-based geochemistry, and paleontological investigations. Fur- thermore, in the laboratory it is possible to perform quantitative mineralogy, directly measure grain density, and, depending on the nature of the cuttings, measure porosity, permeability and capillary pressure.