Patent Publication Number: US-2023160269-A1

Title: System and method for automated drill cutting sampling, preparation, analysis, and packaging

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     During the process of drilling an oil or gas well, drilled cuttings from the surrounding formation provide near real-time physical data of the subsurface of the well. As such, analysis of the drilled cuttings provides multiple insights into the health of the well and helps determine physical aspects of the well such as potential casing points, perforation zones, and formation tops. This analysis, known in the art as mud logging, is performed by an experienced mud logger by manually cleaning, processing, and packaging the drilled cuttings at specified intervals. 
     However, mud logging is not without its challenges. Manually gathering and entering data from the analysis of drilled cuttings may introduce errors into the data. Furthermore, gathering data from drilled cuttings requires manually transferring the samples from a drilling rig to a lab station, which may compromise the integrity of the sample data if the drilled cuttings are damaged during the transfer process. Finally, the manual steps of analyzing and transferring drilled cuttings reduces efficiency in the analysis process, which, in turn, hinders the workflow of the drilling operation. 
     SUMMARY 
     A modular system for analyzing drilled cuttings includes a sampler unit, a washer unit, an analysis unit, and a central processing unit. The sampler unit receives the drilled cuttings from a shale shaker disposed on a rig site that obtains the drilled cuttings. The washer unit removes debris from the drilled cuttings. The analysis unit determines lithological properties of the drilled cuttings. The packager unit packages the drilled cuttings. The central processing unit coordinates operations to process the drilled cuttings through each of the sampler unit, washer unit, analysis unit, and packager unit. Finally, the CPU facilitates a processing link among the sampler unit, washer unit, analysis unit, and packager unit so that the units are integrated to form the modular system. 
     A method from analyzing drilled cuttings includes receiving drilled cuttings from a shale shaker disposed on a rig site that obtains the drilled cuttings. The method further includes removing debris from the drilled cuttings, determining lithological properties of the drilled cuttings, packaging the drilled cuttings, and transmitting the lithological properties of the drilled cuttings to a database. The method further includes coordinating operations for processing the drilled cuttings in order to perform the above steps of receiving the drilled cuttings, removing debris, determining lithological properties, packaging the drilled cuttings, and transmitting the lithological properties. Finally, the method includes facilitating a processing link to perform the coordinated operations such that the coordinated operations are performed by a modular system. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Specific embodiments of the disclosed technology will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. Like elements in the various figures are denoted by like reference numerals for consistency. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and angles are not necessarily drawn to scale, and some of these elements may be arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility. 
         FIG.  1    shows a system overview in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS.  2 - 5    show various apparatuses in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    shows a flowchart of a method in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Specific embodiments of the disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. In the following detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description. 
     Throughout the application, ordinal numbers (e.g., first, second, third, etc.) may be used as an adjective for an element (i.e., any noun in the application). The use of ordinal numbers is not intended to imply or create any particular ordering of the elements nor to limit any element to being only a single element unless expressly disclosed, such as using the terms “before”, “after”, “single”, and other such terminology. Rather, the use of ordinal numbers is to distinguish between the elements. By way of an example, a first element is distinct from a second element, and the first element may encompass more than one element and succeed (or precede) the second element in an ordering of elements. 
     In addition, throughout the application, the terms “upper” and “lower” may be used to describe the position of an element. In this respect, the term “upper” denotes an element disposed further from the surface of the Earth than a corresponding “lower” element, while the term “lower” conversely describes an element disposed closer to the surface of the Earth than a corresponding “upper” element. Likewise, the term “axial” refers to an orientation substantially parallel to the well, while the term “radial” refers to an orientation orthogonal to the well. Finally, the terms “vertical” and “lateral” refer to orientations perpendicular and parallel to the surface of the earth, respectively. 
     In general, one or more embodiments of the disclosure include a system and method for the automated sampling, preparation, analysis, and packaging of drilled cuttings. Specifically, one or more embodiments of this disclosure presents a modular integrated system for sampling, preparing, analyzing, and packaging drill cutting samples. Focus is given to the integration between the subsystems and components to emphasize high-throughput, portability of the equipment, and usability in drilling rigs with a small physical footprint. 
     As is commonly known in the art, a drilling operation at a well site includes drilling a borehole into a subterranean formation. For the purpose of drilling a new section of the well, equipment on a drilling rig at the well site may suspend and rotate a drill string and drill bit within the wellbore. The drill string is rotated in the surrounding formation relative to the borehole, thus lengthening the well bore and breaking the surrounding formation into smaller pieces, called drilled cuttings. 
     While cutting the subterranean formation with the drill bit, drilling mud is pumped through the drill string. The drilling mud flows down the drill string and exits into the bottom of the wellbore through nozzles in the drill bit. Drilling mud in the wellbore then flows back to the surface with entrained cuttings in the space between the drill string and the wellbore, where the cuttings are removed from the drilling mud with a shale shaker. Specifically, the shale shaker separates the drilled cuttings from the drilling fluid by running the fluid and entrained drilled cuttings through a vibrating screen, allowing the drilling fluid to be pumped back into the well and reused. The drilled cuttings are retained in the shale shaker, where they may be output to and analyzed by a modular system according to embodiments disclosed herein. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , a modular system  11  is primarily composed of four interconnected units that may be operated independently or as a whole, and are transiently installed at a well site for processing drilled cuttings. These units include a sampler unit  13 , a washer unit  15 , an analyzer unit  17 , and a packager unit  19 . The units are arranged in sequential manner and are interconnected with a central processing unit  21 . The central processing unit  21  includes a processor or plurality of processors, a storage medium and/or a memory, and controls the operation of the sampler unit  13 , washer unit  15 , analyzer unit  17 , and packager unit  19  via a processing link  23 . The processing link  23  may be embodied as a wireless connection, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, or may be a physical/wired data connection, such as ethernet, between units. Regardless of the connection between units, the central processing unit  21  coordinates the overall operation of the modular system  11  such that the drilled cuttings  27  are processed through each unit. 
     During a first step of processing the drilled cuttings, the sampler unit  13  receives and weighs a predetermined amount of drilled cuttings from a shale shaker (e.g., shown in  FIG.  2    below). The weighed cuttings are transferred to the washer unit  15 , which proceeds to wash the weighed cuttings. From the washer unit  15 , the washed cuttings are transferred to the analyzer unit  17 , where the washed cuttings are analyzed with a series of sensors that determine the geological properties of the sample. Finally, the analyzed samples are transferred to a packager unit  19  that packages and labels the samples. Concurrently, data generated by the analyzer unit  17  is stored in a database  25 , where the data may be reviewed and utilized at a later date. 
       FIG.  2    depicts one embodiment of the sampler unit  13 . As shown in  FIG.  2   , the sampler unit  13  is primarily composed of a high viscosity pump  35  and a scale  37 , which receive drilled cuttings  27  through a first flexible pipe  31  from a shale shaker  29 . In order to adapt to the specific layout of a wellsite, the first flexible pipe  31  is formed from flexible material such as Teflon or other polymers, and is attached to the shale shaker  29  and the high viscosity pump  35  with pipe clamps (not shown). Similarly, a second flexible pipe  33 , formed from the same material as the first flexible pipe  31 , connects the high viscosity pump  35  to the washer unit  15 . Thus, the sampler unit  13  is flexibly connected to the shale shaker  29  at its first end and to the washer unit  15  at its second end, regardless of the location of the shale shaker  29  on a drilling rig. 
     Continuing with  FIG.  2   , the high viscosity pump  35  is bordered by an inflow door  39  and an outflow door  41 , which serve to facilitate and control the flow of the drilled cuttings  27  through the sampler unit  13 . The inflow door  39  and outflow door  41  are rigidly fixed to the high viscosity pump  35  via a motorized hinge connection (not shown). During operation, the motorized hinge connection (not shown) is actuated by the central processing unit  21  such that the inflow door  39  and outflow door  41  rotate upwards on the hinge connection into the first flexible pipe  31  and high viscosity pump  35 . By actuating the inflow door  39  and outflow valve  49 , the high viscosity pump  35  is fluidly connected to the first flexible pipe  31  and second flexible pipe  33 . 
     Finally, the high viscosity pump  35  rests on top of a scale  37  that weighs the high viscosity pump  35  and the contents thereof. The scale  37  is sandwiched between the high viscosity pump  35  and the ground underneath so that as the high viscosity pump  35  is filled with drilled cuttings  27  the scale  37  can also weigh the drilled cuttings  27 . In order to accurately weigh the drilled cuttings  27 , the scale  37  is tared to the weight of the high viscosity pump  35  such that the scale  37  naturally discards the weight of the high viscosity pump  35 . Consequently, the scale  37  only measures the weight of the drilled cuttings  27  transferred through the sampler unit  13  and disregards the weight of the high viscosity pump  35 . 
     During collection, drilled cuttings  27  are transferred by the shale shaker  29  into the first flexible pipe  31  until the drilled cuttings  27  abut against the inflow door  39 . Once the first flexible pipe  31  is filled with the drilled cuttings  27 , the inflow door  39  is opened and the high viscosity pump  35  is actuated by the central processing unit  21 . Actuation of the high viscosity pump  35  causes the high viscosity pump  35  to fill with the drilled cuttings  27  until the high viscosity pump  35  is completely filled with drilled cuttings  27 . At this point, the inflow door  39  is closed and the central processing unit  21  directs the scale  37  to obtain the combined weight of the high viscosity pump  35  and the drilled cuttings  27 . After the drilled cuttings  27  are weighed, the outflow door  41  is opened and the drilled cuttings  27  are transferred by the high viscosity pump  35  into the second flexible pipe  33  and the washer unit  15 . 
     In order to clean the first flexible pipe  31 , the sampler unit  13  further includes a first cleaning fluid inflow  43  with an inflow valve  45  and a first cleaning fluid outflow  47  with an outflow valve  49 . Specifically, the first cleaning fluid inflow  43  is connected to the first flexible pipe  31  at one end at the junction between the shale shaker  29  and the first flexible pipe  31 , and is connected to an external fresh water or other cleaning fluid source (not shown, e.g., a holding tank) at its other end. Conversely, the first cleaning fluid outflow  47  is connected at one end to the second flexible pipe  33  at the junction between the washer unit  15  and the second flexible pipe  33 , and to a holding tank (not shown) at its other end. After the drilled cuttings  27  are transferred from the high viscosity pump  35  to the washer unit  15 , the inflow valve  45  and the outflow valve  49  are actuated and cleaning fluid is introduced from the external source into the first flexible pipe  31 , the high viscosity pump  35 , and the second flexible pipe  33 . The cleaning fluid, as well as any debris entrained within the cleaning fluid from the drilled cuttings  27 , then flows out the outflow valve  49  into the holding tank (not shown). 
     The operation of the central processing unit  21 , and thus the sampler unit  13 , is controlled and programmed by a mud logger. In particular, a predetermined sampling frequency is determined and adjusted by a mud logger according to the speed of the drilling process and the drilling depth achieved by the drilling rig such that samples are taken at predetermined drilling depths or drilling intervals. The operation of the inflow valve  45  and the outflow valve  49  may also be controlled and predetermined by a mud logger, thereby allowing the complete operation of the sampler unit  13  to be determined prior to initiating a drilling operation. These operations are logged and timestamped by the central processing unit  21 , which may be further used by the packager unit  19  in conjunction with the associated weight of the drilled cuttings  27  during the process of labeling the drilled cuttings  27 . 
     Returning to  FIG.  2   , the central processing unit  21  is configured to control the operation of the inflow door  39  and the outflow door  41  during the transfer of the drilled cuttings  27  according to a predetermined sampling frequency. Furthermore, the central processing unit  21  is configured to open and close the first cleaning fluid inflow  43  and first cleaning fluid outflow  47  according to the operation of the inflow door  39  and the outflow door  41 . To achieve this, once the outflow door  41  is opened and the drilled cuttings  27  are transferred to the washer unit  15 , the central processing unit  21  actuates the inflow door  39 , the outflow door  41 , the first cleaning fluid inflow  43 , and the first cleaning fluid outflow  47  such that cleaning fluid freely flows through the sampler unit  13 . 
     Once the drilled cuttings  27  have been weighed, the drilled cuttings  27  are transferred to a washer unit  15  as depicted in  FIG.  3   . In particular,  FIG.  3    depicts one embodiment of a washer unit  15  that receives drilled cuttings  27  from the sampler unit  13 , removes debris  77  from the drilled cuttings  27 , and transfers the washed drilled cuttings  27  to the analyzer unit  17 . 
     To achieve this purpose, the washer unit  15  receives drilled cuttings  27  from the second flexible pipe  33  into a casing  67 , where the drilled cuttings  27  are filtered through a first sieve  51  until they abut against a second sieve  53 . The washer unit  15  is then rotated via a motor  55  around a central axis  57  while fluid is pumped from an external source (not shown) into the washer unit  15 , thus removing debris  77  from the drilled cuttings  27 . Finally, the washed drilled cuttings  27  are transferred from the washer unit  15  and placed in a sample tray  65  for further analysis at the analyzer unit  17 . The orientation and configuration of the various components that make up the washer unit  15  are described below. 
     To properly filter debris  77  from the drilled cuttings  27 , the first sieve  51  and second sieve  53  are disposed within the casing  67  in succession with each other and coaxial with the central axis  57  such that the first sieve  51  is directly above the second sieve  53 . The first sieve  51  and the second sieve  53  are each formed from metal wire mesh, where the size of the openings in the mesh are determined according to the anticipated size of the drilled cuttings  27  to be filtered. Specifically, the first sieve  51  is formed of a metal wire mesh with openings that are larger than the average size of the drilled cuttings  27  so that drilled cuttings  27  can easily pass through the first sieve  51  while large debris  77  is trapped between the first sieve  51  and the first endcap  59 . Conversely, the size of the openings in the metal wire mesh of the second sieve  53  is smaller than the average size of the drilled cuttings  27  so that the drilled cuttings  27  are trapped by the second sieve  53  and small debris is transferred out of the washer unit  15 . 
     The first endcap  59  and the second endcap  61  are formed of two pieces connected with a rotary union  63 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the exterior upper half of the first endcap  59  is connected to the second flexible pipe  33 , the motor  55 , a second cleaning fluid inflow  69 , and a stand  56  that fixes the first endcap  59  to the ground such that the washer unit  15  remains stationary and vertically oriented during the rotation of the casing  67 . Similarly, the exterior lower half of the second endcap  61  is connected to a second cleaning fluid outflow  73  and remains stationary while the casing  67  rotates. The interior halves of the first endcap  59  and the second endcap  61  are attached to the casing  67  using a variety of methods, as described below. Therefore, due to the rotary union  63  between the exterior and interior halves of the first endcap  59  and the second endcap  61 , the casing  67  and drilled cuttings  27  freely rotate around the central axis  57  when the casing  67  is actuated by the motor  55 . 
     In order to create the rotation that filters debris  77  from the drilled cuttings  27  through the first sieve  51  and second sieve  53 , the motor  55  is disposed on the upper axial end of the washer unit  15 . The motor  55  is attached through the exterior half of the first endcap  59  to the interior half of the first endcap  59  so that as a shaft of the motor  55  rotates, the interior half of the first endcap  59 , and thus the casing  67 , rotates about the central axis  57 . Thus, when the shaft of the motor  55  rotates, the casing  67  and its contents rotate about the central axis  57  of the washer unit  15  due to the connection between the motor  55  and the first endcap  59 . 
     Finally, in order to forcibly filter debris  77  from the drilled cuttings  27 , the washer unit  15  includes a second cleaning fluid inflow  69  and a second cleaning fluid outflow  73 , which respectively include a second inflow valve  71  and a second outflow valve  75 . The second cleaning fluid inflow  69  is attached at one end to the first endcap  59 , and at a second end to an external cleaning fluid source (not shown). Similarly, the second cleaning fluid outflow  73  is attached to the second endcap  61  at a first end, and connected to an external tank (not shown) at its other end. Depending on the location of the external tanks, the required length and orientation of the second cleaning fluid inflow  69  and the second cleaning fluid outflow  73  may vary, and, thus, the second cleaning fluid inflow  69  and the second inflow valve  71  are formed of flexible materials such as Teflon, plastic, or equivalent. 
     Therefore, washing of the drilled cuttings  27  is achieved by the washer unit  15  through the use of the first sieve  51 , the second sieve  53 , the motor  55 , the second cleaning fluid inflow  69 , and the second inflow valve  71 . Specifically, as discussed above, the drilled cuttings  27  are received from the sampler unit  13  into the casing  67 , where large debris  77  (e.g., borehole cave-in debris) are filtered by a first sieve  51 . The drilled cuttings  27  move through the openings in the first sieve  51  until they abut against the second sieve  53 , at which point the drilled cuttings  27  are washed with fluid from an external water source. To introduce cleaning fluid into the casing  67 , the second inflow valve  71  is opened by the central processing unit  21 , causing cleaning fluid to move over the drilled cuttings  27  and exit through the second cleaning fluid outflow  73 . 
     Following the removal of the debris  77  from the drilled cuttings  27 , the drilled cuttings  27  are removed from the casing  67  by detaching the second endcap  61  and transferring the drilled cuttings  27  from the casing  67  to the sample tray  65 . To facilitate this, the second sieve  53  and the second endcap  61  are attached with motorized hinge connections  78  that are controlled by the central processing unit  21 . Initially, the second endcap  61  is opened by actuating the motorized hinge connection  78  and dumping the small debris between the second sieve  53  and the second endcap  61  into a sample tray  65 , which may be discarded by an operator or mud logger. Next, the motorized hinge connection  78  of the second sieve  53  is actuated, thereby transferring the drilled cuttings  27  to the sample tray  65 . 
     Alternatively, and although not depicted in  FIG.  3   , a motorized hinge connection  78  may be connected to the first endcap  59  and a second motor (not shown) may be connected to the casing  67 , both of which are controlled by the central processing unit  21 . In said situations, only a single first sieve and endcap are used to filter the drilled cuttings  27 , and the casing  67  is rotated through the central axis  57  by the second motor (not shown) while the first endcap  59  is opened such that the drilled cuttings  27  are dumped into the sample tray  65 . 
     Finally, the motorized hinge connection  78  may not be implemented at all. In such embodiments, the first endcap  59  and second endcap  61  are attached to the casing  67  by pressing, with interference, the first endcap  59  and second endcap  61  into the casing  67 . Such can be seen in  FIG.  3   , where the first endcap  59  is attached to the casing  67  with a press-fit connection. The first endcap  59  and second endcap  61  are manually removed following a washing operation and the drilled cuttings  27  are transferred to the sample tray  65  by an operator. 
     Regardless of the specific method used to transfer the drilled cuttings  27  to the sample tray  65 , the sample tray  65  is then transferred from the washer unit  15  to the analyzer unit  17  with the drilled cuttings  27  via a first conveyor belt  79 , where the drilled cuttings  27  are further analyzed. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , the analyzer unit  17  includes a plurality of sensors that are each configured to sample the drilled cuttings  27  in order to determine the lithological properties thereof. By way of non-limiting example and as shown in  FIG.  4   , the sensors of the analyzer unit  17  include an ultraviolet (UV) camera  81 , an infrared camera  83 , and an X-Ray Frequency (XRF) spectrometer  85 , all of which are commonly known in the art and not described herein for the sake of brevity. Each sensor is disposed on a respective retractable stand  89 , which is fixed to a working surface  87  at the height of the first conveyor belt  79 . 
     During analysis, the sample tray  65  and drilled cuttings  27  are transferred between sensors using the first conveyor belt  79  such that each sensor may analyze properties of the drilled cuttings  27 . However, due to variations in the required distance between a specific sensor and the drilled cuttings  27 , the height of each sensor must be individually adapted to the height of the drilled cuttings  27 . To remedy the above situation, the plurality of sensors are each disposed on retractable stands  89  that move vertically in relation to the first conveyor belt  79  to adjust the height of the individual sensor to the height of the drilled cuttings  27 . Each retractable stand  89  includes a proximity sensor  91 , which calculates, in conjunction with the central processing unit  21 , the height of a respective retractable stands  89  from the first conveyor belt  79 . 
     The retractable stand  89  is actuated according to commands from the central processing unit  21 , which receives and transfers data from the retractable stands  89  via the processing link  23 . Multiple actuation mechanisms may be used to actuate the retractable stands  89 . For example, a retractable stand  89  may include a motor, gearbox, and either a rack-and-pinion gear or a worm gear. Alternatively, the retractable stands  89  may be hydraulically actuated using a piston and cylinder arrangement arranged within the retractable stands  89 , or electromagnetically actuated with a solenoid. Regardless of the actuation mechanism used, once the retractable stands  89  are adjusted to the required height to measure the drilled cuttings  27 , the sensors capture data of the drilled cuttings  27  as described below. 
     Each sensor is configured to aid in determining properties of the drilled cuttings  27  by cataloging frequencies emitted and reflected by the drilled cuttings  27 . The captured frequencies are submitted to the central processing unit  21 , which compares the captured frequencies, using a neural network, against sample data stored in the database  25  and determines properties of the drilled cuttings  27  based on the sample data. Specific properties of the drilled cuttings that are captured by the sensors and analyzed by the central processing unit  21  include the grain pattern, shape, porosity, chemical composition, and lithology of the drilled cuttings  27 , which are stored in the database  25  (e.g., shown in  FIG.  1   ) for use by the packager unit  19 . 
     Although not depicted in  FIG.  4   , it is envisioned within the scope of the disclosure that the plurality of sensors include multiple other sensors used to analyze the drilled cuttings  27 . To this end, cameras with automated algorithms may be used to monitor the drilled cuttings  27  and ensure that the drilled cuttings  27  are not damaged by other sensors. Moreover, brightfield cameras, hyperspectral cameras, camera flashes, piezoelectric sensors or other touch sensors, hygrometers, and electron microscopes may be used in place or in addition to the aforementioned sensors. 
     Once the drilled cuttings  27  have been analyzed by each sensor, the drilled cuttings  27  and sample tray  65  are transferred with the conveyor belt to the packager unit  19 , as shown in  FIG.  5   . 
       FIG.  5    depicts one embodiment of the packager unit  19 . As seen in  FIG.  5   , the packager unit  19  includes a second conveyor belt  93 , a robotic arm  95 , a funnel  99 , and a printer  109 . The robotic arm  95 , the funnel  99 , and the printer  109  are each fixed to a second working surface  103 , such as a work table, which is located at the same height as the first conveyor belt  79  and the second conveyor belt  93 . 
     Initially, a sample tray  65  with the drilled cuttings  27  is brought to the robotic arm  95  from the analyzer unit  17 , where the robotic arm  95  grips the sample tray  65  with an end effector  97 . The end effector  97  is formed from two complimentary jaws that are jointed together and controlled by a motor or servo (not shown) according to instructions from the central processing unit  21 . The jaws of the end effector  97  are sized in conjunction with a holding groove  105  on the exterior of the sample tray  65  such that the end effector  97  grips the holding groove  105  throughout the packaging process regardless of the orientation of the sample tray  65 . Furthermore, the inner faces of the jaws are lined with rubber or other high-friction material that aids in gripping the sample tray  65 . 
     Once the end effector  97  has been closed around the holding groove  105  by the central processing unit  21 , the robotic arm  95  proceeds to lift the sample tray  65 , rotate to the funnel  99 , and rotate the sample tray  65  so that the drilled cuttings  27  are transferred into a sample package  107  via the funnel  99 . The sample package  107  may be formed from cardboard or low density polyethylene (LDPE), while the funnel  99  may be formed from stainless steel, plastic, or other suitable materials. As shown, the funnel  99  is fixed to the second working surface  103  and arranged such that the output of the funnel  99  is directly above the sample package  107  and second conveyor belt  93 . After transferring the contents of the sample tray  65  to the sample package  107 , the robotic arm  95  places the sample tray  65  in a stack at the edge of the second working surface  103  to ease the removal of sample trays from the analyzer unit  17 . 
     To label the sample package  107 , a printer  109  that prints a package label  111  is located next to the robotic arm  95 . The package label  111  contains information stored on the database  25  of the central processing unit  21  relevant to the drilled cuttings  27 , such as the date and time of origin, sampling depth, weight, and operator notes concerning significant features uncovered during analysis. Furthermore, the package label  111  may include an adhesive backing so that the package label  111  may be easily adhered to the sample package  107 . Alternatively, the sample package  107  may include a container (not shown), such as a plastic bag or envelope, that the package label  111  is retained in. Thus, in order to apply the package label  111  to the sample package  107 , the robotic arm  95  lifts the package label  111  from the printer  109  and adheres the package label  111  to the sample package  107  according to the specific adhesion method. 
     Once the sample package  107  is labeled, the sample package  107  is placed by the robotic arm  95  in a sample container  113 . The sample container  113  is then also labeled with a container label  115  containing information indicating the rig site at which multiple samples are taken, a range of dates and sampling depths that correspond to the drilled cuttings  27  and the sample package  107 , and other information useful for categorizing and distinguishing differing drilled cuttings samples. After the sample container  113  is filled with sample packages  107  and labeled by the robotic arm  95 , the sample container  113  is removed from the second conveyor belt  93  by an operator at the rig, and is replaced with a new sample container. Similar to the sample package  107 , the sample container  113  may be formed from cardboard, LDPE, or equivalent. 
       FIG.  6    depicts a flowchart showing a method of analyzing drilled cuttings. While the various flowchart blocks in  FIG.  6    are presented and described sequentially, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that some or all of the blocks may be executed in different orders, may be combined or omitted, and some or all of the blocks may be executed in parallel. Furthermore, the blocks may be performed actively or passively. 
     In block  610 , a processing link  23  is initialized via the central processing unit  21  in order to interconnect the sampler unit  13 , the washer unit  15 , the analyzer unit  17 , and the packager unit  19  via a virtual connection. The processing link  23  may be embodied as a wireless connection, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, or may be a physical data connection, such as ethernet, between units. Due to the processing link  23 , the sampler unit  13 , the washer unit  15 , the analyzer unit  17 , and the packager unit  19  are controlled by the central processing unit  21 , and thus form a modular system  11  for analyzing the drilled cuttings and performing coordinated operations. 
     In block  620 , the central processing unit  21  coordinates operations to process the drilled cuttings  27  through the sampler unit  13 , washer unit  15 , analyzer unit  17  and packager unit  19  as detailed in blocks  630 - 660 . Specifically, the central processing unit  21  controls the intake, sampling, washing, analysis, and packaging of the drilled cuttings  27  by actuating the constituent elements of the individual units. To achieve this, the central processing unit  21  includes a processor or series of processors, a storage medium, and a memory, and controls the operation of the sampler unit  13 , washer unit  15 , analyzer unit  17 , and packager unit  19  via a processing link  23 . 
     In block  630 , drilled cuttings  27  are received from a shale shaker  29 . In particular, the sampler unit  13  receives and weighs a predetermined amount of drilled cuttings from the shale shaker  29  via a high viscosity pump  35  and a scale  37 . In order to weigh the drilled cuttings  27 , the high viscosity pump  35  is disposed on top of the scale  37  such that the scale  37  weighs both the drilled cuttings  27  and the high viscosity pump  35  and discards the weight of the high viscosity pump  35 . With the aid of the high viscosity pump  35 , the sampler unit  13  transfers drilled cuttings  27  from the shale shaker  29  to a washer unit  15  via a first flexible pipe  31  and a second flexible pipe  33 . 
     In block  640 , a washer unit  15  removes debris  77  from the drilled cuttings  27 . To achieve this, the washer unit  15  receives drilled cuttings  27  from the sampler unit  13  into a casing  67  containing a first sieve  51  and a second sieve  53  that are disposed coaxial with a central axis  57  of the washer unit  15 . The washer unit  15  is rotated with a motor  55  around the central axis  57  while fluid is pumped from an external source into the washer unit  15 , thus removing debris  77  from the drilled cuttings  27 . Subsequently, the washed drilled cuttings  27  are removed from the washer unit  15  by detaching a second endcap  61  from the casing  67  and transferring the drilled cuttings  27  into a sample tray  65 . 
     In block  650 , the analyzer unit  17  determines the lithological properties of the drilled cuttings. Specifically, the analyzer unit  17  includes multiple sensors such as a white light camera, an ultraviolet camera, and an x-ray frequency spectrometer that capture the infrared, ultraviolet, and x-ray frequencies of the drilled cuttings. The frequencies emitted and reflected by the drilled cuttings are compared against information stored in the database  25  in order to determine the grain pattern, shape, porosity, chemical composition, and lithology of the drilled cuttings  27 . 
     In block  660 , the drilled cuttings  27  are packaged by the packager unit  19 . The packager unit  19  includes a second conveyor belt  93 , a robotic arm  95 , a funnel  99 , and a printer  109 . A sample tray  65  with the drilled cuttings  27  is brought to the robotic arm  95 , where the robotic arm  95  grips the sample tray  65  with an end effector  97 . Once the end effector  97  has been closed around the holding groove  105  by the central processing unit  21 , the robotic arm  95  proceeds to lift the sample tray  65 , rotate, and dump the drilled cuttings  27  into a sample package  107  via the funnel  99 . The robotic arm  95  then lifts a package label  111  from the printer  109 , adheres the package label  111  to the sample package  107 , and places the sample package  107  in a sample container  113 , thereby completing the processing of the drilled cuttings. 
     Accordingly, the aforementioned embodiments as disclosed relate to devices and methods useful for analyzing drilled cuttings. 
     Specifically, by forming a modular system for analyzing drilled cuttings from multiple units interconnected with flexible joints (e.g., conveyor belts, flexible piping), the system is advantageously capable of receiving drilled cuttings directly from a shale shaker and perform all analysis of the drilled cuttings at the drilling site. Furthermore, by receiving drilled cuttings directly from a shale shaker and analyzing the drilled cuttings at a drill site, the modular system provides instantaneous real-time feedback of the health of the wellbore. Finally, by analyzing drilled cuttings using flexible piping, conveyor belts, sieves, and other elements that accommodate the unique shapes of the drilled cuttings and the drilling rig, the grain type, porosity, and lithology of the drilled cuttings may be analyzed without needing to first grind and transport the samples. 
     Although only a few embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the example embodiments without materially departing from this invention. For example, it is easily envisioned that the modular system may be utilized within a laboratory or other environment, and samples are input directly into the washer unit or sampler unit. Alternatively, the system may be broken into individual or combined units, where the sampler and washer unit are disposed at the shale shaker, while the analysis unit and packager unit are located at a separate facility, and the drilled cuttings are manually transferred therebetween. As a third example, cameras with automated algorithms may be used to monitor the workflow and stop the system if a malfunction occurs in any individual unit, or if drilled cuttings are not properly transferred between units. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the following claims.