Chloride Detector System

The iBall Instruments Chloride Detector System

The iBall Instruments Chloride Detector System allows the user to easily and reliably detect the amount of chlorides found within the drilling fluid while drilling for natural resources of oil and gas.

The Chloride Detector System was developed using digital signal processing techniques and the very latest in high frequency and extreme low power detection techniques. Couple that with integrated WITS feed through interfaces, a robust power system, and iBall Instruments presents a system unique in the industry.

Further, when utilized with the iBall Instruments Bloodhound system that integrates 3G wireless technology, Ethernet connectivity with an embedded switch to provide real-time monitoring and charting via the Internet anywhere in the world.

The Chloride Detector system is composed of a detector head end system that is lowered into the free-flowing drilling fluid (also known as “mud”) and will monitor the conductivity of the fluid in question utilizing high frequency technology developed for the military in the 1990’s. This detector interface section is connected to the sensor driver using 18-gauge two conductor wire. The sensor driver in turn is connected to the Bloodhound Gas Detector and Chromatograph system.

User Manual (PDF)
Data Sheet (PDF)
Knowledge Base

Detector Head Module

The detector head module has four (4) connectors. Two female DB9 connectors and two wire terminals.

One of two DB9 connectors connects to the WITS EDR PC serial output. This cable is clearly marked and tagged. The second DB9 connector connects directly to the Bloodhound Gas Detector and Chromatograph system WITS input.

This DB9 configuration of the detector head eliminates and takes the place of the need for a female to female null modem cable normally utilized between the WITS EDR PC and the Bloodhound.

Power is supplied to the detector head from the Bloodhound system 12VDC power output that normally powers the Cavitator gas extraction system. This 12VDC power output from the Bloodhound system can power both an external Cavitator gas extraction system and the detector head module at the same time. Red to Red and Black to Black.

The Chloride Detector at the Pit or Shaker is best connected to the detector head through a 2 conductor 18-gauge stranded cable. The length of the cable should not exceed 1000 ft.

Chloride Detector Head

The Chloride Detector Head is part of a clamping system that allows the user to attach the head to the side of a shaker spoil separator, at the drilling fluid return path, or the drilling fluid recirculation container.

Best readings are found when the sensor is as close as possible to the ejection of the drilling fluid from the shaker spoil separator (possum belly).

This location gives the best reading of Chlorides and presents the minimal amount of contaminates that can cause inaccurate readings. This is because the mass bulk of contaminates will be removed by the shaker.

Sensor Head Screen

When placing the Chloride Detector Head before the shaker, there is the possibility that spoil, small rock cuttings, or other contaminates will become lodged into the sensor head and cause inaccurate readings.

The Chloride Detector Head has attached at the bottom a removable stainless-steel metal screen that when contaminated or clogged can be removed and cleaned and re-attached.

Do not operate the Chloride Detector Head without this screen in place. Failure to do so may contaminate the Chloride Detector Head with debris that is not easily cleaned out.

Output: The output of the sensor head is WITS channel 0816. This information is sent to the Bloodhound and from the Bloodhound to the Bloodhound server system and local computer for storage.

To set up the PC software Gas Chart to log and store this information, just set up the WITS channel to start recording on the right-hand side of the setup box. To view the graph of the output just check the box labeled on the left-hand side of the setup box. Please see FIG 05. For more details.