Truly Portable Instrument Reduces Drilling Costs

UPDATED 15 AUGUST 2017

The size distribution of drilling muds is frequently adjusted during the drilling process. As such, the particle size distribution must be measured frequently, several times a day. Before the introduction of our LISST-Portable|XR, the practice had been to send a sample to a remote laboratory, and suffer the delays in getting results. The LISST-Portable|XR is designed for use at the drill site itself, giving immediate results in just a few minutes. This reduces dead time at the well, saving drilling costs.

By far the quickest method of measuring the PSD is laser diffraction, which has been in use since the 1970’s. Today it is used everywhere in industrial and scientific applications where there is a need for rapid, reliable and repeatable PSD measurements. The largest drawback for common use of laser diffraction in the drilling industry has been that most systems are heavy (~25-50 kgs), require 110/220VAC power and cannot be used outside of a laboratory environment (i.e. they cannot be used on site). The LISST-Portable|XR changes all that.

LISST-Portable|XR particle size analyzer

Sequoia Scientific’s LISST-Portable|XR is truly portable – in a car, on a helicopter…. With a size measurement range from 0.4-500 µm and a footprint the size of a 15” laptop computer, the LISST-Portable|XR is to laser diffraction what the smartphone was to the mobile phone industry. With rechargeable batteries, an ultrasonic probe for complete particle dispersion, a touch panel display for programming and display of data, and weighing in at 9 kg, the LISST-Portable|XR is the worlds’ only truly portable laser particle sizer. Programmable SOP’s ensures that it can be used by everybody everywhere with a minimum of training.

The sample is poured into the integrated mixing chamber where it is suspended and recirculated using a built-in pump system and sonicated using the optional ultrasonic probe. The PSD is then measured and displayed on the touch panel display in one minute. The data are stored on board and offloaded at a convenient time to a PC for display in reports etc. All samples stored on the instrument can be viewed directly on the touch panel display.

The figures below show a comparison between the LISST-Portable|XR, the Malvern MasterSizer 2000 and the Malvern MasterSizer Micro. The data were obtained in the same laboratory by the same analyst and using the same protocol with respect to instrument settings (e.g. sonication, stirring, optical model) to the extent it was possible between the 3 different instruments. The samples were BARACARB® (a bridging agent), and a water-based drill mud. It is evident that the Sequoia LISST-Portable|XR performs just as well as the Malvern units in measuring  these samples.

More information about the LISST-Portable|XR can be found on its website.

Comparison of LISST-Portable|XR vs. Malvern MasterSizer 2000 and MasterSizer Micro.