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Cuttings Catching Methods & Results

Explore the different methods used to collect drill cuttings as they come from the borehole. Learn the advantages and disadvantages of each technique—flow line sampling, screen scraping, mechanical collection, and more—based on real drilling performance data and criteria such as cuttings accuracy, interval representation, mud loss, fines retention, and water use.

Various Cuttings Catching Methods and Results

The following methods can be used to collect cuttings as they come from the drill hole:

Flow line sampling and sluice box.
Cuttings scraped from screen.
Samples collected on a board or bucket placed in front of screen
A mechanical device taking cuttings from the flow line (3/16″ screen).

The chart below outlines the advantages and disadvantages of each method using the following criteria, based on a Hugh Bit study of actual cuttings size under most drilling conditions:

Performance Criteria:

Percent of actual cuttings vs. cavings and whippings
Average percentage of the drilled interval collected
Requirement for washing and post-screening
Percentage of actual cuttings retained that represent the full 5-metre drilled interval
Loss of drilling mud from the system
Mud dilution caused by wash water
Loss of fines (under 40 mesh), dependent on mud viscosity, screen mesh, and “mud balling”
Amount of water used to pre-wash samples

Criteria	A	B	C	D	E
1. % of actual cuttings vs cavings/whippings	15%	15%	15%	50%	90%
2. % of drilled interval collected	24%–100%	10%–1%	50%–10%	100%	100%
3. Washing / post-screening required?	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO
4. % of actual cuttings representing the 5m interval	15%–2.5%	1%–0.1%	5%–1%	50%	90%
5. Loss of drilling mud	YES	MINIMAL	MINIMAL	YES	MINIMAL
6. Mud dilution from wash water	NO	NO	NO	YES	NO
7. Loss of fines (-40 mesh)	MINIMAL	20%–90%	20%–90%	MINIMAL	20%–90%
8. Water used for pre-washing	MINIMAL	MINIMAL	MINIMAL	HEAVY	MODERATE