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Manual Information
Author(s): | L. Crowder | |
Reviewer(s): | S. Herrmann, R. DavisChieh Peng | |
Management Approval (Name, Title, Date): |
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Audience: | Technical Staff | |
First Release: |
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Current Version: |
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Revised: | Draft 371T |
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Domain: | Microbiology | |
System: |
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Contents
Manual Information
Contents
Introduction
Apparatus, Reagents, & Materials
Tracer Preparation
Pump Set-up
Rigwatch Integration
Tracer Delivery Confirmation
Preparation for Storage
Health, Safety, and Environment
Troubleshooting
Technical and Reference Documents
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Contents
Topic | See page… |
Introduction | |
Apparatus, Reagents, & Materials |
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Tracer Preparation |
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Pump Set-up |
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Rigwatch Integration |
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Preparation for Storage |
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Health, Safety and Environment |
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Technical Information |
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Introduction
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Method Theory
When cores are recovered for microbiological studies, tracers can be added to the drilling fluid via the mud pump lines in order to track contamination of core material. The method was developed and implemented on Ocean Drilling Program Leg 185 and subsequently documented in ODP Tech Note 28 (Smith et al. 2000). The following manual explains the tracer fluid preparation, the pump setup as well as the monitoring with the Rigwatch System.
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Selecting the Appropriate Tracer
The original perfluorocarbon tracer (PFT) compound chosen for the method was Perfluoro(methylcyclohexane) (PFTPFMCH). An additional tracer fluid was introduced on IODP expedition 360, Perfluoro(methyldecalin) (PFMD).
The science user needs to decide which tracer will be used.
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Apparatus, Reagents, & Materials
Hardware
HPLC Pumps
An Altech 301 HPLC pump is used to inject the tracer into the drilling fluid. There are two HPLC pumps in a housing in the Mud Pump Room. Only one pump is used at a time, the second is a back-up.
Tracer Pump Housing in Mud Pump Room
Outlet to Pump 1Outlet to Pump 2 
Alltech 301 HPLC Pumps 
Plumbing
- Plastic peristaltic tubing and clear Tygon tubing is used for plumbing the HPLC pumps.
- 1/8" stainless steel tubing lines exit the tracer pump housing and run to the inlet valves of mud pump 1 and 2. Tracer is pumped from one of the HPLC pumps into these lines. Only one mud pump is typically used for the expedition. The line to pump 1 runs up and over across the room to the gate valve.
Gate Valve to Mud Pump Fluid StreamInlet to Mud Pump 1
Across room from pump housingInlet to Mud Pump 2
Next to pump housing
Data Connector
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- Bucket – Labeled for tracer transport
- Funnel
- 1 L Glass Media Bottles as pump reservoir
- 250 mL Nalgene bottles for flush fluid and waste.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
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Tracer Preparation
Before handling the tracer, read the safety data sheet (SDS) for the tracer to be used to familiarize yourself with the hazards and safe handling of the material. The tracers are used as is and their unit of order and checkout is kilogram.
Assemble the materials needed for transport and transfer of the tracer from the stock bottles to the reservoir bottle. This includes a bucket, funnel and PPE.
Handling of the tracers and transfer of the tracer to the reservoir bottle should be done in a well ventilated area well away from the core handling area and tracer detection areas. Transfer can be done inside the BHAZ area. The preferred area for tracer transfer is on the helideck. If you need to make a quick transfer, go to the starboard, aft end of the roof of the lab stack where vapor will blow off the vessel as it is typically headed into the wind. Use a funnel to pour the tracer from its original bottle into a 1 liter glass media bottle. Label the bottle with the type of tracer in it and seal the bottle cap with Parafilm M®. Wear protective gloves, eyewear and an organic vapor mask when transferring the tracer. Discard your gloves after the procedure.
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Pump Set-up
Refer to the Alltech 301 pump manual for schematics and specific instruction on pump set-up and use. The term "mobile phase" used in the manual refers to the material you wish to pump, in this case it is our tracer.
Before setting up the pumps, find out from the Operations Superintendent which mud pump will be used for the expedition, 1 or 2. Prepare a 20% Methanol solution in a 250 mL Nalgene bottle, the chemistry technicians can help with this. There should be bottles in the pump housing designated for this.
The two pumps reside in a black housing on the port side of the mud pump room. This area requires hearing protection in addition to your normal PPE. When you arrive at the pumps they should be turned off and been left primed with isopropyl alcohol as instructed in the manual. The stainless steel lines to both mud pumps should be disconnected from the mud pump lines and capped. Familiarize yourself with all of the lines connected to the pumps, which lines go where and in what direction.
CAUTION: Do not run the pumps until you are sure the lines are opened and valves turned the right way. Running the pumps in a closed system may burst the small plastic tubing.
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Now that the pump is primed, open the outlet valve for that pump on the manifold that leads to the stainless steel lines. Uncap the stainless steel line at the far end that goes to the mud pump that will not be used. Switch on the power to the pump, switch on the back. Unplug the data cable on the back of the pump in order to run the pump in manual mode. Press the Run button to start pumping. Adjust the pump rate to get the liquid to flow. You want to make sure the fluid is flowing indicating there are no obstructions in the lines. Capture as much waste as you can into the waste bottle. Stop pumping and connect the stainless steel line to the mud pump line, leave the valve closed. Uncap the stainless steel line for the mud pump that will be used and follow the same procedure ensuring that fluid is flowing. Stop pumping and connect the line to the mud pump line and open the gate valve. Connect the data cable back into the back of the pump in use. Now the pump is ready for operation and can be controlled by Rigwatch.
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Rigwatch Integration
The Alltech pumps can be run through a remote connection via the ship's network. Rigwatch is used to control the pump rate to deliver the tracer at a predefined concentration. The driller will switch on and off the pump as directed by the operations plan provided by the Operations Superintendent.
When setting up the pump, the RJ-11 connector (like a phone jack) on the data cable must be plugged into the back of the pump being used. The serial connector on the other end must be plugged into the Ethernet serial server. If you encounter problems with the data connection contact IODP IT support.
Ethernet Serial Server 
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Tracer Delivery Confirmation
Delivery of the tracer can be verified by taking a sample of the drilling fluid while the tracer is being injected from a special stainless steel line connected to the Stand Pipe located in the starboard, aft corner of the drill floor by the door. Open the valve and let the line flush for a while before taking the sample. The scientist running the tracer experiment can measure the sample and verify delivery.
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Preparation for Storage
When the tracer experiment is complete the pumps need to be isolated and prepared for long term storage. It is critical to flush all tracer out of the pump and lines to prevent fouling the pump and lines. Refer to section 2.5.1 of the Alltech manual for instructions on preparing the pumps for storage. Basically prime and flush the pump and lines with isopropyl alcohol. Close the gate valve to the mud pump line using and remove the stainless steel lines from the mud pump lines and follow the same instructions above to prime the pumps and lines with alcohol. Prime both pumps and lines to ensure all tracer is flushed from the system. Cap both stainless steel lines. Leave the pump inlet lines in the isopropyl alcohol reservoir. Remove the self-flushing line and replace with the short loop of tubing.
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Health, Safety, and Environment
Health
Perfluorocarbon Tracers
Perfluoromethylcyclohexane and perfluoromethyldecalin are used as the perfluorocarbon tracer compounds. These compounds (one of which, PFMCH, is highly volatile), is chemically inert and of extremely low toxicity. Although it is relatively harmless, PFMCH, especially, can permeate widely if not used under properly ventilated conditions and cross-contamination of environment-to-sample can occur.
Safe handling guidelines for the PFT chemical compound consist of the following:
Perform PFT chemical dilution and standards preparation procedures under a ventilated hood.
Avoid direct contact with PFT chemicals by wearing gloves.
Do not leave open PFT solutions in unventilated areas.
Make sure no vials with PFT are left in the oven during and after PFT analysis procedure.
Wear personal protective equipment including gloves and labcoat when working with PFT.
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All of the tracers and chemical used in the represent a risk to health.
Perfluoromethylcyclohexane is used as the perfluorocarbon tracer compound. This volatile compound is chemically inert and of reasonably low toxicity. Although it is relatively harmless, it can permeate widely if not used under properly ventilated conditions and cross-contamination of environment-to-sample can occur.
Safe handling guidelines for the PFT chemical compound consist of the following:
–Perform PFT chemical dilution and standards preparation procedures under a ventilated hood.
–Avoid direct contact with PFT chemicals by wearing gloves.
–Do not leave open PFT solutions in unventilated areas.
–Make sure no vials with PFT are left in the oven during and after PFT analysis procedure.
–Wear personal protective equipment including gloves and labcoat when working with PFT.
Health Hazards:
–Contact: irritant
–Inhalation: irritant
–Ingestion: irritant
Chemical Hazards:
–Incompatible substances: oxiding agents, strong acids, strong bases
–Emits toxic fumes under fire conditions
Safety
Chemical
PPE
Pollution Prevention
All chemicals should be collected and disposed of appropriately.
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Troubleshooting
Issue | Possible Causes | Solution |
Pump does not power on | No power to the power outlets in the pump housing | Contact a ship's ship’s electrician to reestablish power to the housing |
| Pump is broken
| Use the other pump. Consult the manual and an IODP ET to diagnose the problem, a fuse may have blown. |
Fluid cannot be primed (pulled) into the pump | Inlet lines from the reservoir are clogged | Inspect the lines and if suspect they are clogged, replace the lines and clean fittings. |
Pump is clogged | Consult the manual for cleaning procedures. | |
Fluid does not exit the lines | Valve closed | Open valve |
Pump clogged | Consult the manual for cleaning procedures. | |
Exit lines clogged | If pump is functional, the outlines may be clogged. Replace Replace the lines. | |
Pump does not run with Rigwatch command | Data cable not connected | Confirm data cable is connected to operational pump and Ethernet server |
| Network connection lost | Contact IODP IT support |
Equipment malfunction | Troubleshoot to determine which piece of equipment is malfunctioning. | |
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Technical and Reference Documents
The technical manuals for the components of the system are available through Cumulus at this link: http://mckinley.ship.iodp.tamu.edu:8080/ . The user does not need to log in to Cumulus to see these documents.
These documents include:
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