BACKGROUND

Wells may be drilled at various depths to access and produce oil, gas, minerals, and other naturally-occurring deposits from subterranean geological formations. The drilling of a well is typically accomplished with a drill bit that is rotated within the well to advance the well by removing topsoil, sand, clay, limestone, calcites, dolomites, or other materials. The drill bit is typically attached to a drill string that may be rotated to drive the drill bit and within which drilling fluid, referred to as “drilling mud” or “mud”, may be delivered downhole. The drilling mud is used to cool and lubricate the drill bit and downhole equipment and is also used to transport any rock fragments or other cuttings to the surface of the well.

It is often desired to collect a representative sample of formation or reservoir fluids (e.g., hydrocarbons) to further evaluate drilling operations and production potential, or to detect the presence of certain gases or other materials in the formation that may affect well performance. For example, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a poisonous, corrosive, and flammable gas can occur in formation fluids, and its presence in the wellbore in significant concentrations may result in damage to wellbore components or dangerous conditions for well operators at the surface. However, H2S concentration in formation fluids is often underestimated with current measurement techniques, for example, due to losses via absorption/adsorption on tool surfaces and/or during sample transfers.

