Method and system for separation of drilling/production fluids and drilled earthen solids
Patent 7373996 Issued on May 20, 2008. Estimated Expiration Date: 
November 13, 2026. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
November 13, 2026. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 3688781 3693733 3777405 3904109 Laundering of oil base mud cuttings Method and apparatus for treating drill cuttings at an onsite location Process and apparatus for recovering usable water and other materials from oil field mud/waste pits Method for drying oil well drill cuttings Apparatus for washing drill cuttings Drill cutting disposal system InventorsAssigneeApplicationNo. 11558969 filed on 11/13/2006US Classes:175/206, WITH ABOVE-GROUND MEANS FOR PREPARING OR SEPARATING DRILLING FLUID CONSTITUENTS175/207, WITH ABOVE-GROUND MEANS FOR HANDLING DRILLING FLUID OR CUTTING175/66, Treating spent or used fluid above ground210/787, Cyclonic, or centrifugal (e.g., whirling or helical motion or by vortex, etc.)210/360.1, Centrifugal extractor210/512.1, TANGENTIAL FLOW OR CENTRIFUGAL FLUID ACTION209/5, Deflocculation and flocculation209/233, SIFTING209/715, Fluidically induced, oppositely directed axial flows (e.g., reverse free-vortexes formed, cyclone, etc.)494/36, WITH MEANS FOR FILTERING494/53Including element having helical bladeExaminersPrimary: Chilcot, Richard E. Jr.Assistant: Smith, Matthew Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassE21B 41/00AbstractA method of separating drilling/production fluids from solid cuttings from a mixture received from down hole, without the use of shale shakers, de-sanders, or de-sanders, through the steps of flowing the mixture from the well bore into a flow line above the surface of a well; next, flowing the mixture into a single separation zone of a size capable of receiving the mixture directly from the flow line on a continuous basis; circulating or centrifuging the mixture to a desired RPM within the separation zone; providing a liquid permeable barrier surrounding the mixture as the mixture is centrifuged within the separation zone; collecting the liquid in a first retrieval zone after the liquid has penetrated permeable barrier; and collecting the solids that could not penetrate the permeable barrier in a second retrieval zone within the barrier. The flow into the separation zone may be at a rate of 50-2000 gallons per minute; while the permeable barrier is a screen with openings of a size within the range of 50 to 1500 microns. Also, the mixture is circulated at a rate of a range of 15 to 1200 RPM's in order to achieve separation to a suitable degree. The separation zone would include either a horizontal or vertical centrifuge apparatus.Other References
Field of SearchWITH ABOVE-GROUND MEANS FOR PREPARING OR SEPARATING DRILLING FLUID CONSTITUENTSWITH ABOVE-GROUND MEANS FOR HANDLING DRILLING FLUID OR CUTTING Treating spent or used fluid above ground Cyclonic, or centrifugal (e.g., whirling or helical motion or by vortex, etc.) Centrifugal extractor TANGENTIAL FLOW OR CENTRIFUGAL FLUID ACTION Deflocculation and flocculation SIFTING Fluidically induced, oppositely directed axial flows (e.g., reverse free-vortexes formed, cyclone, etc.) Including element having helical blade WITH MEANS FOR FILTERING | |
