# US 10,246,956 B2 · System and method for recycling liquid separated from wellbore cuttings > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,956 B2 - Document ID: US10246956B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/737,309 - Filed: 2016-06-29 - Published: 2018-07-19 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-29 - Applicants: M-I L.L.C.; Mantovani & Vicentini S.R.L. - Inventors: Gary Fout; Leonardo Renzo Vicentini - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246956B2 ## CPC - E21B 21/066: {with further treatment of the solids, e.g. for disposal} - B01D 21/01: using flocculating agents (for purifying water C02F1/52; for liquid radioactive waste G21F9/10) - B01D 21/262: {by using a centrifuge} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract Systems and methods recycle liquid(s) by introducing at least a portion of a first liquid from a first centrifuge into a tank. At least a portion of a second liquid is introduced from a second centrifuge into the tank. The first liquid and the second liquid are mixed together in the tank to produce a mixed liquid. At least a portion of the mixed liquid is introduced from the tank into the second centrifuge. Particles from the mixed liquid are separated using the second centrifuge, thereby producing the at least a portion of the second liquid that is introduced from the second centrifuge into the tank. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: partitioning an internal volume of a tank into a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, wherein the third portion is provided between the first and second portions; introducing at least a first portion of a first liquid from a first centrifuge into the first portion of the internal volume of the tank; introducing at least a first portion of a second liquid from a second centrifuge into the second portion of the internal volume of the tank; directing the first portion of the first liquid and the first portion of the second liquid to flow into the third portion of the internal volume of the tank, wherein a surface, oriented at an angle with respect to a central longitudinal axis through the tank, deflects the first portion of the first liquid to flow into the third portion of the internal volume and the angle is from about 10 degrees to about 80 degrees; mixing the first portion of the first liquid and the first portion of the second liquid together in the third portion of the internal volume of the tank to produce a mixed liquid; introducing at least a first portion of the mixed liquid from the tank into the second centrifuge; and separating a plurality of particles from the first portion of the mixed liquid using the second centrifuge, thereby producing at least a second portion of the second liquid that is introduced from the second centrifuge into the tank. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: introducing at least a second portion of the mixed liquid from the tank into the first centrifuge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: separating a third liquid from a plurality of cuttings from a wellbore using the first centrifuge, wherein the third liquid makes up at least a portion of the first liquid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the third liquid is separated from the plurality of cuttings in a separation section of the first centrifuge, and further wherein the second portion of the mixed liquid from the tank is introduced into a launder section of the first centrifuge. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the third liquid and the second portion of the mixed liquid are mixed together in the launder section of the first centrifuge to produce a second portion of the first liquid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: introducing at least a third portion of the second liquid from the second centrifuge into a wellbore. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first centrifuge comprises a vertical centrifugal dryer, and wherein the second centrifuge comprises a horizontal centrifugal decanter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the particles in the mixed liquid make up from about 10 percent volume to about 25 percent volume of the mixed liquid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the particles have an average cross-sectional length from about 1 micrometer to about 100 micrometers. ### Claim 10 A method for recycling a liquid, comprising: partitioning an internal volume of a tank into a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, wherein the third portion is provided between the first and second portions introducing at least a first portion of a first liquid from a first centrifuge into the first portion of the internal volume of the tank; introducing at least a first portion of a second liquid from a second centrifuge into the first centrifuge; introducing at least a second portion of the second liquid from the second centrifuge into the second portion of the internal volume of the tank, directing the second portion of the second liquid to flow into the third portion of the internal volume of the tank and deflecting the first portion of the first liquid at an angle with respect to a central longitudinal axis through the tank to flow into the third portion of the internal volume of the tank, wherein the angle is from about 10 degrees to about 80 degrees; mixing the first portion of the first liquid and the second portion of the second liquid together in the third portion of the internal volume of the tank to produce a mixed liquid; introducing at least a first portion of the mixed liquid from the tank into the second centrifuge; and separating a first plurality of particles from the first portion of the mixed liquid using the second centrifuge, thereby producing at least a third portion of the second liquid that is introduced from the second centrifuge into the first centrifuge, the at least second portion of the second liquid that is introduced from the second centrifuge into the tank, or both. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the at least third portion of the second liquid is produced by the separating, and further wherein the at least third portion of the second liquid, that is introduced from the second centrifuge into the first centrifuge, is introduced into the tank prior to being introduced into the first centrifuge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: separating a plurality of particles from an initial liquid using the first centrifuge to produce the first liquid; wherein the first liquid comprises a second plurality of particles. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the at least third portion of the second liquid is produced by the separating; and wherein the at least third portion of the second liquid from the second centrifuge that is introduced into the first centrifuge is mixed with the second plurality of particles to flush the second plurality of particles out of the first centrifuge. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the second plurality of particles have an average cross-sectional length from about 1 micrometer to about 100 micrometers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the second plurality of particles in the first liquid make up greater than or equal to about 25 percent volume of the first liquid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first plurality of particles in the mixed liquid make up from about 10 percent volume to about 25 percent volume of the mixed liquid. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second centrifuges both comprise horizontal centrifugal decanters. ### Claim 18 A system for recycling a liquid, comprising: a first centrifuge; a second centrifuge; and a tank comprising: a first partition provided in an internal volume of the tank; at least one second partition provided in the internal volume of the tank such that the internal volume of the tank is partitioned into a first portion, an opposite second portion and a third portion between the first and second portions; a first inlet adjacent to the first portion of the internal volume and configured to receive a first liquid from the first centrifuge; a second inlet adjacent to the second portion of the internal volume and configured to receive at least a first portion of a second liquid from the second centrifuge; a side wall of the tank or a portion of the first partition, oriented at an angle with respect to a central longitudinal axis through the tank, configured for deflecting or directing the first liquid received from the first centrifuge to flow into the third portion of the internal volume of the tank, wherein the first liquid and the first portion of the second liquid mix together in the third portion of the internal volume of the tank to produce a mixed liquid and the angle is from about 10 degrees to about 80 degrees; and a first outlet configured to output at least a first portion of the mixed liquid to the second centrifuge, wherein the second centrifuge is configured to separate a plurality of particles from the first portion of the mixed liquid, thereby producing a second portion of the second liquid that is introduced from the second centrifuge into the tank. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the tank further comprises a second outlet configured to output at least a second portion of the mixed liquid to the first centrifuge.