# US 10,502,010 B2 · Vacuum assisted aerated drilling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,010 B2 - Document ID: US10502010B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/457,228 - Filed: 2017-03-13 - Published: 2018-09-13 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-13 - Applicants: Wen J Whan - Inventors: Wen J Whan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502010B2 ## CPC - E21B 21/065: {Separating solids from drilling fluids} - B01D 21/265: {by using a vortex inducer or vortex guide, e.g. coil (B01D21/0054 takes precedence)} - 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 A system and methods of using air compressors to create a jet vacuum to accelerate the drilling fluid circulation, which is located on the surface, or down the hole through passages along the well casings or drilling pipes. The jet vacuum is applied to help suck up the drilling fluids with cuttings. They are used in addition to the pumps and boosters to push and circulate the drilling mud or aerated-compound fluid. The invention accelerates the drilling fluid circulation and reduces the number of pumps and boosters. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vacuum-assisted aerated drilling system, comprising: a casing, used for housing the borehole; a pump, used for pumping a drilling fluid into a drilling string and out of a drilling bit near a bottom of the borehole; at least one air compressor, used for creating a jet vacuum effect along the middle of drilling-fluid pathway to suck the drilling fluid pumped out of the drilling bit near the bottom of the borehole from a head of the borehole: and a circulation outlet pipe, wherein the circulation outlet pipe is placed horizontally or tilted upward at the head of the borehole, wherein the at least one air compressor includes a first air compressor, used for ejecting air into the circulation outlet pipe, so as to create a jet vacuum effect to suck the drilling fluid out of the drilling bit together with cuttings produced by the drilling bit into the circulation outlet pipe. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vacuum-assisted aerated drilling system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a separator, wherein the separator is used to receive the sucked drilling fluid together with the cuttings and separate the cuttings from the drilling fluid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vacuum-assisted aerated drilling system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a curved, spiral or straight separation pipe, wherein the drilling fluid together with the cuttings are drawn into the separator through the curved, spiral or straight separation pipe. ### Claim 4 The vacuum-assisted aerated drilling system as claimed in claim further comprising a plurality of separators, wherein the plurality of separators is used to receive the sucked drilling fluid together with the cuttings and separate the cuttings from the drilling fluid; and the plurality of separators is placed at different distances from the first air compressor, so as to collect the cuttings according to their weights and particle sizes. ### Claim 5 A vacuum assisted aerated drilling system, comprising: a casing, used for housing the borehole; a pump, used for pumping a drilling fluid into a drilling string and out of a drilling bit near a bottom of the borehole; and at least one air compressor, used for creating a jet vacuum effect along the middle of drilling-fluid pathway and/or at earth surface to suck the drilling fluid pumped out of the drilling bit near the bottom of the borehole from a head of the borehole, wherein the at least one air compressor includes a second air compressor, used for pushing a high pressured air into a passage that is extended firstly downward along the casing and then reverted in 180 degrees upward, so as to create a jet vacuum effect to suck the drilling fluid out of the drilling bit together with cuttings produced by the drilling bit upward. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vacuum-assisted aerated drilling system as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a separator, wherein the separator is used to receive the sucked drilling fluid together with the cuttings and separate the cuttings from the drilling fluid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vacuum-assisted aerated drilling system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a curved, spiral, or straight separation pipe, wherein the drilling fluid together with the cuttings are drawn into the separator through the curved or straight connecting pipe. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The vacuum-assisted aerated drilling system as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a plurality of separators, wherein the plurality of separators is used to receive the sucked drilling fluid together with the cuttings and separate the cuttings from the drilling fluid; and the plurality of separators is placed at different distances from the second air compressor, so as to collect the cuttings according to their weights and particle sizes.