Drilling fluid reclaimer
AssigneeThe Charles Machine Works, Inc.
InventorsCody L. Sewell, Brant Douglas Kukuk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a drilling fluid reclaimer. The reclaimer has at least one adjustable screen assembly for providing a leveling filter for reclaimed drill fluid. Used drill fluid is placed at the screen assembly at the front the of the screen assembly. The at least one screen is vibrated to separate large particulate matter from liquid drilling fluid. A second screen is provided for additional filtering. Large particulate matter is expelled by a chute at the back of the screen assembly. Drilling fluid passing through the screen is “reclaimed” for use with a drilling system.
Claims19
A mud reclaimer comprising:
- an airlock chamber maintained at below ambient pressure and having an inlet port and a first exit port that define endpoints of a material flowpath, the airlock chamber comprising:
- an impeller having a plurality of rotatable arms which rotate along a path comprising a portion of the material flowpath;
- a centrifugal separator for separating a material stream into a heavy material stream and a light material stream;
- a dewatering system comprising:
- a vibratory screen assembly situated outside the airlock chamber, exposed to ambient conditions and adapted to receive material that exits the chamber at the first exit port and to receive the heavy material stream from the centrifugal separator;
- and
- a wheeled support frame for supporting the airlock chamber, the centrifugal separator, and the dewatering system.
A fluid processing system, comprising:
- a clean fluid tank;
- a solid material excavation system;
- a pump configured to provide clean fluid from the clean fluid tank to the solid material excavation system;
- a vacuum pump;
- a conduit in communication with the vacuum pump, wherein the conduit is disposed proximate the solid material excavation system;
- a mud reclaimer in communication with the conduit, comprising:
- an airlock chamber, comprising:
- an inlet in communication with the conduit;
- an internally-disposed rotating impeller;
- a motor for rotating the impeller;
- and
- a first outlet;
- in which the impeller is disposed between the inlet and the first outlet;
- at least one centrifugal cyclone separator;
- a vibratory screen to receive material from the first outlet of the airlock chamber and from the at least one centrifugal cyclone separator, the vibratory screen configured to separate the material into a liquid-rich stream and a solid-rich stream;
- a tank in which the liquid-rich stream is received;
- and
- a solid discharge location at which a portion of the solid-rich stream is received;
- and
- a movable frame on which the mud reclaimer is supported.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.