Apparatus and method for bead recovery

A method for integrating an apparatus for facilitating recovery of lubrication beads from an actively circulating drilling fluid into a solids control apparatus including a first shaker and a fine solids control apparatus;

• the apparatus including
• a hydrocyclone, with an upper end and a lower end, for separating actively circulating drilling fluid into a high density stream and a low density stream containing a major portion of the lubrication beads;
• a receiving pump, for pumping actively circulating drilling fluid to the hydrocyclone via a first hose coupled at an intake end to an intake tank of the first shaker and coupled at a output end to the receiving pump;
• and
• a discharge pump, for pumping the high density stream from the lower end of the hydrocyclone to the first shaker via a second hose coupled at a first end to the discharge pump and coupled at a second end to a screen of the first shaker;
• the receiving pump and the discharge pump each being self-priming;
• and
• a third hose for flowing the low density stream from the upper end of the hydrocyclone to the fine solids control apparatus;
• the method comprising:
• positioning an end of the first hose to receive the actively circulating drilling fluid;
• arranging an end of the second hose in communication with the first shaker's filter screen;
• and
• setting an end of the third hose to empty into the fine solids control apparatus.

A method for facilitating recovery of lubrication beads from an actively circulating drilling fluid by a shaker system, the method comprising

• first, receiving, with a self-priming receiving pump, actively circulating drilling fluid in a hydrocyclone directly from an intake tank of a first shaker of the shaker system;
• second, separating, by the hydrocyclone, the actively circulating drilling fluid into a high density stream and a low density stream containing a major portion of the lubrication beads;
• and
• third, flowing, with a self-priming discharge pump, the high density stream directly to a first mesh screen of the first shaker, and directing the low density stream to a second shaker of the shaker system.