# US 11,906,395 B2 · Shaker vibration and downhole cuttings measurement analysis and processing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,906,395 B2 - Document ID: US11906395B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/961,890 - Filed: 2019-02-12 - Published: 2020-11-19 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-13 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: Prashant Shekhar; Abhijit Kulkarni; Gillies Alexander MacDonald - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11906395B2 ## CPC - E21B 44/00: Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions - G01M 7/025: {Measuring arrangements} - B01D 33/0346: {with flat filtering elements} - B01D 33/804: {integrally combined with devices for controlling the filtration} - E21B 21/06: Arrangements for treating drilling fluids outside the borehole - E21B 21/065: {Separating solids from drilling fluids} - G01L 1/22: using resistance strain gauges - G01N 15/06: Investigating concentration of particle suspensions (by weighing G01N5/00; investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions G01N15/04; investigating individual particles G01N15/10) - G01P 3/00: Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds (G01P5/00 - G01P11/00 take precedence; {direction and speed indication G01P13/045}; counting mechanisms G06M) - G01P 15/18: in two or more dimensions - B01D 2201/54: Computerised or programmable systems - E21B 49/005: {Testing the nature of borehole walls or the formation by using drilling mud or cutting data} - G01N 15/075: by optical means - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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) - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G}) ## Abstract A method includes performing a downhole operation in a borehole; capturing, during the downhole operation, downhole particles and drilling mud at the surface from the borehole into a screen of at least one shaker; shaking the screen to emit vibrations to separate the downhole particles from the drilling mud; defining a vibration limit for a normal operating condition of the at least one shaker; setting a vibration fault threshold based on the vibration limit for the normal operating condition; monitoring, using at least one sensor, the vibrations over time; and determining there is a fault condition for the shaker, in response to the vibrations exceeding the vibration fault threshold. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: performing a downhole operation in a borehole; capturing, during the downhole operation, downhole particles and drilling mud at the surface from the borehole into a screen of at least one shaker; shaking the screen to emit vibrations to separate the downhole particles from the drilling mud; defining a vibration limit for a normal operating condition of the at least one shaker; setting a vibration fault threshold based on the vibration limit for the normal operating condition; monitoring, using at least one sensor, the vibrations over time; monitoring number of revolutions per unit of time of a motor of the at least one shaker causing the shaking; determining there is a fault condition for the at least one shaker, in response to the vibrations exceeding the vibration fault threshold; and in response to determining the number of revolutions per unit of time exceed a revolution threshold and in response to the vibrations exceeding the vibration fault threshold, determining that the fault condition comprises a fault in the motor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: capturing a trend of vibrations over time for the at least one shaker, wherein defining the vibration limit is based on the trend of vibrations over time for the at least one shaker. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: setting a vibration maintenance threshold based on the vibration limit for the normal operating condition; and triggering an alarm for predictive maintenance of the at least one shaker, in response to the vibrations exceeding the vibration maintenance threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the vibrations comprises monitoring the vibrations in at least one of an X direction, a Y direction, and a Z direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the fault condition comprises at least one of damaged rubber mounts on the at least one shaker, an unbalanced motor of the at least one shaker, the screen being damaged, a damaged spring of the at least one shaker, and improper installation of the screen. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a strain gauge and a multi-axis accelerometer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to determining that the number of revolutions per unit of time do not exceed the revolution threshold and in response to the vibrations exceeding the vibration fault threshold, determining that the fault condition comprises a mechanical fault of the at least one shaker and the screen of the at least one shaker and unrelated to the motor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a measured volume of the downhole particles on the screen at a time corresponding to when the vibrations are monitored; and in response to determining a difference between the measured volume and a projected volume of anticipated downhole particles exceeds a volume error threshold and in response to the vibrations not exceeding the vibration fault threshold, determining that a downhole condition occurred based on the measured volume. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein determining the measured volume comprises: emitting coherent electromagnetic radiation onto the downhole particles in the screen of the at least one shaker; and determining the measured volume of the downhole particles based on the coherent electromagnetic radiation emitted into the downhole particles. ### Claim 10 A method comprising: performing a downhole operation in a borehole; capturing, during the downhole operation, downhole particles and drilling mud at the surface from the borehole into a screen of at least one shaker; shaking the screen to emit vibrations to separate the downhole particles from the drilling mud; defining a vibration limit for a normal operating condition of the at least one shaker; setting a vibration fault threshold based on the vibration limit for the normal operating condition; monitoring, using at least one sensor, the vibrations over time; in response to the vibrations exceeding the vibration fault threshold, determining there is a fault condition for the at least one shaker; determining a measured volume of the downhole particles on the screen at a time corresponding to when the vibrations are monitored; in response to determining a difference between the measured volume and a projected volume of anticipated downhole particles exceeds a volume error threshold and in response to the vibrations not exceeding the vibration fault threshold, outputting, determining that a downhole condition occurring based on the measured volume; monitoring number of revolutions per unit of time of a motor of the at least one shaker causing the shaking; and in response to determining the number of revolutions per unit of time exceed a revolution threshold and in response to the vibrations exceeding the vibration fault threshold, determining that the fault condition comprises a fault in the motor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: triggering an alarm to indicate the fault condition and an alarm to indicate that the measured volume is invalid, in response to the vibrations exceeding the vibration fault threshold and in response to determining the difference between the measured volume and the projected volume of anticipated downhole particles exceeds the volume error threshold. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: capturing a trend of vibrations over time for the at least one shaker, wherein defining the vibration limit is based on the trend of vibrations over time for the at least one shaker. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: setting a vibration maintenance threshold based on the vibration limit for the normal operating condition; and triggering an alarm for predictive maintenance of the at least one shaker, in response to the vibrations exceeding the vibration maintenance threshold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: in response to determining that the number of revolutions per unit of time do not exceed the revolution threshold and in response to the vibrations exceeding the vibration fault threshold, determining that the fault condition comprises a mechanical fault of the at least one shaker and the screen of the at least one shaker and unrelated to the motor. ### Claim 15 A system comprising: a shaker screen onto which downhole particles and fluid from a borehole are to be placed, the downhole particles a product of a downhole operation; at least one shaker to vibrate the shaker screen to separate the downhole particles from the fluid; at least one sensor on the at least one shaker to monitor vibrations of the at least one shaker over time, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a strain gauge and a multi-axis accelerometer; a device to, define a vibration limit for a normal operating condition of the at least one shaker; set a vibration fault threshold based on the vibration limit for the normal operating condition; set a vibration maintenance threshold based on the vibration limit for the normal operating condition; trigger an alarm for predictive maintenance of the at least one shaker, in response to the vibrations exceeding the vibration maintenance threshold; and determine there is a fault condition for the at least one shaker, in response to the vibrations exceeding the vibration fault threshold. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, further comprising: a coherent electromagnetic radiation emitter to emit coherent electromagnetic radiation onto the downhole particles on the shaker screen; and a camera to capture images of the coherent electromagnetic radiation being emitted onto the downhole particles, wherein the device is to, determine a measured volume of the downhole particles on the shaker screen based on the images of the coherent electromagnetic radiation; and in response to determining a difference between the measured volume and a projected volume of anticipated downhole particles exceeds a volume error threshold and in response to the vibrations not exceeding the vibration fault threshold, determine that a downhole condition is occurring based on the measured volume. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the device is to, monitor number of revolutions per unit of time of a motor of the at least one shaker causing the vibrating; and in response to determining the number of revolutions per unit of time exceed a revolution threshold and in response to the vibrations exceeding the vibration fault threshold, determine that the fault condition comprises a fault in the motor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the device is to, in response to determining that the number of revolutions per unit of time do not exceed the revolution threshold and in response to the vibrations exceeding the vibration fault threshold, determine that the fault condition comprises a mechanical fault of the at least one shaker and the shaker screen and unrelated to the motor.