Continuous recirculation for separation of fluids produced during drill out and flow back

A system comprising:

• a hopper having an interior configured to contain a first mixture comprising sand and water, wherein the hopper has a hopper bottom outlet positioned on a bottom portion of the hopper;
• a recirculation chamber having an interior configured to contain a second mixture comprising sand and water and at least one outlet positioned on a bottom portion of the recirculation chamber;
• a diffuser having a diffuser inlet fluidly coupled the hopper bottom outlet of the hopper or to a first outlet of the at least one outlet of the recirculation chamber, wherein the diffuser has a diffuser outlet;
• and
• a shaker device positioned at least partially below the diffuser and at least partially above the hopper.

A process comprising:

• continuously recirculating sand and water in a first continuous recirculation loop, wherein the first continuous recirculation loop comprises:
• i) a first fluid path formed between a hopper and a recirculation chamber;
• ii) a second fluid path formed between the hopper and a diffuser or between the recirculation chamber and the diffuser;
• iv) a third fluid path formed between the diffuser and a shaker device;
• and
• v) a fourth fluid path formed between the shaker device and the hopper;
• wherein continuously recirculating sand and water in the first continuous recirculation loop comprises:
• flowing a first portion of a first mixture contained in the hopper or a first portion of a second mixture contained in the recirculation chamber through the second fluid path;
• flowing a second portion of the first mixture in the first fluid path;
• flowing the first portion of the first mixture or the first portion of the second mixture in the third fluid path;
• and
• flowing a shaker recycle liquid in the fourth fluid path.