US 2010/0147593 A1 · Subsea Solids Processing Apparatuses and Methods

Abstract

In a dual-gradient drilling apparatus, a subsea solids processing unit includes a housing, a solids processing mechanism disposed in the housing between a drilling mud inlet and a drilling mud outlet, and a flushing mechanism configured to flush the solids processing mechanism with a flushing fluid. A subsea solids processing unit may be controlled by rotating the solids processing mechanism in a forward direction and increasing a drive torque when a measured speed of the solids processing mechanism is below a desired rotation speed. The desired rotation speed may be decreased when a measured torque exceeds a selected maximum and a rotation direction of the solids processing mechanism may be reversed when the measured speed falls below a selected minimum.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A subsea solids processing unit, comprising:

a housing having a drilling mud inlet and a drilling mud outlet;
a solids processing mechanism disposed in the housing between the drilling mud inlet and the drilling mud outlet, the solids processing mechanism comprising,
a first shaft comprising a first plurality of cutters and configured to rotate about a first axis in a first direction, and
a second shaft comprising a second plurality of cutters and configured to rotate about a second axis in a second direction, wherein the first plurality of cutters are configured to intermesh with the second plurality of cutters;
and
a flushing mechanism configured to flush the solids processing mechanism with a flushing fluid.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Subsea Solids Processing Apparatuses and Methods

Life of this patent

Subsea Solids Processing Apparatuses and Methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20