# US 2014/0190905 A1 · Apparatus and method for separating solids from a solids laden drilling fluid > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190905 A1 - Document ID: US20140190905A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/233,123 - Filed: 2012-04-23 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-15 - Assignees: National Oilwell Varco, L.P. - Inventors: George Alexander Burnett - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190905A1 ## CPC - E21B 21/065: {Separating solids from drilling fluids} - B01D 33/03: with vibrating filter elements - B07B 1/46: Constructional details of screens in general; Cleaning or heating of screens - B01D 33/0376: {supported} - B01D 33/54: involving vibrations - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - 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) - B07B: SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS BY SIEVING, SCREENING, SIFTING OR BY USING GAS CURRENTS; SEPARATING BY OTHER DRY METHODS APPLICABLE TO BULK MATERIAL, e.g. LOOSE ARTICLES FIT TO BE HANDLED LIKE BULK MATERIAL (wet separating processes, sorting by processes using fluent material in the same way as liquid B03; combinations of dry separating apparatus with wet separating apparatus B03B; using liquids B03B, B03D; sorting by magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges or vortex apparatus for carrying out physical processes B04; hand sorting, postal sorting, sorting by switching or other devices actuated in response to detection or measurement of some feature of articles or samples of material B07C) ## Abstract An apparatus for separating solids from solids laden drilling fluid, the apparatus comprising a skid and a basket resiliently suspended thereto and a vibratory mechanism to vibrate the basket, the basket having at least one screen deck for receiving at least one screen, the basket having a feed end at which solids laden drilling fluid is introduced and a discharge end at which solids are discharged through a solids discharge opening, the apparatus further comprising a hood encompassing at least a discharge end of the basket and at least one extraction outlet arranged at the discharge end to remove fume laden air from the basket. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-15. (canceled) ### Claim 16 An apparatus for separating solids from solids laden drilling fluid, the apparatus comprising: a skid; a basket resiliently suspended to the skid, the basket having at least one screen deck for receiving at least one screen, the basket having a feed end at which solids laden drilling fluid is introduced and a discharge end at which solids are discharged through a solids discharge opening, a vibratory mechanism to vibrate the basket; a hood encompassing at least a discharge end of the basket; at least one extraction outlet arranged at the discharge end to remove fume laden air from the basket; a sump arranged beneath the basket the sump having a sump discharge opening; wherein the at least one replacement air opening is the sump discharge opening supplying replacement air to replace fume laden air removed through the at least one extraction outlet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the hood is a complete housing having at least one replacement air opening sized to facilitate control of flow of replacement air to replace fume laden air removed through the at least one extraction outlet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the replacement air opening is arranged underneath the at least one screen deck and at a feed end of the basket. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a solids removal apparatus for conveying solids away from the discharge end of the basket, wherein the at least one extraction outlet is arranged above the solids removal apparatus. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the solids removal apparatus comprises a ditch. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the at least one extraction outlet is arranged in a top of the hood, drawing fumes vertically through a duct extending from the at least one extraction outlet. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) An apparatus claimed in claim 16, wherein the hood extends over the entire basket to inhibit fumes escaping the shale shaker. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) An apparatus claimed in claim 16, wherein the hood comprises an opening about a base of the vibratory mechanism. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein a seal is arranged between the base of the vibratory mechanism and the hood. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the hood is fixed to the skid, allowing the basket (3) to vibrate relative thereto. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the basket comprises a scalping deck and two primary decks spaced vertically one above the other. ### Claim 27 (depends on 16) An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a ventilation system for drawing fume laden air through the at least one extraction outlet. ### Claim 28 A bank of shale shakers each shale shaker comprising a skid; a basket resiliently suspended to the skid;, the basket having at least one screen deck for receiving at least one screen, the basket having a feed end at which solids laden drilling fluid is introduced and a discharge end at which solids are discharged through a solids discharge opening; a vibratory mechanism to vibrate the basket; a hood encompassing at least a discharge end of the basket and at least one extraction outlet arranged at the discharge end to remove fume laden air from the basket; and a sump arranged beneath the basket the sump having a sump discharge opening; wherein the at least one replacement air opening is the sump discharge opening supplying replacement air to replace fume laden air removed through the at least one extraction outlet, each at least one extraction outlet linked by a duct with a ventilation system for drawing fume laden air from each basket of each shale shaker. ### Claim 29 A method of separating solids from solids laden drilling mud, comprising: using providing a shale shaker comprising: a skid; a basket resiliently suspended to the skid, the basket arranged over a sump, the basket having at least one screen deck having at least one screen, the basket having a feed end at which solids laden drilling fluid is introduced and a discharge end at which solids are discharged through a solids discharge opening; a vibratory mechanism to vibrate the basket a hood encompassing at least a discharge end of said basket and at least one extraction outlet arranged at said discharge end; drawing fume laden air from the basket through the at least one extraction outlet and replacement air drawn through said a sump outlet. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, further comprising vibrating the basket with the vibratory mechanism. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, further comprising introducing the solids laden drilling fluid into the feed end and discharging the solids through the solids discharge opening.