Milling particles in drilling fluid
AssigneeEcutec Barcelona S.L.
InventorThomas Philip Barthelmess
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This disclosure is drawn to systems, devices, apparatuses, and/or methods, related to milling particles in drilling fluid. Specifically, the disclosed systems, devices, apparatuses, and/or methods relate to milling particles in drilling fluid using multiple milling techniques. Some example apparatuses may include a first mill to grind particles from the original diameter to a first reduced diameter, and a second mill to grind the particles from the first reduced diameter to a second reduced diameter, where the second reduced diameter is less than the first reduced diameter.
Claims20
An apparatus for milling particles having an original diameter, the apparatus comprising:
- a first mill adapted to grind particles from the original diameter to a first reduced diameter;
- and
- a second mill adapted to receive the particles from the first mill and further adapted to grind the particles from the first reduced diameter to a second reduced diameter, wherein the second reduced diameter is less than the first reduced diameter.
An apparatus for milling particles, each of the respective particles having an original diameter, the apparatus comprising:
- a first mill portion adapted to receive the particles;
- a first liner removably coupled to an interior surface of the first mill portion;
- a plurality of impact tools coupled to a shaft within the first mill portion, each of the impact tools being independently, removably coupled to the shaft within the first mill portion, the plurality of impact tools adapted to impact the particles and reduce the diameter of the particles from the original diameter to a first reduced diameter;
- a second mill portion adapted to receive the particles having the first reduced diameter from the first mill portion;
- a second liner removably coupled to an interior surface of the second mill portion;
- a plurality of grinding media adapted to freely move within the second mill portion;
- and
- a plurality of rotation tools coupled to a shaft within the second mill portion, each of the rotation tools being independently, removably coupled to the shaft within the second mill portion, the plurality of rotation tools adapted to mix the plurality of grinding media and the particles having the first reduced diameter and reduce the diameter of the particles having the first reduced diameter from the first reduced diameter to a second reduced diameter.
A method of milling a plurality of particles in a drilling fluid, the method comprising:
- impact grinding the particles in a first chamber such that a diameter of each of the plurality of particles is reduced;
- and
- friction grinding the particles in a second chamber such that the diameter of each of the plurality of particles is further reduced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.