# US 2020/0399967 A1 · Drilling mud screen system and methods thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0399967 A1 - Document ID: US20200399967A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/010,678 - Filed: 2020-09-02 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-28 - Assignees: Black Diamond Oilfield Rentals LLC - Applicants: Black Diamond Oilfield Rentals LLC - Inventors: Christopher M. Biggerstaff; Don A. Comeaux; Clayton A. Romero; Charles G. Kibbe; Jeremy P. Hebert - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200399967A1 ## CPC - E21B 21/08: Controlling or monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid, e.g. automatic filling of boreholes, automatic control of bottom pressure (valve arrangements therefor E21B21/10) - E21B 19/16: Connecting or disconnecting pipe couplings or joints (E21B19/20 takes precedence) - E21B 21/065: {Separating solids from drilling fluids} - E21B 21/10: Valve arrangements in drilling-fluid circulation systems - E21B 21/12: using drilling pipes with plural fluid passages, e.g. closed circulation systems - E21B 21/106: {Valve arrangements outside the borehole, e.g. kelly valves (valves specifically for maintaining circulation of drilling fluid while connecting or disconnecting tubular joints E21B21/019)} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A drilling mud screen comprising: a body having a first end and a second end and a centerline, wherein the first end and/or the second end of the body has a means to engage a drilling mud screen puller/installer tool; a drilling mud inlet at the first end of the body; a filter having a first end, a second end, and openings, wherein the filter is fluidly connected to the second end of the body via a first connection and/or an optional first end retaining ring; a drilling mud outlet at the openings of the filter; and a second end cap fluidly connected at the second end of the filter via a second connection, wherein the filter has an optional retaining ring disposed between the first connection and the second connection is disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-82. (canceled) ### Claim 83 A drilling mud screen comprising: (a) a body having a first end and a second end and a centerline, wherein the first end and/or the second end of the body has a means to engage a drilling mud screen puller/installer tool; (b) a drilling mud inlet at the first end of the body; (c) a filter having a first end, a second end, and openings, wherein the filter is fluidly connected to the second end of the body via a first connection and/or an optional first end retaining ring; (d) a drilling mud outlet at the openings of the filter; and (e) a second end cap fluidly connected at the second end of the filter via a second connection, wherein the filter has an optional retaining ring disposed between the first connection and the second connection. ### Claim 84 (depends on 83) The drilling mud screen of claim 83, wherein the body and/or filter is constructed from alloy steel, tool steel, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 85 (depends on 83) The drilling mud screen of claim 83, wherein the body and/or filter is constructed from AISI 4130/75k or equivalent material, AISI 4145 or equivalent, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 86 (depends on 83) The drilling mud screen of claim 83, wherein the body and/or filter has a hardened coating. ### Claim 87 (depends on 83) The drilling mud screen of claim 83, wherein the body and/or filter has a Carbide coating with about 6% Cobalt binder or equivalent. ### Claim 88 (depends on 83) The drilling mud screen of claim 83, wherein the filter comprises a plurality of rods having a first end and a second end, wherein the rods are spaced a distance apart to form the openings in the filter. ### Claim 89 (depends on 88) The drilling mud screen of claim 88, wherein the rods are tapered from first end to the second end. ### Claim 90 (depends on 83) The drilling mud screen of claim 83, wherein the filter comprises a formed sheet having drilled holes or slots spaced a distance apart to form the openings in the filter. ### Claim 91 (depends on 90) The drilling mud screen of claim 90, wherein the drilled holes or slots are drilled in offset rows or straight rows from the first end to the second end. ### Claim 92 (depends on 83) The drilling mud screen of claim 83, wherein the filter is tapered from the first end to the second end. ### Claim 93 (depends on 83) The drilling mud screen of claim 83, wherein the second end cap is a flat plate or a flat plate with holes or slots. ### Claim 94 (depends on 83) The drilling mud screen of claim 83, wherein the second end cap is an inverted cone or an inverted cone with holes or slots. ### Claim 95 (depends on 83) The drilling mud screen of claim 83, wherein the centerline of the body and an inner surface of the second end cap forms a cap angle, wherein the cap angle is from about 30-degrees to about 60-degrees. ### Claim 96 (depends on 83) The drilling mud screen of claim 83, wherein the centerline of the body and an inner surface of the second end cap forms a cap angle, wherein the cap angle is from about 35-degrees to about 45-degrees. ### Claim 97 (depends on 83) The drilling mud screen of claim 83, wherein the optional first end retaining ring and/or the optional retaining ring is/are modified to reduce inside surface entry and exit angles of the drilling mud screen. ### Claim 98 (depends on 97) The drilling mud screen of claim 97, wherein the entry and exit angles are from about 10 degrees to about 90-degrees. ### Claim 99 (depends on 98) The drilling mud screen of claim 98, wherein the entry and exit angles are from about 10-degrees to about 50-degrees. ### Claim 100 (depends on 99) The drilling mud screen of claim 99, wherein the entry and exit angles are about 30-degrees. ### Claim 101 (depends on 83) The drilling mud screen of claim 83, wherein the optional first end retaining ring and/or the optional retaining ring is constructed of alloy steel, stainless steel, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 102 (depends on 83) The drilling mud screen of claim 83, wherein the optional first end retaining ring and/or the optional retaining ring is constructed from AISI 4145 or equivalent, stainless steel, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 103 (depends on 83) The drilling mud screen of claim 83, wherein the end cap is constructed of alloy steel, stainless steel, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 104 (depends on 83) The drilling mud screen of claim 83, wherein the end cap has a hardened coating. ### Claim 105 (depends on 83) The drilling mud screen of claim 83, wherein the end cap has a Carbide coating with about 6% Cobalt binder or equivalent material. ### Claim 106 (depends on 83) The drilling mud screen of claim 83, wherein the filter has a first section, a second section and a third section, and wherein the first section is about 20-25% longer than the second section and/or the third section. ### Claim 107 A transducer subassembly comprising: (a) a body having a first end, a second end and a first centerline from the first end to the second end; (b) a transducer access port having a second centerline forming a transducer angle with the first centerline and extending to the first centerline, wherein the transducer access port is offset from the first end and wherein the transducer angle is from about 20-degrees to about 120-degrees; (c) a drilling mud inlet at the first end of the transducer body; (d) a drilling mud outlet at the second end of the transducer body; and (e) a transducer, disposed within the transducer access port to close and seal the transducer access port. ### Claim 108 (depends on 107) The transducer subassembly of claim 107, wherein the drilling mud inlet of the transducer subassembly is fluidly connected to an outlet of a drilling mud pump. ### Claim 109 (depends on 107) The transducer subassembly of claim 107, wherein the drilling mud outlet of the transducer subassembly is fluidly connected to a drilling mud inlet of a drilling mud screen or a drilling mud screen system. ### Claim 110 (depends on 107) The transducer subassembly of claim 107, wherein the transducer is a displacement transducer, a flow rate transducer, a pressure transducer, a temperature transducer or a combination thereof. ### Claim 111 (depends on 107) The transducer subassembly of claim 107, wherein the transducer angle is about 90-degrees. ### Claim 112 (depends on 107) The transducer subassembly of claim 107, wherein the transducer angle is about 45-degrees. ### Claim 113 (depends on 107) The transducer subassembly of claim 107, wherein the body is constructed from AISI 4130 or equivalent, alloy steel, tool steel, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 114 (depends on 107) A method of installing a transducer subassembly comprising the steps of: (a) providing the first transducer subassembly of claim 107; (b) stopping a drilling mud pump; (c) fluidly connecting the first transducer subassembly, having a first transducer, in line with and downstream of the drilling mud pump; and (d) operating the drilling mud pump to produce flow of drilling mud through the transducer subassembly. ### Claim 115 (depends on 114) The method of claim 114, wherein step (c) further comprises fluidly connecting a drilling mud screen or a drilling mud screen system in line with and immediately downstream of the first transducer subassembly. ### Claim 116 (depends on 115) The method of claim 115 further comprising step (f) monitoring the first transducer of the first transducer subassembly for property information immediately upstream of the drilling mud screen or the drilling mud screen system and step (g) using the property information to determine a status of the drilling mud screen or the drilling mud screen system. ### Claim 117 (depends on 115) The method of claim 115 wherein step (c) comprises fluidly connecting the first transducer subassembly, having a first transducer, in line with and downstream of the drilling mud pump and fluidly connecting a drilling mud screen or a drilling mud screen system in line with and immediately downstream of the first transducer subassembly, and fluidly connecting a gate valve in line with and immediately downstream of the drilling mud screen system, fluidly connecting a second transducer assembly, having a low torque plug valve, in line with and immediately downstream of the gate valve and wherein step (d) comprises operating the drilling mud pump to produce flow of drilling mud through the first transducer subassembly, the drilling mud screen or the drilling mud screen system, the gate valve and the second transducer subassembly. ### Claim 118 (depends on 117) The method of claim 117 further comprising step (e) stopping the drilling mud pump, step (f) closing the gate valve to isolate the drilling mud screen or the drilling mud screen system, and step (g) pumping cement through the low torque plug valve of the second transducer subassembly. ### Claim 119 (depends on 117) The method of claim 117 further comprising step (e) stopping the drilling mud pump, step (f) closing the gate valve to isolate the drilling mud screen or the drilling mud screen system, and step (g) pumping cement through the low torque plug valve of the second transducer subassembly and one or more of a vibrator hose, a stand pipe, a top drive and a case running tool (CRT).