Drilling mud dehydration system

Apparatus for dehydrating a slurry of substantially water based drilling fluid and solids comprising drill cuttings, said apparatus comprising:

• an elongated generally cylindrical drum defining a combustion chamber;
• means for rotating said drum generally about its longitudinal central axis;
• an outer housing disposed around said drum and defining with said drum, an evaporation chamber;
• means for burning a fuel in said combustion chamber to generate relatively large quantities of gaseous combustion products and heated gases for heating said drum;
• means for discharging said slurry against a cylindrical sidewall of said drum for exposing said slurry to the heat generated by said combustion products for dehydrating the solids of said slurry;
• first exhaust flue means for conducting a flow of vapor generated from dehydrating said slurry out of said evaporation chamber;
• second exhaust flue means for conducting said combustion products out of said combustion chamber;
• and
• an exhaust stack for mixing said combustion products and said vapors prior to discharge from said apparatus.

Apparatus for dehydrating a slurry of substantially water based drilling fluid and solids comprising drill cuttings, said apparatus comprising:

• an elongated generally cylindrical drum and means for rotating said drum generally about its longitudinal central axis;
• an outer housing disposed around said drum;
• means for burning a fuel in a chamber defined at least in part by said drum to generate relatively large quantities of gaseous combustion products and heated gases for heating said drum;
• means for discharging said slurry against a cylindrical sidewall of said drum for exposing said slurry to the heat generated by said combustion products for dehydrating the solids of said slurry;
• first exhaust flue means for conducting a flow of vapor generated from dehydrating said slurry away from said apparatus;
• and
• second exhaust flue means for carrying said combustion products out of said apparatus and disposed in relation to said first flue means so as to mix the flow of vapor with the flow of combustion products.

Apparatus for dehydrating a slurry such as well drilling fluid containing a quantity of solids comprising drill cuttings, said apparatus comprising:

• a generally cylindrical outer housing;
• an elongated cylindrical drum disposed in said housing and dividing a space in said housing into first and second chambers defined at least in part by said drum, said drum being substantially open at opposite ends thereof for conducting heated air through said drum;
• means for burning a fuel in one of said chambers to generate gaseous combustion products to heat said drum and said chambers;
• means for supporting said drum for rotation in said housing;
• means for discharging said slurry against a sidewall of said drum for dehydrating said slurry;
• first exhaust flue means in communication with one of said chambers for conducting a flow of vapor generated from dehydrating said slurry away from said apparatus;
• said housing being open at opposite ends thereof for conducting a relatively large volume of ambient air and vapor from said slurry through one of said chambers to said first flue means;
• and
• second exhaust flue means in communication with the other of said chambers for carrying said combustion products out of said apparatus.