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US 4,836,611 AGranted
Method and apparatus for drilling and separating
AssigneeConsolidation Coal Company
InventorAhmed A. El-Saie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combination borehole drilling apparatus and a separator for receiving a three phase gas, liquid and solid mixture, from the borehole, and venting the gas, separating the liquid from the solid, collecting and discharging the solid and recycling the liquid to the borehole drilling apparatus.
Claims6
Apparatus for developing a borehole and separating a liquid and solid mixture collected from the borehole comprising:
- (a) a drilling machine for drilling a borehole and removing at least the solid and liquid from the borehole;
- (b) a separator for receiving the solid and liquid mixture from the drilling machine;
- (c) said separator including a housing with an upper portion having a first intake stage for receiving the mixture;
- a second separator stage for separating the solid from the liquid and a third reservoir stage for separately collecting the liquid and the solid;
- (d) means to transport the collected liquid to the drilling machine for recycling;
- (e) means to discharge the collected solids from said separator;
- (f) said housing includes a plurality of vertically stacked interconnected cylindrical segments with each separating stage being located in one of said segments;
- (g) horizontal screens positioned between each of said segments, each of said segments having liquid outlets connected to said reservoir stage;
- and
- (h) each of said screens having solids discharge outlets, the outlet of one screen being vertically staggered from the outlet in the adjacent screen.
7 more elements
Apparatus for developing a borehole and separating a liquid, solid and gas mixture collected from the borehole comprising:
- (a) a drilling machine for drilling a borehole and removing at least the solid and liquid from the borehole;
- (b) a separator for receiving the solid and liquid mixture from the drilling machine;
- (c) said separator including a housing with an upper portion having a first intake stage for receiving the mixture;
- a second separator stage for separating the solid from the liquid and a third reservoir stage for separately collecting the liquid and the solid;
- (d) means to transport the collected liquid to the drilling machine for recycling;
- (e) means to discharge the collected solids from said separator;
- (f) said transport means is a feed line having a pump for transporting the liquid from the reservoir to said drilling machine;
- and
- (g) a control valve in said line responsive to the head of liquid in said reservoir to pass the liquid to said line and maintain constant liquid level in the reservoir to prevent the gas from escaping with the liquid discharge.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.