Downhole cutting separator

A downhole cutting separator, comprising:

• a body having a bore therethrough to accommodate flow downhole;
• an outer housing on the body defining a return flowpath uphole;
• a fluid restrictor on said outer housing to restrict fluid flow downhole and thereby direct returning fluid with cuttings into said return flowpath;
• a retaining device in said return flowpath to capture cuttings and allow return flow uphole;
• a bypass from said return flowpath through said outer housing, selectively operable on buildup of a predetermined pressure in said return flowpath.

A downhole cutting separator, comprising:

• a body having a bore therethrough to accommodate flow downhole;
• an outer housing on the body defining a return flowpath uphole;
• a fluid restrictor on said outer housing to restrict fluid flow downhole and thereby direct returning fluid with cuttings into said return flowpath;
• a retaining device in said return flowpath to capture cuttings and allow return flow uphole;
• said return flowpath comprises a tortuous path to induce the cutting to drop from the return fluid passing uphole therethrough;
• said seal is rotably mounted to said outer housing;
• said retaining device comprises a tubular member with a plurality of openings having an uphole and a downhole end;
• said openings are disposed adjacent said uphole end, leaving that portion of said flowpath adjacent said downhole end as a receptacle for dropped cuttings;
• said openings comprise elongated slots;
• a bypass from said return flowpath through said outer housing, selectively operable on buildup of a predetermined pressure in said return flowpath.

A downhole cuttings separator system, comprising:

• a plurality of bodies, each having a bore therethrough to accommodate flow downhole;
• an outer housing on each of said bodies defining a return flowpath uphole on each said body;
• a fluid restricter on each said outer housing sealing downhole, thereby directing return fluid with cuttings into that portion of said return flowpath in its respective outer housing;
• a retaining device in each said outer housing in said return flowpath therein, wherein as said return flow moves uphole through said housings, smaller cuttings are retained successively in said flowpath in said housings on the way uphole.