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US 7,350,409 B2Granted
Magnetic separation in fluids
OwnerDarrell Clarry Klattinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for recovering magnetically attractable wellbore casing fragments from drilling fluid used in hydrocarbon-producing formations.
Claims12
A method for monitoring well casing by recovering magnetically attractable casing fragments from drilling fluid in a vessel having an upper end, comprising:
- (a) placing a reusable magnetic separator in the drilling fluid in the vessel, the separator comprising a magnetic body, at least one nonmagnetic end contiguous to the body, and an exterior surface spanning the body and the nonmagnetic end;
- (b) retaining the separator in the drilling fluid for a selected period of time;
- (c) removing the separator from the vessel;
- and,
- (d) urging the fragments along the exterior surface of the separator to the nonmagnetic end;
- (e) analyzing the casing fragments recovered after urging them to the nonmagnetic end.
3 more elements
A method for monitoring the condition of well casing by recovering magnetic casing fragments generated during use or modification of the casing from fluid in a vessel having an upper end, comprising:
- (a) hanging a reusable magnetic separator in the fluid in the vessel, the separator comprising a magnetic body, at least one nonmagnetic end contiguous to the body, an exterior surface spanning the source and nonmagnetic end, and a hanger;
- (b) retaining the separator in the fluid for a selected period of time;
- (c) removing the separator from the vessel;
- (d) urging the casing fragments along the exterior surface of the separator to the nonmagnetic end and collecting them;
- and,
- (e) analyzing the collected casing fragments.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.