| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 175066000 | Treating spent or used fluid above ground | 42 |
| 20080196944 | IMPACT EXCAVATION SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH SUSPENSION FLOW CONTROL - A system and method for excavating a subterranean formation, according to which a suspension of liquid and a plurality of impactors are passed between a drill string to a body member for discharge from the body member to remove at least a portion of the formation. The flow of the suspension between the drill string and the body member is controlled in order to present the impactors from settling near the bottom of the formation. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080217064 | DRILLING FLUID AND METHODS - A drilling fluid comprising: a non-ionic surfactant including at least one of a branched alcohol ethoxylate and a capped alcohol ethoxylate, a detergent builder and a viscosifier. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080217065 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPHORETIC SEPARATION OF SOLIDS AND WATER FROM OIL BASED MUD - A method of treating an invert emulsion drilling fluid, the method including pumping the drilling fluid to an electrophoresis unit that includes a positively charged electrode and a negatively charged electrode, applying a voltage between 200 V and 5000 V across the two electrodes to deposit water and solids on one of the charged electrodes, and removing deposited solids and water from the collection electrode is disclosed. An apparatus for treating an invert emulsion drilling fluid, the apparatus including a bath, a drum disposed in the bath, a power supply capable of applying a voltage between the housing and the drum in the range of 200 V to 5000 V, a motor coupled to the drum to rotate the drum at a predetermined speed, and a scraper having a first position in which the scraper contacts the rotating drum to remove deposited solids and water and a second position in which the scraper is retained away from the drum is also disclosed. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080223618 | UPRIGHT TANK JET SYSTEM - A jet system is beneficial in keeping a drilling particulates of a drilling fluid evenly mixed within an upright storage tank having a side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall. The jet system has a nozzle on each half section of a horizontally disposed upper arm and a plurality of nozzles on each half section of a lower rotatable arm disposed adjacent the bottom wall for keeping particulates of the drilling fluid suspended above the upper and lower arm. The upper arm redistributes and suspends particulates of the drilling fluid from near the bottom of the tank above the upper arm to thereby keep particulates of the drilling fluid suspended throughout the entire volume. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080264691 | Drilling Fluid Containing A Recoverable Lost Circulation Material and Method of Using and Recovering The Same - A method to recover a lost circulation material from a drilling fluid used in a drilling operation comprising the steps of: directing a drilling fluid containing a lost circulation material into a drill string positioned in a well bore, the lost circulation material having a magnetic property; recovering the drilling fluid containing at least a portion of the lost circulation material from the well bore; and magnetically separating the lost circulation material from the drilling fluid. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080277164 | IN-LINE TREATMENT OF HYDROCARBON FLUIDS WITH OZONE - A system for treating recovered fluids in-line that includes a thermal reactor for separating contaminated drill cuttings into drill cuttings and contaminants by applying heat to the contaminated drill cuttings so as to vaporize contaminants from the contaminated drill cuttings; a first condenser in fluid connection with the thermal reactor for condensing the vaporized contaminants; a separator in fluid connection with the first condenser for separating the condensed vapors into an oleaginous liquid and an aqueous liquid, wherein at least a portion of one of the aqueous liquid and oleaginous liquid is fed back into the first condenser via a feedback line; and an ozone generator operatively coupled to the feedback line, wherein at least the portion of the fed back liquid is ozonated by the ozone generator and fed into the condenser is disclosed. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080277165 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO RECOVER USABLE OIL-BASED DRILLING MUDS FROM USED AND UNACCEPTABLE OIL-BASED DRILLING MUDS - A system for treating spent/used Oil Based Drilling Muds (OBM's) to recover High Gravity Solids (HGS) for further reuse and to separate the invert emulsion from the Light Gravity Solids (LGS) with good characteristics also for further reuse. Separated LGS is processed to extract the remaining oil in order to render an environmentally safe solid fraction. The overflow of a screening or centrifugation of spent OBM enters a reactor where reagents are added and mixed to control the oil/water ratio of the recovered emulsion and to reduce the LGS concentration. A catalyst is added before adding a final reagent that initiates the reaction. Upon centrifuging the reacted mix, the recovered emulsion is the overflow and a thin layer of LGS forms slightly below the emulsion. The underflow of this separation is further sedimented by gravity and the phase dispersant layer is decanted and sent for reuse. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20090020336 | Drilling fluid flow facilitation - A system for facilitating flow of settled solids with drilling fluid from a container, the system including pressure nozzle apparatus with at least one nozzle from which is flowable fluid under pressure, powered rotation apparatus for selectively rotating the pressure nozzle apparatus so that the at least one nozzle is movable within the container as fluid is pumped through the at least one nozzle into the container; and, in one aspect, translation apparatus for moving the pressure nozzle apparatus with respect to the container as fluid under pressure is pumped to the at least one rotating nozzle. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090050374 | Method and apparatus for managing variable density drilling mud - A method and system for drilling a wellbore is described. The system includes a wellbore with a variable density drilling mud, drilling pipe, a bottom hole assembly disposed in the wellbore and a drilling mud processing unit in fluid communication with the wellbore. The variable density drilling mud has compressible particles and drilling fluid. The bottom hole assembly is coupled to the drilling pipe while the drilling mud processing unit is configured to separate the compressible particles from the variable density drilling mud. The compressible particles in this embodiment may include compressible hollow objects filled with pressurized gas an configured to maintain the mud weight between the fracture pressure gradient and the pore pressure gradient. In addition, the system and method may also manage the use of compressible particles having different characteristics, such as size, during the drilling operations. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090065259 | Methods of formulating drilling muds using processed waste waters - In oil or gas well drilling, saline water is collected and separated into first and second streams of solid or liquid products containing salts. The first or second product is added to drilling fluids as a weighting agent. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090107728 | Drilling fluid recovery - A method for recovering drilling fluid from a mixture containing drilling fluid and other components, the mixture resulting from a wellbore operation including the pumping of drilling fluid, the method including producing a mixture of flocculant with a spent drilling fluid mixture containing drilling fluid and contaminants, heating the mixture, and separating drilling fluid from the mixture. This Abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 CFR 1.72(b). | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090139770 | Cuttings treatment and reuse - A method for treating drill cuttings including depositing drill cuttings in a desalinization cell, the desalinization cell having a high end, a low end, and a cuttings pad. The method further includes washing the drill cuttings in the desalinization cell with a liquid phase and removing a cuttings runoff from the drill cuttings. Also, a method for treating drill cuttings including depositing drill cuttings in a desalinator, the desalinator having a geometric structure having a perforated side. The method further includes adding a liquid phase to the desalinator through the perforated side, washing the drill cuttings in the desalinator with the liquid phase, and producing desalinated drill cuttings and a cuttings runoff. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090183922 | Method of removing dissolved iron in aqueous systems - Oilfield completion, drilling and workover fluids containing iron are treated to remove the iron by passing them through a cavitation device together with an oxidizing agent. The cavitation device intimately mixes the oxidizing agent with the fluid while increasing the temperature of the fluid, thus promoting the oxidation reaction. Ferric hydrate and other solids or colloidal iron are removed in a filter capable of removing particles as small as 0.5 micron. The system may be enhanced by the addition of a bed of activated carbon capable of catalyzing the oxidation reaction. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090188721 | Membrane method of making drilling fluids containing microbubbles - Drilling fluid is reduced in density while under pressure and prior to injection in the well by creating microbubbles of gas formed on transportation through a membrane while maintaining a transmembrane pressure difference sufficient to create the microbubbles. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20090200083 | Method and Apparatus for Processing and Injecting Drill Cuttings - An improved cuttings system located adjacent a drilling rig's shale shaker system utilizing a vacuum collection/gravity fed processing system, thereby eliminating expensive and complicated cuttings transfer systems. The use of a vacuum cuttings collection system combined within a common fluid-filled open tank and submersible grinding pumps eliminate the need for extensive circulating and holding systems. Cuttings are sized and chemically prepared within the same tank and fed directly to an injection pump for discharge to cuttings transport tanks or injected down hole. Other improvements include non-restrictive cuttings sizing, filtering, and an injection pump cuttings relief system. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090260886 | METHOD FOR RECOVERING VALUABLE DRILLING MUD MATERIALS USING A BINARY FLUID - This invention relates to a system and process for recovering and recycling valuable target recycle materials such lost circulation material and weighting agents from drilling fluid used in hydrocarbon drilling operations. The system and process includes use of a binary fluid that is separate from the drilling fluid and has a designed density that allows separation of the valuable target recycle materials from drill cuttings. The solids are separated from the drilling fluid in a primary separation step and then mixed with the binary fluid in a density separation or enhanced mass separation device. The binary fluid density allows the separation device to distinguish the target recycle material from drilling solids and recycles the target material to the drilling operations for re-use in drilling fluid. The binary fluid is recovered and refreshed to maintain a generally continuous process of targeted recycling. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20100089651 | Drilling fluid screening systems and methods - A system for treating a mixture, the mixture including drilling fluid and solid material, the system including a container with an inlet for the introduction of the mixture into the container, a solids outlet, and a fluid outlet for drilling fluid to exit the container, at least one rotatable screen assembly rotatably mounted within the container and including at least one screen for screening the mixture and interior structure for receiving separated drilling fluid from the at least one screen, and apparatus in fluid communication with the interior structure for receiving separated drilling fluid therefrom and transmitting the separated drilling fluid to the fluid outlet of the container. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b). | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100089652 | Shale Shakers with Selective Series/Parallel Flow Path Conversion - Methods and systems are disclosed employing a shale shaker for processing a mixture of drilling fluid and solids with multiple screen assemblies and conversion apparatus for switching flow to the screen assemblies between series flow and parallel flow; and in one aspect, a screen or screens for screening lost circulation material. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100147593 | Subsea Solids Processing Apparatuses and Methods - In a dual-gradient drilling apparatus, a subsea solids processing unit includes a housing, a solids processing mechanism disposed in the housing between a drilling mud inlet and a drilling mud outlet, and a flushing mechanism configured to flush the solids processing mechanism with a flushing fluid. A subsea solids processing unit may be controlled by rotating the solids processing mechanism in a forward direction and increasing a drive torque when a measured speed of the solids processing mechanism is below a desired rotation speed. The desired rotation speed may be decreased when a measured torque exceeds a selected maximum and a rotation direction of the solids processing mechanism may be reversed when the measured speed falls below a selected minimum. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100193249 | Drilling mud closed loop system, method, process and apparatus for reclamation of drilling mud - The present invention is generally directed to a closed loop apparatus, system, process or method adapted for processing drilling mud used in a down hole well drilling process such that any undesirable particulate such as cuttings will be substantially, if not completely separated from the dirty mud while at the same time allowing the recycled drilling mud to be continuously circulated with the drilling mud. In one embodiment, the present invention includes the following components, all in fluid or mud flow communication with one another and with an adjacent drilling rig: at least one clean mud mixing tank, at least one pump system, at least one dirty mud shakers, at least one optional conveyor belt system, at least one recycled mud reclamation tank and one or more filtering centrifugal pumps or centrifuge systems. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100200300 | ELECTROMAGNETIC TREATMENT OF CONTAMINATED MATERIALS - A method for separating a hydrocarbon content from a hydrocarbon contaminated matrix is disclosed. The method comprises controlling a water content of a feed material comprising the hydrocarbon contaminated matrix; continuously conveying the feed material into a treatment cavity ( | 08-12-2010 |
| 20110036633 | Method and Apparatus for Efficient Handling of Drill Cuttings - A traveling cuttings distributor (TCD) system that is capable of horizontal and vertical positioning for use in vacuuming, auguring or pumping drill cuttings from a drill rig shaker screen trough, drying/minimizing the cuttings and depositing by gravity cuttings while under vacuum into individual cuttings boxes as it moves from one cuttings box to the next or to a bulk system, a cuttings injection system or other cuttings processing system, the system including a vacuum tank having a filter system therein and a large silencer or exhaust system separated by a blower system capable of producing a high vacuum on an opening in the vacuum tank for engaging an opening in a cuttings box or other cuttings processing equipment. The TCD system is capable of being operated without the need for skilled service personnel, while further improving drilling performance, providing reduced environmentally friendly waste material and volumes, recovers expensive drilling mud, thus, reducing the cost of cuttings waste disposal. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110114389 | ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE MUD-GAS CONTAINMENT SYSTEM - This invention relates to an ecologically and environmentally friendly mud-gas containment system. Specifically, this invention relates to a mobile device that is capable of receiving waste gas and, in emergency situations, a volume of a mud-gas mixture from a drilling operation. The waste gas is communicated to a removable flare stack through a vent line. The mud-gas is received at a containment vessel. The impact of the mud-gas within the containment vessel separates the mud-gas into mud and waste gas. The mud is collected for recycling and/or environmentally sensitive disposal. The waste gas from the vessel is communicated to the flare stack. Separate removal ports and conduits are used to remove any residual mud or mud-gas from the vent line and/or containment vessel. Excess mud or mud-gas is communicated to an overflow catch tank for removal. The entire assembly is mounted on a mobile skid sized for highway transportation. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110147087 | CUTTINGS TRANSFER SYSTEM - A cuttings transfer system including a separator configured to separate cuttings from a slurry and a transfer line configured to receive the cuttings from the separator. The system further including a valve in fluid communication with the transfer line and the separator, wherein the valve is configured to control a flow of the cuttings from the separator to the transfer line, and an air transfer device coupled to the transfer line that is configured to supply a flow of air through the transfer line. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110220418 | OIL-BASED DRILLING FLUID RECOVERY AND REUSE - Methods and related systems are configured to treat a drilling fluid to cause water droplets to coalesce. One or more phases are thereafter separated from the treated drilling fluid. The oil and/or solids separated from the treated drilling fluid may be added to a base fluid. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20120090898 | METHOD FOR CLEANING OIL FROM DRILL CUTTINGS - This application relates to an apparatus and method for cleaning drill cuttings recovered from a wellbore. Specifically, the apparatus includes an effective system for handling and washing drill cuttings at a well site to remove hydrocarbon contaminants. The system successively washes hydrocarbon contaminated drill cuttings in organic solvent and water to remove and recover the hydrocarbon contaminates, and produce cleaned drill cuttings that may enable disposal of clean drill cuttings without further treatment. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090899 | CUTTINGS TREATMENT AND REUSE - A method for treating drill cuttings including depositing drill cuttings in a desalinization cell, the desalinization cell having a high end, a low end, and a cuttings pad. The method further includes washing the drill cuttings in the desalinization cell with a liquid phase and removing a cuttings runoff from the drill cuttings. Also, a method for treating drill cuttings including depositing drill cuttings in a desalinator, the desalinator having a geometric structure having a perforated side. The method further includes adding a liquid phase to the desalinator through the perforated side, washing the drill cuttings in the desalinator with the liquid phase, and producing desalinated drill cuttings and a cuttings runoff. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120160566 | USE OF CUTTINGS TANKS FOR RECYCLING OIL BASED MUD AND WATER - A system for recycling a drilling fluid that includes a first cuttings storage vessel, a second cuttings storage vessel, and a module fluidly connected to the first and second cuttings storage vessels, the module having a valve configured to fluidly connect the first and second cuttings storage vessels. The module further includes a filter system configured to fluidly connect to at least the second cuttings storage vessel, and at least one pump to facilitate the flow of a fluid between the first and second cuttings storage vessels. | 06-28-2012 |
| 20120181085 | METHOD FOR CLEANING DRILL CUTTINGS - One method for treating cuttings from a subsurface formation may include treating the cuttings with at least one surfactant and at least one stabilizing agent. The method may include contacting the cuttings with the stabilizing agent(s) before contacting the cuttings with the surfactant(s). Another method for treating drill cuttings includes returning the drill cuttings to a substantially water-wet condition by using at least one stabilizing agent to remove at least a portion of a hydrocarbon from the drill cuttings. | 07-19-2012 |
| 20120181086 | Drill Cuttings Methods and Systems - Systems and techniques, including a circle feeder, for the handling of drill cuttings, providing surge storage, rig buffer storage and wet and dry cuttings blending, including temporary storage of drill cuttings, optimizing storage capacity and the efficient and regulated movement of stored cuttings to a discharge port out of the hopper. Systems and techniques, maximize available space, provide optimized surge storage to optimize the use of downstream DPCS (and other transportation devices), provide optimized rig based storage and discharge, minimize or eliminate the occurrence of ratholing, bridging, degradation, segregation, and dehydration within the hopper, control and regulate the flow of cuttings from the hopper to the discharge port from the hopper, and provide metered discharge from the hopper storage, particularly when one hopper is discharging wet cuttings and a second hopper is discharging dry cuttings, and it is desirable to blend the wet and dry cuttings after such metered discharge. | 07-19-2012 |
| 20120186881 | DRILLING FLUID RECOVERY WHEN DRILLING UNDER AN OBSTACLE OR WATER BODY - A system for recovering drilling mud in drilling an underground arcuate path around at least a portion of an obstacle has a conductor casing, a drill pipe surrounded by the conductor casing for at least a portion of an axial length of the drill pipe, a flow line connected to the conductor casing at a downhole position, and a pump coupled to the flow line placed at another downhole position. A volume of drilling mud within the underground arcuate path is pumped from the underground arcuate path to the surface and recovered for recirculation. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120193146 | Vacuum Assisted Drill Cuttings Dryer and Handling Apparatus - A vacuum assisted drill cuttings dryer and handling apparatus has a vacuum tank and an associated vacuum pump and motor configured for use with a high speed centrifugal dryer. Cuttings are drawn from the shaker of a drilling rig into the centrifugal dryer by means of a vacuum created in the centrifugal dryer by the vacuum tank and an associated vacuum pump and motor. The dryer is provided with sealable exit doors that may be opened and closed in sequence to allow removal of the cuttings even as cuttings are drawn in to the centrifugal dryer. A fluids collection chamber in communication with vacuum lines between the vacuum tank and centrifugal dryer collects fluids drawn from the centrifugal dryer. | 08-02-2012 |
| 20130068530 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CLARIFYING DRILLING MUD AND A HYDROPHILIC LIQUID OR SOLUTION FOR USE IN CLARIFYING DRILLING MUD - Processes and systems are provided with a hydrophilic liquid or solution for clarifying drilling mud to separate diesel oil or other oil lubricants out from the drilling mud such that the diesel oil or other oil lubricants may be recycled to a well for reuse as a lubricant for drilling components, such as a drilling bit. The hydrophilic liquid or solution may be recovered and reused/recycled in the processes and/or systems as well. | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130228380 | CLOG FREE HIGH VOLUME DRILL CUTTING AND WASTE PROCESSING OFFLOADING SYSTEM - A clog free waste removal system for removing waste or drilling cuttings from a wellbore at the rate that waste is being produced having an incoming transportation system, a rig buffer, and optional surge tank, an outgoing transportation system, and post treatment device or transport. | 09-05-2013 |
| 20130256037 | Drill Cuttings Conveyance Systems - Embodiments relate generally to drill cuttings conveyance systems comprising a collection tank, a port, and a pump. The collection tank comprises a chamber operable to accommodate drill cuttings and a screw conveyor. The screw conveyor extends along a longitudinal axis of the collection tank from a first end of the chamber to a second end of the chamber. The port comprises a channel operable to direct drill cuttings from the chamber of the collection tank to the pump. The pump comprises an inlet operable to receive drill cuttings from the port, an outlet, and a pumping mechanism operable to direct drill cuttings through the outlet of the pump. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20140144708 | Modular Rig Design - In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to modular drilling system, the system comprising a first module comprising a first work surface; and a second module comprising a second work surface; wherein the first module is disposed above the second module. In another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a modular drilling system, the system comprising a first module; and a second module; wherein at least one of the first and second modules comprises oilfield process equipment disposed on the module around a center point. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140174830 | HIGH PRESSURE SHEAR NOZZLE FOR INLINE CONDITIONING OF DRILLING MUD - A system for conditioning drilling fluid includes a conditioning device having a first conduit configured to receive the drilling fluid, a flow restriction disposed adjacent the first conduit, the flow restriction comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, an impact plate disposed downstream of the flow restriction, a first chamber disposed between the flow restriction and the impact plate, and a second chamber disposed downstream of the impact plate, wherein the first chamber is fluidly connected to the second chamber. A method for conditioning drilling fluid using a conditioning device, includes pumping a drilling fluid through a flow restriction, accelerating the drilling fluid into a mixing chamber, subjecting the drilling fluid to elongational shearing, decelerating the drilling fluid against an impact plate, subjecting the drilling fluid to impact shearing, and emptying drilling fluid from the mixing chamber. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140231146 | METHOD OF ENHANCING DRILLING FLUID PERFORMANCE - The present invention relates to methods of drilling a wellbore wherein a drill-in fluid is foamed at the drill tool. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises providing a drill-in fluid comprising an aqueous fluid, a foaming agent, a foam stabilizer, a gas generating chemical and an encapsulated activator; introducing the drill-in fluid downhole into a drill string connected to a drill tool; and allowing the drill-in fluid to exit the drill tool where, upon exiting the drill tool, the encapsulated activator is de-capsulated sufficiently to react with the gas generating chemical such that a gas is generated within the drill-in fluid and thus foams the drill-in fluid. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140251693 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING RETURN FLOW FROM A BORE HOLE - There is provided a device and method for control of return flow from a borehole ( | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140332282 | Method For Cleaning Oil From Drill Cuttings - This application relates to an apparatus and method for cleaning drill cuttings recovered from a wellbore. Specifically, the apparatus includes an effective system for handling and washing drill cuttings at a well site to remove hydrocarbon contaminants. The system successively washes hydrocarbon contaminated drill cuttings in organic solvent and water to remove and recover the hydrocarbon contaminates, and produce cleaned drill cuttings that may enable disposal of clean drill cuttings without further treatment. | 11-13-2014 |
| 20150014062 | Composition Comprising an Alkoxylated Amine Compound and a Carboxylic Acid Compound, use thereof in Water in Oil Emulsions and Process Using the Composition as or as Part of a Drilling Fluid - The object of the present invention is a composition comprising amine compound and carboxylic acid compounds, wherein at least the amine compounds are alkoxylated, use thereof as a drilling fluid, and a method for using the drilling fluid | 01-15-2015 |
| 20150129312 | Drill Cuttings Conveyance Systems - A drill cuttings conveyance system includes a collection tank that includes a screw conveyor and a chamber operable to accommodate drill cuttings, the screw conveyer extending along a longitudinal axis of the collection tank from a first end of the chamber to a second end of the chamber; a port disposed at the second end of the chamber of the collection tank, the port including a channel operable to direct the drill cuttings from the chamber of the collection tank; a pump including an inlet connected to the port and operable to receive drill cuttings from the port, an outlet, and a pumping mechanism operable to direct the drill cuttings through the outlet of the pump; and a drag chain conveyor in communication with the chamber of the collection tank via an auxiliary opening, the drag chain conveyor being operable to remove drill cuttings from the collection tank. | 05-14-2015 |
