Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for fastening a screen has a screen with apertures sized to separate a first sized material from a second sized material. A box is positioned beneath the screen in a bracket extending along the screen. A protrusion extends from the box toward the screen. A triangular tensioning element secured along a length of the screen moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of the screen in response to contact with the protrusion to seal the screen against the bracket and tension the screen.

Abstract: Vibratory separator screens separate solids and/or fluids, methods form said screens and vibratory screen apparatuses utilize said screens. The vibratory separator screens, methods and apparatuses have a mesh portion having a first side of the mesh portion and an opposite second side of the mesh portion, a first hem crimp affixed to the first side of the mesh portion, and a second hem crimp affixed to the second side of the mesh portion.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method have a rod attached to and extending across a screen to engage with a receptacle. A box is positioned beneath the filtration screen. An air bag is activated to inflate the filtration screen to compress against a plate. A junction extends from the plate, and the air bag rises to move the junction toward the receptacle to compress the rod against the receptacle to hold the rod. The filtration screen may be constructed from mesh material sized to permit materials to flow through the filtration screen. A vibratory element in the box vibrates to assist filtration.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method provides for the installation of a filtration screen assembly in a vibratory separator. The apparatus has a screen rail extending across a vibratory separator. A ball box is inserted in the screen rail and encloses vibratory elements. A screen assembly is placed on the ball box parallel to the screen rail and extends across the vibratory separator. An inflatable seal is inserted into the screen rail and receives fluid to inflate and compress the screen assembly against the screen rail. A clamping element is attached to the screen assembly. The inflatable seal compresses the clamping element against the screen rail.

Abstract: Enhanced action cleaning elements enable increased deblinding efficiency of gyratory sifters. The enhanced action cleaning elements increase the collisions between the elements and the screens of the gyratory sifters to enhance deblinding the screens of the gyratory sifter.

Abstract: A system for separating components of a slurry is disclosed, the system including a housing; a basket for holding at least one shaker screen, the basket movably mounted in the housing; at least one vibrator coupled to the basket; a sump disposed below the basket to collect at least a portion of the slurry passing through the at least one shaker screen; a pressure differential device fluidly connected to the sump for developing a pressure differential across the at least one shaker screen; and a toggling device for toggling the pressure differential across the screen. A system including a degassing chamber fluidly connected to a sump and a pressure differential device, wherein the degassing chamber is disposed between the sump and the pressure differential device, and a fluid conduit fluidly connected to the degassing chamber for recovering a degassed fluid is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of increasing the fracture resistance of a low permeability formation that includes emplacing a wellbore fluid in a wellbore through the low permeability formation, the wellbore fluid comprising: a settable carrier fluid; and a solid particulate bridging material; increasing the pressure in the wellbore such that fractures are formed in the formation; allowing the settable carrier fluid to enter the fractures; bridging and sealing the mouths of the fractures to form a substantially impermeable bridge proximate the mouth of the fractures thereby strengthening the formation; and holding the increased pressure for an amount of time sufficient for setting of the carrier fluid in the fractures is disclosed.

Abstract: A system for separating components of a slurry is disclosed, the system including a housing; a basket for holding at least one shaker screen, the basket movably mounted in the housing; at least one vibrator coupled to the basket; a sump disposed below the basket to collect at least a portion of the slurry passing through the at least one shaker screen; a pressure differential device fluidly connected to the sump for developing a pressure differential across the at least one shaker screen; and a toggling device for toggling the pressure differential across the screen. A system including a degassing chamber fluidly connected to a sump and a pressure differential device, wherein the degassing chamber is disposed between the sump and the pressure differential device, and a fluid conduit fluidly connected to the degassing chamber for recovering a degassed fluid is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for testing a drilling fluid including a vessel having a fluid inlet, a filtrate outlet, a fluid outlet, and at least one permeable media disposed within the vessel. The system further including a base fluid container in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, a test fluid container in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, a filtrate container in fluid communication with the filtrate outlet, and a collection container in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. Additionally, the system includes a data acquisition device configured to receive data from at least one of the vessel, the fluid container, the filtrate container, and the collection container. Also, a method for determining sealing characteristics of a drilling fluid including injecting a test fluid having a fluid loss control material from at least fluid container to a vessel, the vessel having a permeable media having two plates disposed to create a variable gap.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a wellbore fluid that includes treating a wellbore fluid with an emulsifying fluid, the emulsifying fluid comprising: a hydroxylated ether; an amphoteric chemotrope; and testing the treated wellbore fluid for at least one of turbidity and total suspended solids is disclosed. Methods of cleaning wellbores are also disclosed.

Abstract: A pill for wellbore operations, that includes a base fluid; and at least two polymers that interact to form a gelatinous structure characterized as isolating and controllably transmitting hydrostatic pressure between a first wellbore fluid above the pill in a wellbore and a second wellbore fluid below the pill in the wellbore is disclosed.

Abstract: A system for separating components from a slurry of drilling fluid and drill cuttings on a shaker screen having an upper side and a lower side within a shaker. The system also has a pressure differential generator to pull an effective volume of air through a section of the shaker screen to enhance the flow of drilling fluid through the section of the shaker screen and the separation of drilling fluid from drill cuttings and further maintain an effective flow of drill cuttings off the shaker. A method of separating components of a slurry of drilling fluids and solids has the steps of delivering the slurry to a shaker, flowing the slurry over a first screen and applying an effective amount of vacuum to a first portion of the first screen to remove the drilling fluids from the slurry without stalling the solids on the first screen.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A tank cleaning system for use at a drilling location, including a first cuttings storage vessel comprising an inlet and an outlet, at least one tank cleaning machine configured to clean a tank, a disposal vessel, and a module including a pump configured to facilitate the transfer of fluids from a clean water vessel to the at least one tank cleaning machine, and a fluid connection configured to facilitate the transfer of fluids from the outlet of the first cuttings storage vessel to the disposal vessel.

Abstract: A system for injecting a fluid into a formation including a fluid, and at least one injection pump configured to receive the fluid, the at least one pump including a centrifugal pump having at least two stages configured to increase the pressure of the received fluid is disclosed. The system further includes a drive device coupled to the injection pump. A method of injecting a fluid downhole including providing a fluid to an injection pump, the injection pump including a centrifugal pump having at least two stages, pumping the fluid through the at least two stages of the centrifugal pump, thereby increasing the pressure of the fluid, and injecting the fluid from the injection pump into a wellbore is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of determining drilling fluid contents including fractionating a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample includes a drilling fluid, and collecting image data from the fractioned fluid sample. Furthermore, processing the image data with a process station to produce a rendered image, and outputting the rendered image. Additionally, a system for determining drilling fluids content including an image gathering vessel having a holding section and an image gathering device operatively coupled to the image gathering vessel for collecting image data from a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample includes a drilling fluid. Furthermore, a processing station for receiving the image data from the image gathering device and for producing a rendered image of the fluid sample based on the image data.

Abstract: A system for processing returned drilling fluid including a flow line configured to provide a return flow of drilling fluids and at least one vibratory separator having at least one screen, wherein the vibratory separator is fluidly connected to the flow low and is configured to receive at least a partial flow of fluids and separate the flow of fluids into a primarily fluid phase and a primarily solids phase. The system further includes a dual-trough configured to receive the primarily solid phase from the at least one vibratory separator and a slurry tank configured to receive the solids phase from the trough. Additionally, a method of processing a return drilling fluid including dividing the return drilling fluid into a primarily fluids phase and a primarily solids phase with a primary separatory operation.

Abstract: A method of completing a hydrocarbon lateral well in a target shale formation. The method uses a data log generated from an optical flow cell assembly to identify areas in the lateral well of high free gas porosity. By evaluating such data, an operator can group “like” rock, determine stage length and variation in stage length, and determine perforation cluster spacing and location. The flow cell assembly can also be used in a completion program to assist in the steering of a lateral well being drilled below the target formation.

Abstract: A method of completing a hydrocarbon lateral well in a target shale formation. The method uses a data log generated from an optical flow cell assembly to identify areas in the lateral well of high free gas porosity. By evaluating such data, an operator can group “like” rock, determine stage length and variation in stage length, and determine perforation cluster spacing and location. The flow cell assembly can also be used in a completion program to assist in the steering of a lateral well being drilled below the target formation.

Abstract: A system for offshore disposal of drill cuttings including a cleaning system for treating contaminated drill cuttings into drill cuttings and contaminants; a transport system for moving the drill cuttings; a slurrification system for making a slurry of the treated drill cuttings; and a cuttings re-injection system for injecting the slurry into a well.