Abstract: A drilling mud clarification or reclamation system is provided. High gravity and low gravity solids are removed from the drilling mud in respective centrifugal separator stages. A plurality of in-line mass flow sensors are provided to provide real-time indication of the effectiveness of the clarification of the drilling mud, and to provide control signals to a central control station. The heavier weight components are separated from the mud and returned to the system for further use. The lighter weight components are removed and are discarded to clean the mud. A cuttings dryer is provided to remove oil from cuttings which have been separated from a shale shaker stage. A de-sludging centrifuge is also provided to remove very fine cuttings which may have a harmful effect on the viscosity of the mud.

Abstract: A purge system develops a positive pressure in an enclosure, with sufficient volumetric air flow to cool the electrical components. The system includes an air inlet hose, with the input into the inlet hose positioned in an unclassified (i.e. safe) area. The inlet hose couples to the suction of an air blower, which may be mounted inside or outside the enclosure, while the discharge of the air blower is inside the enclosure, thereby providing the necessary positive pressure (purge) within the enclosure. The air discharged from the air blower strikes a baffle, which distributes the blowing air throughout the bottom of the enclosure. The distributed air is then drawn into controller cabinets by dedicated cooling fans. A conduit system connects the controller cabinets to take the now heated air from the cabinets to a discharge outside the enclosure. The outlet of the conduit system may include a counter-weighted flapper valve to maintain the pressure within the enclosure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for receiving the solids discharge of a centrifuge, shaker, or other clarification system and further drying the solids discharge. The influent into the apparatus of the invention is in the form of a slurry, such as for example the solids discharge of a shaker or centrifuge in a drilling mud clarification system. The apparatus comprises a horizontal screen rotated at a high rate of speed to remove liquid from the slurry by centrifugal force. The horizontal screen is retained by a squirrel cage rotor so that high G-forces can be obtained. Within the horizontal screen is a screw conveyor which rotates at a speed slightly slower than the horizontal screen to define a controllable conveyor speed. In this way, the residence time of the solids in contact with the horizontal screen can be controlled to provide a drier solids discharge from the apparatus. The solids and liquids are provided with separate discharge ports.

Abstract: A classification system utilizing a cone which is rotated at a specified speed is provided. A stream including a solvent is introduced into the classification, and the stream impacts against the cone and flows along the inside face of the cone. The side of the cone is sufficiently long that the conic face filters the introduced flow, thereby removing substantial portions of the solvent and leaving the heavier or classified parts. The discharge from the cone is thus segregated liquids and solids, and the solid stream is a flow of classified particles and a portion of the solvent. The solvent portion is sufficient in volume to conduct the classified particles as a heavy or thick slurry out of the system. There is an interplay between the length of the cone, i.e. the length along which the introduced slurry must flow, also, the cone angle, and the pores through the cone wall.

Abstract: This disclosure sets forth a method and apparatus for operation of a centrifuge. It is constructed with a fluid inlet at one end delivering a liquid flow into a feed pipe and then into a rotating bowl. The bowl has an outer wall which is cylindrical and which is formed of adjacent individual pieces defining gaps between pieces. In one embodiment, 960 pieces define 960 parallel slots. The slots are quite narrow, having a width of 80 microns to thereby exclude particles larger than that. The mud flow is introduced into the bowl region, and a flited conveyor is operated to scroll the particles along the bowl towards the opposite end, a tapered beach cone, and that terminates at a set of discharge openings. Dry powder too large to pass through the slots is discharged from there. While the slots discharge the mud, particles are removed by this approach.

Abstract: The present conveyor system includes an external bowl with an internal screw conveyor of one or more flites which is rotated to cooperate with the bowl. The bowl and conveyor provides scrolling actions so that a mixed fluid introduced therein is segregated to separate the heavier parts from other parts in the fluid. One aspect of the disclosure is the incorporation of a single motor connected either to the bowl or conveyor, and a output power transmission connected between said bowl and conveyor. The transmission assures that the bowl and conveyor rotated in the right direction to provide the scrolling action which is maintained at as desired ratio with respect to bowl speed. In the preferred form, this includes a dual input, dual output transmission, and a connection so that only one motor source is needed.

Abstract: A skid mounted first and second stage centrifuges, each being provided with an input pump. Drilling mud is delivered to the first pump, the first stage and then into a tank for storing temporarily the liquids separated from the mud. The heavier weight components are segregated, stored and later added back to the liquid discharge of the second stage to provide an output stream of drilling mud having a specified weight for use in drilling. The lighter weight components are removed at the second stage and are discarded to clean the mud. A control system provides for operation and control without overloading.