Patents Assigned to M-I LLC
  • Publication number: 20080217261
    Abstract: A system for treating recovered fluids off-line, the system including an ozone assembly and a reactor vessel operatively coupled to the ozone generator and having a reaction compartment and a settling compartment, wherein the reaction compartment is fluidly connected to a recovered hydrocarbons storage vessel and the settling compartment is fluidly connected to a treated oil tank is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of treating recovered hydrocarbons off-line, the method including flowing recovered hydrocarbons from a storage vessel into a reactor vessel having a reaction compartment and a settling compartment, and injecting ozone from an ozone generator into the recovered hydrocarbons in the reaction compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Mukesh Kapila, Paul Newman, Ivan Batinic, Rahul Dixit, Paul Gover, G. A. Addicks, Neale Browne
  • Publication number: 20080217065
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventor: Karen McCosh
  • Publication number: 20080210467
    Abstract: 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. Also, a module for use at a drilling location that includes a valve for directing drilling fluid between at least a first cuttings storage vessel disposed outside the module and a second cuttings storage vessel disposed outside the module. The module further includes a filter system for filtering the drilling fluid and at least one pump for facilitating the flow of the fluid between at least the first and second cuttings storage vessels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventor: Jan Thore Eia
  • Publication number: 20080210466
    Abstract: A system for offshore treatment of drill cuttings that includes a first pressurized vessel configured to receive contaminated drill cuttings and adapted to allow a compressed gas be introduced therein as the sole means for inducing movement of said contaminated drill cuttings in the first pressurized vessel whereby at least a portion of the contaminated drill cuttings is discharged from the first pressurized vessel; and a reactor unit in fluid connection with the first pressurized vessel for separating the contaminated drill cuttings into drill cuttings and contaminants, wherein the reactor unit includes a processing chamber having at least one inlet and outlet; and a rotor mounted in the processing chamber, the rotor including a shaft; and a plurality of fixed rotor arms extending radially from the shaft is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Nick McDonald, Andrew Murray
  • Publication number: 20080203345
    Abstract: An orifice for use in a flow control valve, the orifice may include a fixed choke plate having at least one aperture therethrough for conducting fluids and a rotating choke plate having at least one aperture therethrough for conducting fluids. The rotating choke plate may be concentric with and disposed face-to-face with the fixed choke plate. Each of the apertures in the fixed choke plate and rotating choke plate include a rounded head section and a crescent tail section. Rotation of the rotating choke plate relative to the fixed choke plate varies an alignment of the fixed choke plate aperture and the rotating choke plate aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventor: Alan Wayne Burkhard
  • Publication number: 20080207471
    Abstract: A method for reclamation of a brine that includes mixing a brine containing thiocyanates with an oxidizing agent; and allowing for a time sufficient for the oxidizing agent to oxidize at least a portion of the thiocyanates is disclosed. Other methods may also include determining the quantity of unoxidized thiocyanates after the oxidizing treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventor: Morris Arvie
  • Publication number: 20080196890
    Abstract: A method and apparatus relates to incorporating a magnetic coupling for use in oilfield applications. The magnetic coupling is operatively coupled to an oilfield machine to provide a controlled operational speed. The magnetic coupling may be operatively connected to a motor and a drive shaft where a speed of rotation of the drive shaft is controlled by an operation of the magnetic coupling. The drive shaft is operatively connected to the oilfield machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Gary E. Fout, Bruce Densmore
  • Publication number: 20080196942
    Abstract: A system for determining produced drill solids volume including a receiving vessel for receiving drill solids and a pressure vessel coupled to the receiving vessel. The receiving vessel has an isolation valve system to control the flow of drill solids between the receiving vessel and the pressure vessel, and the pressure vessel is adapted to allow a compressed gas to convey drill solids from the pressure vessel to a discharge line. The system also includes a skid having a plurality of weight sensors for weighing the drill solids in the pressure vessel, wherein the pressure vessel is disposed on the plurality of weight sensors and a programmable logic controller operatively couples to at least the plurality of weight sensors for calculating the weight of the drill solids in the pressure vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Richard Bingham, Gordon M. Logan, Jan Thore Eia
  • Publication number: 20080190614
    Abstract: A method for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore that includes injecting an alkali silicate into the wellbore; injecting a solid micronized silicate-precipitating agent into the wellbore; and allowing the alkali silicate and the solid micronized silicate-precipitating agent to react to form a silicate gel is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventor: David Antony Ballard
  • Publication number: 20080179092
    Abstract: A module for slurrifying drill cuttings that includes a skid, a programmable logic controller disposed on the skid, and a blender. The blender including a feeder for injecting drill cuttings, a gate disposed in fluid communication with the feeder for controlling a flow of the drill cuttings, and an impeller for energizing a fluid, wherein the module is configured to be removably connected to a cuttings storage vessel located at a work site. Also, a method of drill cuttings re-injection that includes creating a slurry including greater than 20 percent by volume drill cuttings in a blender system, and pumping the slurry from the blending system to a cuttings injection system. The method further includes injecting the slurry from the cuttings injection system into a wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventor: Francisco Fragachan
  • Publication number: 20080179097
    Abstract: A system for preparing a slurry in-transit including a first cuttings storage vessel disposed on a transport vehicle, a module configured to operatively connect to the first cuttings storage vessel, and a fluid supply line in fluid communication with the first cuttings storage vessel, the module including, a grinding device configured to facilitate the transfer of fluids and reduce particle size of drill cuttings, wherein the system is operated while the transport vehicle is moving is disclose. A method of operating an in-transit slurrification system including using a first vessel disposed on a moving transport vehicle for cuttings storage, and operating the first vessel in a slurrification process while the transport vehicle is moving is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Jan Thore Eia, Gordon M. Logan
  • Publication number: 20080179096
    Abstract: A system for preparing slurry on a rig including a first cuttings storage vessel, a module, and a fluid supply line in fluid communication with the first cuttings storage vessel, the module including a grinding device configured to facilitate the transfer of fluids, an inlet connection configured to connect to an outlet of the first cuttings storage vessel, and an outlet connection configured to connect to an inlet of the first cuttings storage vessel is disclosed. A method of operating a slurrification system including using a first vessel for cuttings storage and operating the first vessel in a slurrification process is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Jan Thore Eia, Gordon M. Logan
  • Publication number: 20080179222
    Abstract: A screen assembly that is sufficiently flexible to adapt to a non-planar profile of a crowned deck on a vibrating shaker. When attached to the crowned deck, the screen assembly provides a screen with less curvature than the crowned deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Robert M. Barrett, Brian S. Carr
  • Publication number: 20080179090
    Abstract: A method for using a vessel assembly including two or more vessels in multiple drilling unit operations, the method including using a vessel in the container assembly for cuttings storage, and operating at least one vessel in the container system in at least two of a slurrification system, a drilling fluid recycling system, and a tank cleaning system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Jan Thore Eia, Gordon M. Logan
  • Publication number: 20080179095
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventor: Jan Thore Eia
  • Publication number: 20080169130
    Abstract: A method of drilling a subterranean hole that includes mixing a base fluid and a micronized weighting agent having a particle size d90 of less than about 50 microns to form a wellbore fluid; providing a drilling assembly that includes a casing as at least a portion of a drill string; and a drill bit attached at the distal end of the drill string; and drilling said subterranean hole with the drilling assembly using the wellbore fluid is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Monica Norman, Doug Oakley, Ole Iacob Prebensen, Jarrod Massam
  • Publication number: 20080164068
    Abstract: A system for cleaning drill cuttings is disclosed, the system including a degassing module configured to substantially degas water; a washing module in fluid communication with the degassing module configured to wash drill cuttings with a washing fluid containing the degassed water; a gassing module in fluid communication with the washing module configured to gas the washing fluid; and an oil removal module in fluid communication with the gassing module configured to separate oily contaminants from the gassed washing fluid. A method for cleaning drill cuttings is also disclosed, the method including substantially degassing water; washing drill cuttings with a washing fluid containing the degassed water; gassing the washing fluid; and separating oily contaminants from the gassed washing fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventor: Alan Wayne Burkhard
  • Publication number: 20080156707
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a vibratory separator that includes a basket having a basket magnet and a frame having an electromagnet. The electromagnet and the basket magnet are arranged to magnetically interact, and the interaction imparts a vibratory motion to the basket. Furthermore, embodiments relate to a method to operate a vibratory separator that includes depositing drilling material on the vibratory separator. The vibratory separator includes a basket having a basket magnet, a frame having an electromagnet, and a variable frequency drive operatively coupled to the electromagnet. Furthermore, the method includes instructing the variable frequency drive to control the electromagnet and imparting a vibratory motion to the basket with the electromagnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventor: Alan Wayne Burkhard
  • Publication number: 20080162094
    Abstract: A method for determining distribution data for a disposal domain parameter to increase assurance in a cuttings injection process, including performing a fracturing simulation using a site specific datum to obtain a fracturing result, determining a probability of creating a new fracture using the fracturing result and a probability model, performing a plurality of fracturing simulations using the probability and a distribution associated with the probability to obtain disposal domain information, and extracting the distribution data for the disposal domain parameter from the disposal domain information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Geehan, Quanxin Guo
  • Publication number: 20080149537
    Abstract: A vibratory separator including a skid having a skid magnet and a basket having a basket magnet disposed on the basket, wherein the skid magnet and the basket magnets are arranged to magnetically interact. Also, a method for operating a vibratory separator that includes supplying a current to a skid electromagnet disposed on a skid of the vibratory separator, and interacting the skid electromagnet with a basket magnet disposed on a basket of the vibratory separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventor: Alan Wayne Burkhard