Abstract: A vibratory separator including a frame, a screen configured to connect to the frame, a first actuator coupled to the frame, and a second actuator coupled to the frame, wherein the first actuator imparts a high frequency motion to the frame, and wherein the second actuator imparts a low frequency acceleratory motion to the frame is disclosed. Also, a method for processing drilling waste including imparting a low frequency acceleratory motion to a frame of a vibratory separator and imparting a high frequency motion over the low frequency acceleratory motion is also disclosed.

Abstract: A wellbore strengthening material collection system including a vibratory separator having a top deck, a middle deck, and a bottom deck, and also including a collection trough coupled to at least one of the decks and configured to receive wellbore strengthening materials from the at least one of the decks. Additionally, a collection trough including a body having an inlet and an outlet, an angled surface disposed within the body and at least on extension surface extending form the body and configured to secure the collection trough to a vibratory separator.

Abstract: A magnetic clamping system for a shale shaker including at least one screen having at least two side ends extending between a first side and a second side and at least one attachment surface. The system further includes at least one mating surface of the shale shaker configured to receive the at least one screen, and at least one magnet disposed between the at least one screen and the shale shaker, wherein the at least one magnet is configured to magnetically couple the at least one screen directly to the shale shaker. Additionally, the system includes at least one decoupling apparatus, the decoupling apparatus having a handle disposed proximate a perimeter of a shale shaker, and at least one shaft that extends horizontally between the handle and one of the at least one magnet, wherein the handle is rotatable to reverse the polarity of the magnet.

Abstract: A hookstrip screen assembly for use in a shaker is disclosed. The hookstrip screen assembly includes a filtering element and a composite frame further including a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of filtering element attachment points. Also, the filtering element is attached to the plurality of filtering element attachment points. In another aspect, a method of forming a hookstrip screen assembly for use in a shaker. The method of forming a hookstrip screen assembly includes forming a wire structure, molding a composite frame incorporating the wire structure and forming a plurality of filtering element attachment points on the composite frame. The method also includes attaching a filtering element to the plurality of filtering element attachment points on the composite frame.

Abstract: A filter screen to be used in conjunction with a shale shaker in removing solid matter from drilling fluids includes a filter plate having a plurality of perforations, a plurality of hold-down apertures, and a pair of end caps attached to the filter plate, wherein each end cap is configured to isolate the hold down apertures from the plurality of perforations.

Abstract: A method of forming a shaker screen includes forming a frame, and attaching a first sealing element to at least one side of an outer perimeter of the frame, wherein the attaching comprises aligning a first mating surface of the frame to a second mating surface of the first sealing element, and wherein the first mating surface of the frame includes an extension, and the second mating surface of the first sealing element includes a groove configured to align with the extension. A system of sealing shaker screens includes a first screen and a second screen disposed adjacent the first screen, wherein a first sealing element of a first frame and a portion of the second screen interact to provide a seal between the first screen and the second screen.

Abstract: A vibratory separator (100) including a first actuator (107A) coupled to a basket (105) and a second actuator (107B) coupled to the basket. Additionally, the vibratory separator (100) includes a motion control switch operatively connected to at least one of the first and second actuators (107A, 107B) and configured to modulate motion generated by the first and second actuators between a first elliptical motion and a second elliptical motion. Also, a method of processing drilling waste, the method including flowing drilling waste over a screen of a vibratory separator and imparting a first elliptical motion to the screen. The method further includes monitoring the flow of drilling waste over the screen, determining an overload condition exists, and adjusting the motion to a second elliptical motion based on the determined load condition.

Abstract: A vibratory separator including a separator deck including a hinge point, and a positive displacement mechanism coupled to the separator deck and configured to displace the separator deck to an angle of inclination is disclosed. A method of separating solids form a slurry, the method including pumping a slurry onto a separator deck, vibrating the separator deck, and displacing an end of the separator deck in an upwards or downwards direction with a positive displacement mechanism to a selected angle of inclination is also disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic claiming system for a shale shaker including at least one screen having at least two side ends extending between a first side and a second side and at least one attachment surface, at least one mating surface of a shale shaker configured to receive at least one screen, wherein the shale shaker has a first end and a second end, and at least on magnet disposed between the at least one screen and the shale shaker, wherein the at least one magnet is configured to magnetically couple the at least one screen to the shale shaker is disclosed. A method for replacing a screen in a shale shaker including activating at least one decoupling apparatus, wherein a magnetic clamping system includes the at least one decoupling apparatus, removing at least one screen from the shale shaker, deactivating the at least one coupling apparatus, and installing at least one screen into the shale shaker is also disclosed.

Abstract: A shaker screen including a screen frame and an inflatable sealing element integrally formed with the screen frame is disclosed. A screen sealing system including a plurality of shaker screens, each shaker screen having a screen frame and an inflatable sealing element integrally formed with the screen frame, wherein the inflatable sealing elements of each shaker screen are in fluid communication is also disclosed. A method of sealing a composite screen including assembling at least one shaker screen within a shale shaker and inflating at least one inflatable sealing element disposed along at least a portion of a perimeter of the screen frame, the portions selected from a group consisting of a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outer surface is disclosed.

Abstract: A vibratory separator including a housing having a drilling material inlet and at least one basket, at least one screen assembly configured to be disposed in the at least one basket, an actuator connected to the at least one basket, wherein the actuator provides vibratory motion to the at least one basket, a sump configured to receive drilling material that passes through the at least one screen assembly, and at least one spray nozzle for cleaning the vibratory separator is disclosed. A method for cleaning a vibratory separator including providing instructions to a programmable logic controller to activate at least one spray nozzle disposed on the vibratory separator is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system including a first screen having a first frame and a first sealing element attached to an outer perimeter of the first frame, and a second screen disposed adjacent the first screen, the second screen having a second frame and a second sealing element attached to an outer perimeter of the second frame, wherein the first sealing element and the second sealing element provide a seal between the first screen and the second screen is disclosed. Further, a method of forming a screen frame including forming a frame and attaching a sealing element to an outer perimeter of the frame is disclosed. Additionally, a shaker screen including a frame and a sealing element attached to an outer perimeter of the frame, wherein the sealing element is attached by one selected from thermal bonding and co-molding is disclosed.

Abstract: A fluid distribution apparatus including a housing configured to receive a drilling material and direct the drilling material onto a separatory surface; and a damper coupled to the housing and configured to distribute a flow of the drilling material onto the separatory surface is disclosed.

Abstract: Abstract: A shaker screen for attachment to a bed of a shaker includes a screen frame having at least one mesh screen attached to the top side of the screen frame, wherein the screen frame is preferentially bowed prior to attaching the mesh screen to the screen frame.

Abstract: A vibratory separator including a screen frame and a screen attachment. The screen attachment including at least one vertically disposed latch on the screen frame, at least one vertically disposed catch on the screen frame, and at least one bearing surface proximate the at least one vertically disposed catch. Additionally, a method of securing adjacent screens including inserting a vertically disposed latch of a first screen into a catch of a second screen, wherein the inserting includes contacting the latch of the first screen with a bearing surface of the second screen adjacent the catch of the second screen. The method further includes forming a planar alignment of the first screen to the second screen.

Abstract: A shaker for separating solids from a drilling fluid includes a top screening deck (130), a flow-back pan (160) positioned beneath the top screening deck (130) for receiving an initially separated drilling fluid from the top screening deck. The flow-back pan (160) is divided into a plurality of channels (A, B, C, D). The shaker further includes a fluid distribution box (210), which includes a plurality of conduits (A, B, C, D). Each channel (A, B, C, D) of the flow-back pan (160) corresponds to one of the plurality of conduits (A, B, C, D) in the fluid distribution box (210) and each channel communicates a stream of the initially separated drilling fluid to the corresponding conduit. The shaker further includes a middle screening deck(140) and a bottom screening deck (150). Each conduit (A, B, C, D) routes the stream of initially separated drilling fluid to a corresponding one of the middle screening deck (140) and the bottom screening deck (150).

Abstract: A screen clamp (400) including a track (402) configured to secure a shaker screen (420) to a shaker, the track including an angled surface configured to contact a corresponding beveled edge of the shaker screen, the screen clamp further including an upper retainer (404) configured to extend from an inner wall of the shaker over at least a portion of the shaker screen.

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.

Abstract: A screen includes three or four layers of woven metal screen cloth. The coarsest of these layers is a structural layer includes threads which are woven into the cloth with surfaces which are fusible below a temperature at which the other layers of screen cloth are heat affected. These woven threads include each of the threads in the coarse screen cloth with the coated threads being wire with fusible polypropylene or polyethylene coatings. The cloth could alternatively be coated or a fusible grid used between screens instead. A support layer above the structural layer may include a woven metal screen with woven elements which are either coated with fusible material or are solidly of fusible material woven periodically therethrough in at least one direction. A fusible grid could alternatively be employed. Screens are laminated with one or two fine mesh screens heated on the support woven screen cloth with fusible surfaces to locate the fusible material in the finer cloths.

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.