Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a mixture of drilling fluid and beads into a flow of drilling fluid, e.g., flowing in a conduit or flowing upwardly within an annulus of a riser, the method in certain aspects including: introducing an initial stream including a mixture of drilling fluid and beads into a hydrocyclone; processing the initial stream with the hydrocyclone producing a first stream and a second stream, the first stream containing drilling fluid and beads and the second stream containing drilling fluid; and feeding the first stream to shale shaker apparatus and/or to centrifugal liquid/liquid separator apparatus producing a primary stream and a secondary stream, the primary stream including beads and drilling fluid; and feeding the primary stream into the conduit or into an annulus of the riser.

Abstract: A screen assembly, a vibratory separator with such a screen assembly and methods of its use, the screen assembly, in certain aspects, having a frame with a first frame end spaced apart from a second frame end by two opposed spaced-apart sides including a first side and a second side, screening material on the frame, a plurality of crossmembers spaced apart and extending from the first side to the second side, each crossmember of the plurality of crossmembers connected to the first side and the second side, and each crossmember of the plurality of crossmembers having at least one series of openings therethrough; in one particular aspect the frame having crossmembers located to facilitate sealing of the support against screen assembly mounting structure of a vibratory separator; and methods for using such frames and such screen assemblies.

Abstract: A support strip has been invented for supporting part of a screen used in a vibratory shaker, the support strip having a support body having spaced-apart ends spaced-apart sides, and a top surface, and at least one hump, raised portion or upturned finger projecting above the top surface of the support body and a support beneath said at least one hump, etc. The support may be entirely beneath the hump, etc. or part thereof may project beyond the hump, etc. The present invention also discloses a variety of screens and screen assemblies with such structure.