WELLBORE STRENGTHENING MATERIAL RECOVERY

• US 20110297373A1
• Filed: 03/05/2010
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: M-I LLC (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: M-I LLC (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Timmerman, Michael A., Carr, Brian S., Marshall, James A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,752,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/267
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 13/16 Feed or discharge arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 2201/04 Multiple deck screening devices comprising one or more superimposed screens
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 2230/01 Wet separation
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/063 by separating components

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.

Claims

1. A wellbore strengthening material collection system comprising:

a vibratory separator comprising;

a top deck;

a middle deck; and

a bottom deck; and

a collection trough coupled to at least one of the decks and configured to receive wellbore strengthening materials from at least one of the decks.

2. The collection system of claim 1, wherein the collection trough is removable.

3. The collection system of claim 1, wherein the collection trough comprises:

an inlet configured to receive the wellbore strengthening materials from at least one of the decks;

an angled lower surface; and

an outlet.

4. The collection system of claim 3, wherein the outlet is configured to direct the wellbore strengthening materials to an active drilling fluid system.

5. The collection system of claim 3, wherein the collection trough further comprises:

at least one handle for removing the collection trough from the vibratory separator.

6. The collection system of claim 3, wherein the collection trough further comprises:

at least two engagement surfaces configured to engage the at least one of the decks of the vibratory separator.

7. The collection system of claim 6, wherein the vibratory separator further comprises:

a pressure actuation device configured to secure the engagement surfaces of the collection trough to at least one of the decks of the vibratory separator.

8. The collection system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first screen disposed on the top deck;

a second screen disposed on the middle deck; and

a third screen disposed on the bottom deck.

9. The collection system of claim 8, wherein the first screen comprises perforations having a larger diameter than the second screen.

10. The collection system of claim 9, wherein the second screen comprises perforations having a larger diameter than the third screen.

11. The collection system of claim 1, further comprising:

a diverter coupled to the vibratory separator and configured to receive a flow of wellbore strengthening materials from the collection trough.

12. A collection trough comprising:

a body having an inlet and an outlet;

an angled surface disposed within the body; and

at least one extension surface extending from the body and configured to secure the collection trough to a vibratory separator.

13. The collection trough of claim 12, wherein the at least one engagement surface is secured through pressure actuation.

14. The collection trough of claim 12, further comprising:

at least one handle disposed to the body and configured to allow the collection trough to be removed from the vibratory separator.

15. The collection trough of claim 12, wherein the outlet is configured to direct a flow of wellbore strengthening materials from the body to an active drilling fluid system.

16. The collection trough of claim 12, wherein the collection trough is configured to be removed from the vibratory separator.

17. The collection trough of claim 12, wherein the collection trough is coupled to the middle deck of the vibratory separator.

18. A method of recovering wellbore strengthening materials, the method comprising:

providing a flow of drilling fluid from a wellbore to a vibratory separator;

separating the drilling fluid into a first effluent and a solids portion;

separating wellbore strengthening materials from the first effluent; and

directing the wellbore strengthening materials to an active drilling fluid system via a removable collection trough.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

separating a second effluent from the drilling fluid.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

separating the second effluent into a fines portion and a third effluent; and

returning the third effluent to the active drilling fluid system.

21. The method of claim 18, where the directing comprises:

passing the wellbore strengthening materials over an angled portion of the removable collection trough.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

disengaging the removable collection trough from the vibratory separator.