SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING A SLURRY

• US 20200131870A1
• Filed: 11/25/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flowback Fluids, LLC.
• Original Assignee: Flowback Fluids, LLC.
• Inventors: Culver, Terry Gordon
• Granted Patent: US 11,105,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/267 by using a cyclone
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 5/34 Applications of hydrocyclones
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/38 by centrifugal separation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/56 Macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/72 by oxidation C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/722 Oxidation by peroxides
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/10 from quarries or from mining activities
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/065 Separating solids from drilling fluids

Abstract

A system and method for separating two or more materials, such as a solid from a liquid, or a solid from a slurry, are provided. An exemplary system and method for separating drill cuttings from drilling fluids are provided, as well as a system and method of processing such separated drill cuttings. In another implementation, a system and method is provided for separating gold (or another mineral, element, or solid) from a slurry or liquid that includes mining cuttings.

Claims

1. A system for processing a slurry that includes one or more solids that were recovered at least partially from a geologic formation, the system comprising:

a receiving vessel configured to receive the slurry that includes the one or more solids, the receiving vessel comprising at least a first chamber of the receiving vessel, the first chamber at least partially defined by a dividing wall positioned at least partially within the receiving vessel, the receiving vessel operable to provide at least a portion of the slurry from the first chamber at one or more output openings of the first chamber;

a pump configured to pump at least a portion of the slurry provided from the one or more output openings of the first chamber of the receiving vessel; and

a separator configured to receive at least a portion of the pumped slurry, and to separate at least a portion of the one or more solids of the pumped slurry that were recovered at least partially from the geologic formation to provide a first solids output, and to provide a remaining slurry to the receiving vessel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving vessel further comprises a second chamber.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second chamber is at least partially defined by the dividing wall,

wherein the dividing wall is inside the receiving vessel and shared by both the first and second chambers,

wherein the first and second chamber are at least partially separated by the dividing wall, and

wherein the separator is further configured to provide the remaining slurry to the receiving vessel at the second chamber of the receiving vessel.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein a mixing aperture fluidically connects the second chamber to the first chamber.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein a mixing aperture defined by a bottom distal end of the dividing wall and an interior surface of the second chamber fluidically connects the second chamber to the first chamber inside of the receiving vessel at the bottom distal end of the dividing wall.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the separator includes one or more from the group that consists of a hydrocyclone, a double hydrocyclone, a high G hydrocyclone, a screw press, a belt press, a filter, an ion exchange membrane, a desalination system, and a rotary fan press.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an injection port configured to receive a substance to add to the mineral slurry at a location before the mineral slurry is received at the separator.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the substance comprises at least one of a coalescing agent, a polymer, and an oxidizing agent.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the substance comprises an oxidizing agent that includes one or more from the group that consists of a permanganate, a potassium permanganate, a hydrogen peroxide, a soap, a surfactant, and a water soluble oxidizing agent.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the receiving vessel includes a mixing volume operable to receive a portion of a content of the first chamber of the receiving vessel and a portion of a content of the second chamber of the receiving vessel so that the mineral slurry from the first chamber and the remaining mineral slurry from the second chamber will come in contact with one another prior to exiting at the one or more output openings of the first chamber of the receiving vessel.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more solids of the slurry that were recovered at least partially from the geologic formation includes at least one of (i) one or more salts, (ii) drill cuttings, and (iii) sand.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the slurry recovered at least partially from the geologic formation includes at least one of (i) flowback water, (ii) produced water, and (iii) waste water.

13. A method for separating at least a portion of one or more solids of a slurry that was recovered at least partially from a geologic formation, the method comprising:

receiving the slurry that was provided at least partially from the geologic formation and that includes the one or more solids at a receiving vessel, the receiving vessel comprising at least a first chamber of the receiving vessel, the first chamber at least partially defined by a dividing wall positioned at least partially within the receiving vessel, the receiving vessel operable to provide at least a portion of the slurry from the first chamber at one or more output openings of the first chamber;

moving at least a portion of the slurry from the one or more output openings of the first chamber of the receiving vessel to a separator;

separating the slurry between at least a separated liquid and a portion of the one or more solids;

providing at least a portion of the portion of the one or more solids to a first location;

providing at least a portion of the separated liquid to the receiving vessel, and

mixing the at least the portion of the separated liquid and at least a portion the slurry.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the receiving vessel further comprises a second chamber.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second chamber is at least partially defined by the dividing wall,

wherein the dividing wall is inside the receiving vessel and shared by both the first and second chambers,

wherein the first and second chamber are at least partially separated by the dividing wall, and

wherein the at least the portion of the separated liquid that is provided to the receiving vessel is provided to the second chamber of the receiving vessel.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the mixing the at least the portion of the separated liquid and the at least the portion of the slurry is via a mixing aperture that fluidically connects the second chamber to the first chamber.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the mixing the at least the portion of the separated liquid and the at least the portion of the slurry is via a mixing aperture that fluidically connects the second chamber to the first chamber, and

wherein the mixing aperture is defined by a bottom distal end of the dividing wall and an interior surface of the second chamber and fluidically connects the second chamber to the first chamber inside of the receiving vessel at the bottom distal end of the dividing wall.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing an oxidizing agent to at least a portion of the slurry, the oxidizing agent including one or more from the group that consists of permanganate, a potassium permanganate, a hydrogen peroxide, a soap, a surfactant, and a water soluble oxidizing agent.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more solids of the slurry includes salt.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the slurry originates at least partially from the geologic formation that is accessed from an oil or natural gas well.