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Recovery of gas from drilling fluid returns in underbalanced drilling

  • US 5,775,442 A
  • Filed: 10/29/1996
  • Issued: 07/07/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for treating pressurized drilling fluid returns from a well having a returns outlet and inlet means for introducing drilling fluid and added gas to the well, said well undergoing underbalanced drilling, said returns comprising a liquid component, a particulate solids component and a gas component comprising added gas, said method comprising:

  • providing a pressure-containing loop circuit extending between and connected with the returns outlet and inlet means, said circuit comprising a separator vessel, a circuit for cleaning gas and a compressor;

    introducing the returns into the separator vessel, separating the solids, liquid and gas components in the vessel and producing separate solids, liquid and gas streams from the vessel, said gas stream containing minor amounts of entrained solids and liquid;

    separating sufficient entrained solids and liquid from the gas stream in the cleaning circuit to produce cleaned gas acceptable as compressor feed; and

    compressing cleaned gas in the compressor to well re-injection pressure and recycling it to the well as added gas.

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