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Method and apparatus for treating pressurized drilling fluid returns from a well

  • US 6,413,297 B1
  • Filed: 07/27/2000
  • Issued: 07/02/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of treating pressurized drilling fluid returns from a well having a returns outlet, the method comprising the steps of:

  • (i) providing a primary separation means for selectively separating solid, liquid and gas components of the drilling fluid returns, said primary separation means having input means for introducing drilling fluid returns thereto;

    (ii) providing a secondary separation means for selectively separating at least a portion of a gas component in the drilling fluid returns, said secondary separation means having input means for introducing drilling fluid returns thereto;

    (iii) connecting said input means of said primary separation means and said input means of said secondary separation means to the returns outlet of the well, said input means of said secondary separation means connected to the well returns outlet upstream of said input means of said primary separation means;

    (iv) connecting said primary and said secondary separation means to the returns outlet of said well through the use of control valves to regulate the flow of drilling fluid returns through said input means of said primary separation means and through said input means of said secondary separation means;

    (v) monitoring the flow of the gas component of the drilling fluid returns expelled from said primary separation means;

    (vi) in response to changes in the flow of gas expelled from said primary separation means, operating said control valves to regulate the flow velocity of drilling fluid returns through said primary and said secondary separation means to thereby maintain the flow of gas expelled from said primary separation means within predetermined parameters;

    (vii) conveying the solid and liquid components of the drilling fluid returns as separated by said secondary separation means to said input means of said primary separation means; and

    , (viii) monitoring the flow volume of the gas component of the drilling fluid returns expelled from said primary separation means through the use of a flow meter and utilizing said flow meter to generate a flow volume signal, said flow volume signal sent to a microprocessor for analyzing and comparison to a pre-determined flow value, thereafter using said microprocessor to actuate said control valves to maintain the flow of gas from said primary separation means within said pre-determined parameters and to control flow velocities.

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