Method for concentrating solids from drilling slurry
First Claim
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1. A method for removing solids from a slurry stream comprising fluids and entrained solids, the method comprising:
- adding a flocculating agent to agglomerate said solids so as to form agglomerated solids within said slurry stream;
introducing said slurry stream having said agglomerated solids and said fluids therein through an inlet to a vessel having an outlet that is below and substantially co-axial with said inlet;
directing said agglomerated solids through a guiding member which guides said agglomerated solids directly to said outlet, said guiding member including a plurality of chambers comprising a central chamber and radially disposed chambers, wherein a ratio of fluids to solids increases from said central chamber across each of said chambers radially disposed therefrom;
forming and maintaining a substantially conical mass of agglomerated solids substantially co-axial with and over said outlet, thereby upwardly displacing said fluids;
withdrawing said agglomerated solids from said mass of agglomerated solids via said outlet; and
removing said fluids from said vessel from a location remote from said outlet.
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Abstract
An apparatus to separate solids from drilling slurry, having an inlet positioned over an outlet of a concentration tank to displace water that would otherwise enter the down-stream centrifuges. Baffles are provided to direct solids to the outlet and minimize the time that solids spend in the concentration tank. Fluids having solids removed therefrom are removed from the apparatus at a location remote from the outlet.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method for removing solids from a slurry stream comprising fluids and entrained solids, the method comprising:
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adding a flocculating agent to agglomerate said solids so as to form agglomerated solids within said slurry stream; introducing said slurry stream having said agglomerated solids and said fluids therein through an inlet to a vessel having an outlet that is below and substantially co-axial with said inlet; directing said agglomerated solids through a guiding member which guides said agglomerated solids directly to said outlet, said guiding member including a plurality of chambers comprising a central chamber and radially disposed chambers, wherein a ratio of fluids to solids increases from said central chamber across each of said chambers radially disposed therefrom; forming and maintaining a substantially conical mass of agglomerated solids substantially co-axial with and over said outlet, thereby upwardly displacing said fluids; withdrawing said agglomerated solids from said mass of agglomerated solids via said outlet; and removing said fluids from said vessel from a location remote from said outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification