Smart shaker room

• US 9,915,112 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2014
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: M-I LLC (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: M-I LLC (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Geehan, Thomas, Jones, Bradley, Cady, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): GURTOWSKI, RICHARD C
• Application Number:
  US14/893,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20160090799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 33/03 with vibrating filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 33/804 integrally combined with devices for controlling the filtration
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/065 Separating solids from drilling fluids
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

This disclosure is generally drawn to systems, devices, apparatuses, and/or methods, related to monitoring a shaker used for separating solids from fluid. Specifically, the disclosed systems, devices, apparatuses, and/or methods relate to controlling an actuated arm to inspect, remove, replace, repair, clean, and/or install screen assemblies based on monitoring the shaker and its screen assemblies. In some examples, a system may include an actuated arm, a monitoring tool, and a controller. The actuated arm may be adjacent a shaker for separating one or more solids from a fluid. The monitoring tool may be coupled to the actuated arm and may monitor a screen assembly in the shaker. The controller may be in electrical communication with the actuated arm and the monitoring tool, and may control the actuated arm based on the monitoring of the screen assembly.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

monitoring, using a monitoring tool, an amount of fluid containing one or more solids in a shaker for separating the one or more solids from the fluid, wherein the monitoring tool is coupled to an end of an actuated arm adjacent the shaker, wherein the actuated arm is operatively coupled to the shaker such that the actuated arm is operable with or usable in conjunction with the shaker;

moving the monitoring tool with respect to a screen assembly in the shaker by moving the end of the actuated arm adjacent the shaker;

determining one or more solids property, including at least one of a quantity, a texture, a color, a size, a physical property, a chemical property, and a mineralogical property of the one or more solids;

determining one or more fluid property, including at least one of a quantity, a color, a size, a physical property, and a chemical property of the fluid; and

controlling, via a controller in electrical communication with the actuated arm and the monitoring tool, the actuated arm to adjust a position of the screen assembly with respect to the shaker based at least in part on the determined one or more solids property and the determined one or more fluid property.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the actuated arm includes at least one of:

removing the screen assembly from the shaker;

replacing the screen assembly;

inspecting the screen assembly for damage; and

adjusting an angle of the screen assembly in the shaker.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

emitting light through the screen assembly; and

identifying damage to the screen assembly based on an amount of emitted light through the screen assembly.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the actuated arm occurs without intervention of a human operator.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

collecting a portion of the one or more solids prior to discharging the one or more solids from the shaker; and

rinsing the collected portion of the one or more solids with a liquid.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, using an x-ray fluorescence device, an amount of low gravity solids and an amount of high gravity solids in the fluid.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing an amount of low gravity solids and an amount of high gravity solids in the fluid entering the shaker with an amount of low gravity solids and an amount of high gravity solids in the fluid exiting the shaker.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein controlling the actuated arm includes at least:

temporarily holding the screen assembly of the shaker with a clamping mechanism coupled to the end of the actuated arm adjacent to the shaker.

8. A system, comprising:

an actuated arm adjacent a shaker for separating one or more solids from a fluid and operatively coupled to the shaker such that the actuated arm is operable with or usable in conjunction with the shaker;

a monitoring tool coupled to an end of the actuated arm adjacent the shaker such that the monitoring tool is movable with respect to the shaker by moving the end of the actuated arm adjacent the shaker, the monitoring tool comprising at least one selected from a camera and a video camera adapted to monitor a screen assembly in the shaker;

a controller in electrical communication with the actuated arm and the monitoring tool, the controller adapted to control the actuated arm based on the monitoring of the screen assembly by the at least one selected from the camera and the video camera of the monitoring tool.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a light source adapted to emit light through a mesh of the screen assembly; and

wherein the monitoring tool is further adapted to measure the light emitted through the mesh of the screen assembly.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the monitoring tool identifies damage to the mesh of the screen assembly based on an amount of light emitted through the mesh.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the monitoring tool identifies a hole in the mesh of the screen assembly based on a relative increase in light being emitted through the mesh.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the monitoring tool further comprises a sensor.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is adapted to control the actuated arm based on an amount of fluid on the screen assembly.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the amount includes a pool depth of the fluid.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller causes a clamping mechanism coupled to the end of the actuated arm to at least one of temporarily hold, remove and replace the screen assembly of the shaker.

16. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

an analyzer adapted to analyze a property of at least one of the fluid and the one or more solids, the property including at least one of a physical property, a chemical property, and a mineralogical property.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the actuated arm comprises at least two articulated arms having at least one joint positioned between the at least two articulated arms of the actuated arm.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the monitoring tool is coupled to the actuated arm at the end of the actuated arm and adjacent to the clamping mechanism.