National Oilwell Varco, L.p.

Varco I/p, Inc.

Globalfoundries Inc.

Eric Landon Scott

Lyndon Ray Stone

Guy Lamont Mcclung

Guy LaMont McClung, Iii

Kenneth W Seyffert

Kevin Thomas McDonough

Kevin Mcdonough

William Leo Koederitz

George Edward Smith

Norman Frank Padalino

Norman Padalino

William L Koederitz

Richard James Koch

Paul William Dufilho

Mallapa Ishwarappa Guggari

Norman Padolino

Ian M Holman

George Alexander Burnett

Clive Lam

Manfred Worms

Guy Lamonte McClung, Iii

Leon Ellison

Mallappa Ishwarappa Guggari

Reinhold Kammann

Gary Steven Strong

Khaled El Dorry

Bradford R Wood

Muthu Valliappan

Mark J Lapeyrouse

Kenneth Wayne Seyffert

Nahum Ronquillo

Buddy Stone

Manfred Hermann Worms

Clive Chemo Lam

Guy Lamont Iii Mcclung

Guy Lamonte Mcclung Iii

Guggari Mallappa Ishwarappa Ishwarappa

Guy Lamont Mcclung Iii

A system for separating solids from fluids, the system including a separator having a deck having a feed inlet and a solids outlet and a plurality of screens disposed on the deck. Also, an image sensor disposed proximate the solids outlet, the image sensor to capture images of the separator, and send the captured mages to a remote location for analysis. Additionally, a method of monitoring a separator, the method including capturing an image of the separator and sending the image of the separator to a control module disposed at a remote location. The method also including analyzing the image with the control module to determine a separation property and modifying the operation of the separator based on the determined separation property.

Separator monitoring and control

A drilling fluid conditioning system for a well system includes a return conduit configured to receive drilling fluid recirculated from a wellbore of the well system, a drilling fluid pre-chilling system in fluid communication with and downstream from the return conduit, wherein the drilling fluid pre-chilling system includes a cooler configured to transfer heat from the drilling fluid to a heat sink, and a solids control system in fluid communication with and downstream from the drilling fluid pre-chilling system, wherein the solids control system is configured to separate at least some solids from the drilling fluid.

Drilling fluid conditioning systems and methods

A screen assembly for vibratory separation includes a screen having a plurality of raised screen components formed therein, with each of the raised screen components defining a face oriented to oppose a flow direction of the screen assembly. In examples, a screen of the screen assembly is assembled from a plurality of metal cloth layers bonded together. Bonding of the metal cloth layers may be accomplished by a sintering process.

Screen assembly for vibratory separation

A method for operating a shale shaker to separate solids from a solids laden fluid, the shale shaker comprising a basket for holding at least one screen and a vibratory mechanism for vibrating the basket to an acceleration value, the method comprising the steps of monitoring the magnitude of the load of solids laden fluid in the basket and adjusting the acceleration value induced in the basket according to the magnitude of the load, wherein the acceleration is stepped down to a low acceleration value below a low load threshold.

Apparatus and method for separating solids from a solids laden drilling fluid

Methods for automatically controlling a vibratory separator, e.g., but not limited to a shale shaker for processing drilling fluid, the methods in certain aspects including: introducing material to a vibratory separator; sensing with sensor apparatus a state parameter indicative of operation of the vibratory separator; providing a signal indicative of a value of said state parameter to control apparatus; and, with the control apparatus, automatically controlling the vibratory separator based on the level of the state parameter. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 CFR 1.72().

Automatic vibratory separator

The present disclosure is generally directed to vibratory separators that are used for processing drilling fluid, and in particular, vibratory separators that utilize electro-magnetic clamping apparatuses for attaching screen assemblies to a basket assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, an illustrative vibratory separator is disclosed which includes, among other things, a basket assembly having at least one screen support, and at least one screen assembly that is adapted to be releasably secured to the at least one screen support. Additionally, the disclosed vibratory separator also includes an electro-magnetic clamp apparatus that is adapted to releasably secure the at least one screen assembly to the at least one screen support when the electro-magnetic clamp apparatus is energized to a magnetized state, and to release the at least one screen assembly from the at least one screen support when the electro-magnetic clamp apparatus is de-energized to an un-magnetized state.

Magnetic vibratory screen clamping

Methods for automatically controlling a vibratory separator, e.g., but not limited to a shale shaker for processing drilling fluid, the methods in certain aspects including: introducing material to a vibratory separator; sensing with sensor apparatus a state parameter indicative of operation of the vibratory separator; providing a signal indicative of a value of said state parameter to control apparatus; and, with the control apparatus, automatically controlling the vibratory separator based on the level of the state parameter. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Methods for automatically controlling a vibratory separator for processing drilling fluid are disclosed. The methods include introducing material to a vibratory separator, and sensing with a sensor apparatus a state parameter indicative of operation of the vibratory separator and providing a signal indicative of a value of the state parameter to a control apparatus. Then, with the control apparatus, automatically controlling the vibratory separator based on the level of the state parameter.

A screen assembly having a support, the support made of composite material, and at least one layer of screening material on the support, the support having openings that are larger at the top than at the bottom (or vice versa) and/or with a base member or member extending across the bottom of the support.

Screen assemblies and vibratory separators

A vibratory separator (in one aspect, a shale shaker) and methods for using it, the separator in certain aspects having a base, a basket movably mounted on the base, screen apparatus on the basket, material flowing onto the screen apparatus for treatment, at least a portion of the screen apparatus not inclined downhill (e.g. said portion horizontal or uphill), electromagnetic vibratory apparatus connected to the basket for vibrating the basket and the screen apparatus, driving apparatus for driving the electromagnetic vibratory apparatus, and control apparatus (on-site and/or remote) for controlling the driving apparatus and the electromagnetic vibratory apparatus; the material, in one aspect, being drilling fluid material with solids therein.

Automatic separator or shaker with electromagnetic vibrator apparatus

A system for controlling viscosity of drilling fluid, the system, in certain aspects, including a container of the material, a viscosity sensor in the container for producing viscosity signals, a centrifuge for removing solids from the material, drive apparatuses for driving a rotatable bowl and a rotatable conveyor of the centrifuge, pump apparatus for pumping material, drive apparatus for the pump apparatus, and a control system for controlling the centrifuge and the pump apparatus in response to viscosity signals so that selected solids from material processed by the centrifuge are removed to control viscosity of drilling fluid material in the container; and in certain aspects, a similar system for controlling density of a drilling fluid material.

Centrifuge control in response to viscosity and density parameters of drilling fluid

A system for controlling a centrifuge processing drilling fluid, the system, in certain aspects, including a container of the material, a sensor in the container for producing signals indicative of a fluid density parameter, a centrifuge for removing solids from the material, drive apparatuses for driving a rotatable bowl and a rotatable conveyor of the centrifuge, pump apparatus for pumping material, drive apparatus for the pump apparatus, and a control system for receiving the signals and controlling the centrifuge in response to the density parameter of the drilling fluid.

Systems for centrifuge control in response to viscosity and density parameters of drilling fluids

A screen apparatus, which in certain aspects is a screen apparatus having a support, screening material on the support, and energizable identification apparatus on (exteriorly, interiorly, and/or within) the support for identifying the screen apparatus; a vibratory separator with such a screen apparatus; and a vibratory separator or shaker with energizable identification apparatus.

Shale shakers and screens with identification apparatuses

A vibratory separator having a basket for supporting screen apparatus for treating material, the basket pivotably mounted on a base, vibratory apparatus connected to the basket for vibrating the basket, the material forming a pool on the screen apparatus, and a beach formed on the screen apparatus, measurement apparatus connected to the basket and positioned above the screen apparatus for measuring a distance from the measurement apparatus to a top surface of the pool, control apparatus for controlling and in communication with the measurement apparatus for receiving signals therefrom indicative of said distance, which distance is indicative of pool depth at that location and which correspond to beach extent, and adjustment apparatus controlled by the control apparatus for adjusting angle of the basket, thereby adjusting extent of the beach.

Vibratory separator with automatically adjustable beach

A vibratory separator having a base, a basket movably mounted on the base and for supporting screen apparatus for treating material introduced into the vibratory separator, the basket on a base and pivotable with respect thereto, vibratory apparatus connected to the basket for vibrating the basket, screen apparatus supported by the basket, the material flowing onto the screen apparatus for treatment, angle adjustment apparatus connected to the basket for adjusting angle of the basket, sensor apparatus for sensing a parameter indicative of basket angle and for providing a signal corresponding to said basket angle, control apparatus for receiving signals from the sensor apparatus and for controlling basket angle based on said signals, the angle adjustment apparatus, in one particular aspect, including a rocker arm assembly with a first pivotable end.

Growing community of inventors

Conroe, TX, United States of America

Eric Landon Scott