Systems and methods to efficiently cool drilling mud
US11933120B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 6, 2023 |
| Grant date | Mar 19, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 6, 2043 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B21/06
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for cooling a drilling mud in a drilling operation. In aspects, the disclosure includes drawing the drilling mud from a last active volume mud tank of a plurality of active volume mud tanks and conducting the drilling mud to a heat-exchanger apparatus and then returning the drilling mud to the last active volume mud tank. In other aspects, the disclosure includes a variable frequency drive (“VFD”) for controlling a pumping rate of an electrically driven pump for the drilling mud, wherein the VFD is capable of adjusting the pumping rate for pumping of the drilling mud through a heat-exchanger apparatus. In further aspects, systems and methods are provided that use a tube-and-shell heat exchanger. The aspects are independently capable of providing improved efficiency. These and other aspects are preferably used in combination for greater efficiency.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.