Patent · US Expired

Desilter

US4226726A · kind A · utility

25Cited by
5References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 5, 1979
Grant dateOct 7, 1980
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 5, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B21/065
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An improved desilter for drilling muds consists of one or more hydrocyclones with certain features providing for better separation of large particles from the mud. Drilling muds used in drilling oil wells and the like give substantially improved performance when the larger particles are removed therefrom and the mud consists of fine particles having a narrow range of particle size. An improved hydrocyclone for removing coarser particles from the drilling mud has overflow and underflow outlets which discharge openly rather than into a collection manifold. The overflow outlet is in the form of a controllable syphon which may be adjusted in syphon length or which may include means to adjust the effective length of the syphon leg. The adjustment of the syphon leg controls the overflow of the thin, more uniform mud and effects a superior separation of the larger particles from the mud. A preferred desilter apparatus comprises a plurality of hydrocyclones, as described, interconnected by an inlet manifold and having underflow and overflow outlets, respectively, for discharge of large particles and of a thin mud of uniform small particle size to separate open collection systems.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.