Drilling mud degasser apparatus and system
US4294593A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 2, 1980 |
| Grant date | Oct 13, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 2, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B21/067
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A drilling mud degasser apparatus and system consists of a vacuum degasser tank, system of blowers or compressors for evacuation, and various control features associated therewith. The tank has an upward spiraling helical shelf which becomes progressively wider from bottom to top so that mud is discharged in a thin film into the evacuated interior of the tank. Mud level in the tank is controlled by a pair of float operated valves, one controlling a bottom discharge and the other controlling an overflow valve. A plurality of compressors are connected in parallel for evacuating the tank. One compressor runs continually and the others are turned on in response to tank pressure and off in response to compressor outlet temperature. A safety conduit is positioned in parallel to the compressors and includes a swing check valve which opens in response to a pressure surge in the tank to permit the increased pressure to bypass the compressors. The overflow-controlling valve is protected against mud contamination by an inverted U-tube. Mud is normally removed from the bottom discharge under suction provided by mud flowing through an aspirator nozzle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.