An in-line grinder has been developed which can be configured to perform in a variety of applications through the use of an adjustable rotor /
stator assembly, removable shear bar, and a variety of interchangeable
stator-rotor configurations. A unique drive
system utilizing a mechanical seal
cartridge provides maximum sealing with a minimum of shaft deflection and run-out, thereby improving performance. These improvements collectively allow the grinder to be configured for optimum
sizing of solids to a predetermined particle size for a broad range of materials. It has been demonstrated that a class of in-line grinders such as that described herein is applicable for
sizing drill cuttings for injection into a subsurface formation by way of an annular space formed in a
wellbore. The cuttings are removed from the
drilling fluid, conveyed to a shearing and
grinding system that converts the cuttings into a viscous
slurry with the addition of water and
viscosity enhancing polymers. The
system in its simplest form comprises a
slurry tank, a pump, and the instant in-line grinder. The pump circulates the mixture of cuttings, water including sea water and chemicals between the
slurry tank and the in-line grinder. The ground mixture leaving the in-line grinder is then routed to an
injection pump for
high pressure injection into the formation.