Drilling Fluid Waste Disposal System with Weir Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drilling fluid waste disposal poses environmental and economic challenges due to the need for costly surface disposal and the risk of particles settling out of suspension if the fluid's density and viscosity are not within a predetermined range, limiting its re-injection into subterranean formations.
Innovation Solution
A drilling fluid waste disposal system featuring a trench with a grate for receiving solids, a receiving pit with weirs for separating liquid and solid portions, and a pumping system to recycle the liquid-enriched portion back into the trench, while the solids-enriched portion is processed and potentially injected into a subterranean formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If drilling fluid waste is pumped back into the subterranean formation, then environmental liabilities and disposal costs are reduced, but particles may fall out of suspension if density and viscosity are not within predetermined range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies physical parameters of the drilling fluid waste by adding densifying agents to increase density and thickening agents to increase viscosity, thereby ensuring particles remain in suspension during transport and injection into the subterranean formation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces chemical additives (densifying agents and thickening agents) as intermediaries that modify the rheological properties of the drilling fluid waste, enabling stable particle suspension without requiring complex mechanical stabilization systems
2Ease of operation
If solids are received by backing up trucks into a receiving area and dumping, then the process is simple to operate, but the process is time-consuming and uses large amounts of water for washing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical truck backing and dumping system with a hydraulic/slurry transport system where solids are mixed with liquid to form slurry that can be pumped through pipelines, eliminating the need for truck maneuvering and manual dumping operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hydraulic principles to transport solids by mixing them with liquid to create pumpable slurry, which is then moved through pipelines using pumping equipment, replacing the traditional mechanical dumping and water washing process
3Object-generated harmful factors
If solids are received and washed out with water, then equipment fouling is reduced, but a large amount of water is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the washing function with the transport function by using the same liquid medium to both convey solids through the system and clean equipment surfaces, eliminating the need for separate washing operations and reducing overall water consumption
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates efficient separation and recycling of drilling fluid waste, reducing environmental impact and disposal costs by allowing for the re-injection of the liquid portion and effective processing of solids, thereby optimizing waste management.
Implementation Method 1
the slurry is separated into a liquid-enriched portion and a solid-enriched portion at least partially by the first and second weirs
Implementation Method 2
The pump is configured to draw the liquid-enriched portion of the slurry from a first position in the receiving pit
Data Source
AI summary
A drilling fluid waste disposal system includes a trench having an outlet, a receiving pit in fluid communication with the outlet of the trench, a first weir in the receiving pit, and a second weir in the receiving pit. The outlet of the trench feeds a slurry to the receiving pit, such that the slurry is at least partially separated into a liquid-enriched portion and a fluid-enriched portion using the first and second weirs. The system also includes a pump configured to draw the liquid-enriched portion of the slurry from the receiving pit and configured to introduce the at least some of the liquid-enriched portion of the slurry back into the trench. The system further includes a drying apparatus in communication with the receiving pit configured to receive the solids-enriched portion of the slurry from a second position in the receiving pit.