Mobile Mud Mixing System Additive Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drilling mud systems do not efficiently integrate the mixing and circulation of additives into drilling fluids, particularly for water-based, oil-based, or synthetic-based fluids, and lack protection from harsh environmental conditions for additive storage.

Innovation Solution

A portable, fully-contained mud mixing system with a mobile platform that includes mud mixing tanks, suction and discharge piping assemblies, and an additive hopper for on-site mixing and circulation of drilling fluids, ensuring homogeneous consistency and internal storage of additives.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If additives are stored externally in the harsh environment, then storage space is reduced, but additive quality deteriorates due to exposure to harsh elements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadditive protection from harsh environmentVSAvoidsystem enclosure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the additive storage function with the mobile platform enclosure, integrating the hopper inside the protected environment of the trailer while maintaining the functionality of additive storage and distribution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The enclosed mobile platform serves multiple functions: it protects additives from harsh environments, provides storage capacity, enables mixing operations, and facilitates circulation through integrated piping systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Stability of the object's composition

If mixing and circulation systems are integrated into a single system, then mixing homogeneity is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemixture homogeneityVSAvoidintegrated system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the mixing function (hopper with agitator) and circulation function (pump with piping assemblies) into a single integrated system, where additives are mixed in the hopper and then circulated through the mud mixing tanks, ensuring homogeneous distribution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary mixing of additives in the hopper before circulation through the piping system, ensuring that additives are properly dispersed and hydrated before being distributed to the mud mixing tanks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If a closed-loop circulation system is implemented, then drilling mud quality is maintained, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling mud quality consistencyVSAvoidcirculation pump energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The pump system operates continuously to circulate drilling mud through the enclosed piping system, maintaining constant mixing and circulation that ensures consistent drilling mud quality throughout the operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The closed-loop circulation system provides continuous feedback by circulating mud back through the mixing tanks and hopper, allowing for ongoing adjustment and maintenance of drilling mud properties to ensure consistent quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Object-affected harmful factors

If additive storage hopper is enclosed within the platform, then additive protection is improved, but storage accessibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadditive environmental protectionVSAvoidadditive loading and unloading accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The enclosed platform is segmented with specific access points and loading mechanisms that allow additive hopper loading and unloading operations to be performed while maintaining the protective enclosure, separating the storage function from the access requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

The system provides a consistent and predictable drilling outcome by ensuring homogeneous mixing and circulation of additives, protecting additives from harsh environments, and enabling redundant circulation and storage, enhancing drilling efficiency and production results.

Implementation Method 1

a suction piping assembly and a discharge piping assembly which blend the additives within the circulating drilling mud into a homogeneous mixture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid circulation:

Implementation Method 2

blend the additives within the circulating drilling mud into a homogeneous mixture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid mixing:

Data Source

PatentUS11992817B2Integrated mobile mud mixing system

Publication Date: 2024.05.28 WEBB DUSTIN

AI summary

A portable mud mixing system for adding wet or dry components to oilfield drilling mud provides an enclosed mobile platform including at least one mud mixing hopper, at least one mud mixing tank, a suction piping assembly and a discharge piping assembly which blend the additives within the circulating drilling mud into a homogeneous mixture, circulate the mixture, and provide for introduction of the mixture into production, the system providing transfer of the drilling mud and mixture from pre-mix to production in one singular integrated system.