Squeegee Collection System for Vibratory Separator Material Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current separators in the oil and gas industry, such as shale shakers, face inefficiencies in recovering wellbore strengthening materials, which are expensive and crucial for preventing fluid loss, due to the time-consuming and costly process of mud evaluation and recycling, and the need for effective removal of cuttings from drilling fluids.
Innovation Solution
A collection system incorporating a collection trough with a squeegee member that facilitates the removal of wellbore strengthening materials from a vibratory separator, allowing for efficient collection and conveyance of these materials through a discharge conduit, utilizing various mechanisms like magnetic coupling, pneumatic, or lead screw systems to move the squeegee within the trough.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If traditional shale shakers are used to separate cuttings from drilling fluid, then cuttings removal is achieved, but wellbore strengthening materials are lost in the process
Solution Approach 1:
The separation process is divided into multiple stages: initial vibratory separation on the shale shaker deck, followed by collection in a trough, and final conveyance via a squeegee mechanism. This segmentation allows different separation mechanisms to work together, capturing wellbore strengthening materials that would otherwise be lost in traditional single-stage separation.
Solution Approach 2:
A collection trough acts as an intermediary device between the vibratory separator deck and the discharge system. The trough collects material discharged from the separator and directs it to a squeegee mechanism, which then conveys the material to a collection point. This intermediary system prevents direct loss of wellbore strengthening materials while maintaining efficient cuttings removal.
2Loss of substance
If manual collection methods are used for wellbore strengthening materials, then material recovery is possible, but the process is time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the vibratory energy already present in the shale shaker operation to convey material through the collection trough. The squeegee mechanism is driven by the same vibratory motion that separates cuttings, eliminating the need for separate power sources or manual intervention. This self-service approach recovers wellbore strengthening materials without adding time-consuming manual steps to the drilling operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The collection and conveyance system operates continuously during the drilling fluid circulation process. Material is collected and conveyed in real-time as it is discharged from the separator, rather than requiring intermittent manual collection or post-processing. This continuous operation eliminates downtime and maintains productivity while recovering wellbore strengthening materials.
3Reliability
If expensive wellbore strengthening materials are used to prevent fluid loss, then formation protection is improved, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding wellbore strengthening materials that are captured on the shale shaker deck along with cuttings, the system recovers these valuable materials through the collection trough and squeegee conveyance mechanism. The recovered materials can be reused in subsequent drilling operations, reducing the need to continuously purchase expensive wellbore strengthening materials while maintaining formation protection.
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
Enhances the recovery of wellbore strengthening materials, reducing operational costs and improving the efficiency of drilling fluid recycling by effectively separating and conveying these materials back into the active drilling fluid system, thereby optimizing the drilling process.
Implementation Method 1
a squeegee member that is movable within the collection trough to move the material received in the collection trough toward a discharge end of the collection trough
Implementation Method 2
utilizing various mechanisms like magnetic coupling, pneumatic, or lead screw systems to move the squeegee within the trough
Implementation Method 3
utilizing various mechanisms like magnetic coupling, pneumatic, or lead screw systems to move the squeegee within the trough
Implementation Method 4
utilizing various mechanisms like magnetic coupling, pneumatic, or lead screw systems to move the squeegee within the trough
Implementation Method 5
Vibratory separators use vibrational energy to separate components
Implementation Method 6
The shale shaker may be angled table with a generally perforated filter screen bottom. Returning drilling fluid is deposited at the feed end of the shale shaker. As the drilling fluid travels down length of the vibrating table, the fluid falls through the perforations to a reservoir below leaving the solid particulate material behind.
Data Source
AI summary
A collection system for collecting materials, such as cuttings, drilling fluid, wellbore fluid, lost circulation material, hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof, from a vibratory separator in a collection trough and facilitating movement of the collected materials to a discharge conduit utilizing a squeegee member. The squeegee may be moved along a track between the discharge conduits to move the material in the collection trough to the discharge conduits. The squeegee may be moved pneumatically or hydraulically. The squeegee may also be moved along the track magnetically utilizing a magnetic piston train. Movement of the squeegee can be modulated based on the rate of material into the collection trough.