A separation system including a control unit, a first pump connected to the control unit, and a first valve in fluid communication with the first pump and connected to the control unit. Also, a first density meter in fluid communication with the first valve and connected to the control unit. The system further includes a separator in fluid communication with the density meter and connected to the control unit and a tank in fluid communication with the separator. The system also includes a second pump in fluid communication with the tank and connected to the control unit, as well as a second density meter in fluid communication with the second pump and connected to the control unit and a second valve in fluid communication with the second density meter and connected to the control unit.

An apparatus includes a vibratory separator with a top deck, a middle deck, and a bottom deck, and a collection trough coupled to at least one of the top deck, the middle deck, and the bottom deck. The collection trough includes a collection container having an inlet configured to receive a material retained on the at least one of the top deck, the middle deck, and the bottom deck, and a sloped surface configured to guide the material from the inlet to an outlet of the collection container, and a pressure differential generator disposed proximate the outlet of the collection container.

A method, apparatus and system for flowing a fluid from an inlet flush nozzle onto tiered plates in a trough is provided. Material may fall from a deck in a vibratory separator, such as a shale shaker, into the trough, which is attached to the separator. The trough has a main inlet and the inlet flush nozzle that opens to tiered plates. An external pipe may feed the fluid into the main inlet and the inlet flush nozzle to lubricate the tiered plates in the trough. Material falling from the vibratory separator may float on the fluid to flow toward an outlet of the trough. A single plate with perforations may be used instead of the tiered plates to permit the fluid to penetrate the perforations to suspend the material, allowing the material to flow across the single plate to an outlet.

Methods and systems for monitoring the oil to water ratio of a drilling fluid are disclosed. An example drilling fluid monitoring and handling system comprises a mud pit coupled to a fluid supply system and a fluid analysis system. The fluid supply system is coupled to the mud pit and the fluid analysis system. The fluid analysis system is coupled to the mud pit and the fluid supply system, wherein the fluid analysis system comprises a dielectric probe.

An apparatus and methods secure modular repair plugs to one another to repair different sized cells of a screen. A modular repair plug is configured to attach to another modular repair plug to create an extended modular repair plug. The modular repair plug can fit within a first, smaller cell, and the extended modular repair plug can fit within a larger second cell.

A system and method for recovering drilling fluid from shaker tailings includes a hopper and a cover that is pivotable between a first position in which the hopper is uncovered and a second position in which the hopper is covered. In the first position, the hopper receives the tailings, which are pumped via a low shear pump to a centrifuge. The drilling fluid extracted in the centrifuge is stored in a holding tank. In the second position, the cover is angled with respect to the direction of gravity so as to divert shaker tailings from being received in the hopper. Some fluid from the holding tank is sprayed into the hopper through nozzles to convey the deposited tailings toward the pump. A level detector senses the level of the mixture in the hopper, and an associated control system controls the pump speed and the cover position to control the operation.

The drilling rig includes a first substructure and a second substructure. The second substructure is positioned generally parallel to and spaced apart from the first substructure and generally the same height as the first substructure. The drilling rig further includes a drill floor coupled to the first and second substructures, where the drill floor positioned substantially at the top of the first and second substructures.

Methods and systems for determining slip velocity of drill cuttings obtained from subsurface formations are disclosed. The system includes a first cylindrical tube having a first diameter and a first length, wherein the first tube is attached to a base plate, a second cylindrical tube having a second dimeter smaller than the first diameter and a second length larger than the first length, the second tube attached to a lower portion of the first tube and running substantially parallel to the first tube, and an ultrasonic device operatively connected to an opening of the second tube for measuring a level of a fluid in the second tube, and a computer operatively connected to the ultrasonic device, the computer configured to store and analyze data received from the ultrasonic device.

A subterranean product extraction composition may include a borehole fluid that may include a thiamine based shale inhibitor active to inhibit reactivity of a formation shale to a base fluid of a borehole fluid. A method of extracting a subterranean product via a borehole may include providing a borehole fluid containing a thiamine-based shale inhibitor and inhibiting reactivity of a formation shale contacted with the borehole fluid. A system for extracting a subterranean product via a borehole may include a tubular having an end in proximity to a formation shale and in fluid communication with a container dispensing a borehole fluid containing a thiamine-based shale inhibitor. The thiamine-based shale inhibitor is inert to the borehole fluid and has superior activity as compared to potassium chloride to inhibit shale reactivity. The borehole fluid may be a drilling fluid. The base fluid may be water.

A system for processing drilling mud, the system including a primary separation tank having an inlet for receiving drilling waste and an outlet in fluid communication with a feed line, and an injection pump in fluid communication with a polymer tank and the feed line. The system also includes a clarifying tank in fluid communication with the feed line and a first collection tank, wherein effluent from the clarifying tank is discharged into the first collection tank, and a centrifuge in fluid communication with the clarifying tank and a second collection tank, wherein effluent from the centrifuge is discharged into the second collection tank.