A gas tight shale shaker for enhanced drilling fluid recovery and drilled solids washing. A process and apparatus for liquid phase-solid phase separation of oil base drilling mud-containing drill cuttings is described including flowing the drilling mud-containing drill cuttings over a vibrating screen bed to cause a least a portion of the drilling mud to pass through the screen bed and the drill cuttings to remain on the screen bed. A diluent is added to the oil base drilling mud containing drill cuttings prior to flowing the drilling mud containing drill cutting over the screen bed. The entire process is performed in a gas-tight environment preventing escape of diluent from the process into the external atmosphere and preventing introduction of gases into the process from the external atmosphere.

A flow back system for separating solids from a slurry recovered from a hydrocarbon well. The system includes a V-shaped tank with a first series of baffles configured to cause the settling of solids that are moved by a shaftless auger to a conduit fluidly connected to a dispersing device mounted over or adjacent to a shaker such as a linear shaker. The shaker receives and processes the output of the dispersing device and dewaters solids. The underflow of the shaker is recirculated through the tank.

Apparatus and methods for degassing and analyzing drilling fluid discharged from a wellbore at an oil and gas wellsite. The apparatus may be a drilling fluid analysis system having a gas analyzer, a fluid analyzer, and a degasser operable to release and separate mud gas entrained in the drilling fluid. The degasser may include a gas-liquid separator having a separator inlet configured to receive the drilling fluid containing the entrained mud gas, a first separator outlet for discharging the mud gas fluidly connected with the gas analyzer, and a second separator outlet for discharging degassed drilling fluid fluidly connected with the fluid analyzer.

A method includes performing a downhole operation in a borehole; capturing, during the downhole operation, downhole particles and drilling mud at the surface from the borehole into a screen of at least one shaker; shaking the screen to emit vibrations to separate the downhole particles from the drilling mud; defining a vibration limit for a normal operating condition of the at least one shaker; setting a vibration fault threshold based on the vibration limit for the normal operating condition; monitoring, using at least one sensor, the vibrations over time; and determining there is a fault condition for the shaker, in response to the vibrations exceeding the vibration fault threshold.

A system having a screen having an upper side and a lower side for separating drill cuttings and drilling fluid within a vibratory separator; a tray positioned below the screen for receiving the drilling fluid from the screen; a pressure differential generator coupled to the tray, the pressure differential generator configured to create a pressure differential between the upper side and the lower side through the screen to enhance the flow of drilling fluid through the screen; and a hose assembly coupling the pressure differential generator to a coupler, an inlet of the coupler being arranged perpendicularly between a first outlet coupled to a mist eliminator and a second outlet coupled to a tank.

Systems and methods for processing earthen slurries such as slurries of earth cuttings and, in particular, systems and methods that involve two separation units for dewatering the slurry or that involve additive mixing units are disclosed. The systems and methods may include a conveyor such as a drag-slat conveyor that removes slurry from a holding tank at which the material is dumped and toward the separation units to allow the material to be continuously processed and dumped into the holding tank.

A dual deck vibratory separator is provided having an improved mud flow path that provides for higher flow capacities overall is provided. The shaker has a lighter basket possessing a full-size upper deck extending across the width and length of the basket. Operational efficiency and operability is improved with flow deflecting and energy absorbing plates disposed intermediate along the mud flow path. The screen assemblies are secured with improved wedges, improved wedge guides, screen cushions, and cushion stops on transverse structure members for longer screen and slide life. An optional vacuum tray on the finishing trays further enhances recovery of drilling fluid. Maintenance, when required, is improved through ease of upper screen removal for inspection and access. Inclined side windows on each side of the basket may provide cleaning and viewing access.

An example nonlimiting embodiment of the present invention provides a flow divider that includes a slurry receiving compartment and a discharge arrangement having a plurality of discharge apertures. The slurry receiving compartment is arranged to relatively uniformly flow a portion of a slurry into each of the discharge apertures. The discharge apertures may be arranged linearly and/or horizontally such that the portions of the slurry exits each of the discharge apertures at a relatively even flow rate and feed feed boxes connected to vertically tiered screening surfaces of a screening machine.

A method includes performing a downhole operation in a borehole; capturing, during the downhole operation, downhole particles and drilling mud at the surface from the borehole into a screen of at least one shaker; shaking the screen to emit vibrations to separate the downhole particles from the drilling mud; defining a vibration limit for a normal operating condition of the at least one shaker; setting a vibration fault threshold based on the vibration limit for the normal operating condition; monitoring, using at least one sensor, the vibrations over time; and determining there is a fault condition for the shaker, in response to the vibrations exceeding the vibration fault threshold.

A method includes depositing, onto a shaker screen, downhole materials and fluids coming to a surface of the borehole as a result of a downhole operation. The downhole materials are separated from the fluids using the shaker screen. Using a radar, an electromagnetic wave is emitted toward a discharge end of the shaker screen or a transit downstream to the shaker. A reflection of the electromagnetic wave reflected off a portion of the downhole materials is detected. A velocity of the downhole materials advancing along the shaker screen toward the discharge end of the shaker screen or on a transit downstream to the shaker is determined. An approximate area occupied by the downhole materials on the shaker screen is determined. A volume of the downhole materials based on the velocity of the downhole materials and the approximate area occupied by the downhole materials on the shaker screen is determined.