The disclosure provides for systems and methods for removing particle settlement in a heater system. The method includes introducing a fluid into a first heater of the heater system, wherein the first heater is operable to increase the temperature of the introduced fluid. The method further includes actuating a first air agitation unit to discharge a volume of compressed air into the first heater, wherein the compressed air is configured to provide mixing and suspension to particles settled within the first heater through the velocity and expansion of the compressed air to atmospheric pressure. The method further includes discharging a mixture from the first heater comprising the fluid and the particles from the first heater and directing the discharged mixture to a return point in a flow path.

Methods and systems for removing drilling fluid from wet drill cuttings are described. According to some embodiments, the method comprises: at a pressure above atmospheric pressure: using an internal combustion engine, combusting an air-fuel mixture comprising air and a hydrocarbon-based fuel, thereby producing a combustion exhaust at a first temperature; providing the combustion exhaust to the wet drill cuttings to contact and directly heat the wet drill cuttings by convection so that at least some fluid is evaporated therefrom and at least some dry solid drill cuttings remain, the evaporated fluid comprising drilling fluid and water; condensing at least a portion of the evaporated fluid to produce condensed drilling fluid, water and non-condensable inert gas; and separately recovering the condensed drilling fluid, the water and the dry solid drill cuttings.

Systems and methods for removing drilling fluid from wet drill cuttings are described. According to some embodiments, the method comprises, at a pressure above atmospheric pressure: combusting a rich air-fuel mixture at a rich combustion temperature, thereby producing a generally low oxygen, inert rich exhaust; providing said rich exhaust to the wet drill cuttings to contact and directly heat the wet drill cuttings by convection so that at least a portion of the drilling fluid is evaporated therefrom and at least some dry solid drill cuttings remain; condensing at least a portion of the evaporated drilling fluid to produce condensed drilling fluid; and separately recovering the condensed drilling fluid and the dry solid drill cuttings.

Methods and systems for removing drilling fluid from wet drill cuttings are described. The methods may comprise: at a pressure above atmospheric pressure: separating air into constituent nitrogen and oxygen gases; heating a first mixture comprising the constituent oxygen gas with a mixture of air and natural gas to a combustion temperature, to produce a first combustion exhaust; transferring heat from the first combustion exhaust to a second mixture comprising the constituent nitrogen gas and non-condensable inert gas, thereby heating the second mixture to a first temperature; providing the heated second mixture to the wet drill cuttings to contact and directly heat the wet drill cuttings by convection so that at least a portion of drilling fluid is evaporated therefrom and at least some dry solid drill cuttings remain; condensing the evaporated drilling fluid to produce condensed drilling fluid; and separately recovering condensed drilling fluid and dry solid drill cuttings.

Two control strategies may be implemented to optimize mud circulation in a drilling mud circulation system. In a networked control strategy, the mud circulation system does not involve any centralized controller yet all the local controllers can exchange information in real-time via a central data storage. The master-slave control strategy involves a centralized optimizer, and the subsystems are treated as slave systems and are driven by a visual master control system.

An apparatus and method for facilitating recovery of lubrication beads is provided. The apparatus includes a hydrocyclone, for separating drilling fluid into a high density stream and a low density stream containing a major portion of the lubrication beads; a receiving pump, for pumping drilling fluid to the hydrocyclone; a discharge pump, for pumping the high density stream from the lower end of the hydrocyclone to further processing; and a hose for flowing the low density stream from the upper end of the hydrocyclone to the cleaned fluid handling system. A method for integrating the apparatus for facilitating recovery of lubrication beads from a drilling fluid into a solids control apparatus includes positioning an end of a first hose to receive the drilling fluid; arranging an end of a second hose in communication with the first shaker's filter screen; and setting an end of a third hose to empty into the cleaned fluid handling system. A method for facilitating recovery of lubrication beads from a drilling fluid by a shaker system includes receiving drilling fluid in a hydrocyclone; separating the drilling fluid into a high density stream and a low density stream containing a major portion of the lubrication beads; and flowing the high density stream to a first shaker of the shaker system, and directing the low density stream to a second shaker of the shaker system.

Systems and methods using: a membrane unit to treat fluids recovered from an oil and gas well are provided. The membrane unit may include a membrane having a porous substrate at. least partially coated with graphene oxide, making the membrane hydrophilic. The membrane separates water from other components within a fluid stream. The membrane unit may include an inlet to receive a fluid stream into the membrane unit. The fluid stream may be pretreated prior to reaching the membrane unit The membrane unit may also include a first outlet in fluid communication with one side of the membrane and a second outlet in fluid communication with the opposite side of the membrane.

The device for preventing the formation of paraffin and asphaltene sediments and for the reduction of the viscosity of crude oil for use at an eruptive oil well, an oil well with pumpjack or for use at a pipeline, the stated device including six identical serially connected modules. Each module has an inlet spout and outlet spout. Crude oil under pressure passes through modules and simultaneously is in contact with different alloys. The device's elements consist of four different alloys that affect the crude oil while it passes through modules under pressure in the manner that it prevents the formation of paraffin and asphaltene deposits inside the pipeline or eruptive oil wells or oil wells with pumpjacks.

A method for demulsifying a recovered drilling fluid is disclosed. A recovered drilling fluid is first combined with dilution water and a diethanolamine-based C.sub.8-C.sub.18 alkanolamide demulsifying agent. The recovered drilling fluid comprises hydrocarbons, a brine having at least 25% total dissolved solids, an emulsifier, and undissolved oil-wetted solids. In a second step, the mixture is separated, or is allowed to separate, into three distinct phases, including a clear oil phase comprising the hydrocarbons, a clear brine phase, and a water-wetted solid phase. Compositions suitable for use as demulsifiers and demulsified compositions are also disclosed. The alkanolamide demulsifying agents enable rapid, clean separation of phases and efficient recovery of 80% or more of the oil phase from the recovered drilling fluid.

Non-aqueous drilling fluids may be removed from a wellbore or tubing nor casing within the wellbore by introducing into the well a biodegradable aqueous fluid comprising banana.