Method and Device for Conditioning Drilling Fluid

Abstract

Method and device for conditioning of drilling fluid comprising supplying drilling fluid at high pressure to opposite placed inline directed high pressure nozzles arranged in fluid communication with a sealed spacing for shearing the supplied drilling fluid followed by additionally mixing by high velocity streams colliding, and discharging the conditioned drilling fluid through an outlet of the sealed spacing.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A method for conditioning drilling fluid, comprising: (a) supplying drilling fluid under pressure to opposite placed inline directed nozzles (80) arranged in fluid communication with a sealed spacing for shearing the supplied drilling fluid; (b) mixing the drilling fluid by high velocity streams colliding; and (c) discharging the conditioned drilling fluid through an outlet (40) of the sealed spacing, wherein the method comprises measuring one or more of pressure difference, temperature, flow, quality and content of the conditioned drilling fluid, and controlling opening of the high pressure nozzles based on the measured one or more of pressure difference, temperature, flow, quality and content of the conditioned drilling fluid.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising utilizing venturi effect for mixing one or more fluids, chemicals and substances into the drilling fluid.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising pre-mixing the drilling fluid prior to or during the shearing of the drilling fluid.

18. A device (10) for conditioning drilling fluid, comprising: a substantially elongated main body (20) provided with inlets (30) for supply of drilling fluid at opposite ends, and an outlet (40) for discharge of conditioned drilling fluid, oppositely placed inline directed nozzles (80) arranged in connection with the inlets (30) configured to combine shear effect through the nozzles (80) and additionally mix by high velocity streams colliding, wherein the high pressure nozzles (80) are adjustable, the device (10) comprises measuring equipment arranged in connection with the device (10) for measuring one or more of pressure difference, temperature, flow, quality and content of the conditioned drilling fluid, and the device (10) comprises a control unit for controlling opening of the high pressure nozzles (80) based on the measured one or more of pressure difference, temperature, flow, quality and content of the conditioned drilling fluid.

19. The device (10) according to claim 18, further comprising an inner housing (50) arranged in the main body (20), the inner housing (50) formed by a hollow body (51) into which hollow body (51) the nozzles (80) extend from each end (52), which hollow body (51) is further provided with at least one opening (55) for discharge of conditioning drilling fluid to the mainly elongated main body (20).

20. The device (10) according to claim 19, wherein the substantially elongated main body (20) encloses the inner housing (50) with a spacing therebetween for conditioned drilling fluid.

21. The device (10) according to claim 18, wherein the hollow body (51) is made of a metal selected from the group consisting of wolfram carbide, polycrystalline diamond, polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, ceramic material and electroplated diamond coating, inner surfaces of the hollow body (51) are provided with a coating of metal selected from the group consisting of wolfram carbide, polycrystalline diamond, polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, ceramic material and electroplated diamond coating, or inner surfaces of the hollow body (51) are surfaced with radially extending rings (53) made from metal selected from the group consisting of wolfram carbide, polycrystalline diamond, polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, ceramic material and electroplated diamond coating, and plates (54) at ends (52) thereof, the plates being formed from a metal selected from the group consisting of wolfram carbide, polycrystalline diamond, polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, ceramic material and electroplated diamond coating.

22. The device (10) according to claim 18, further comprising detachable sides (60) arranged for sealing ends of the main body (20) and hollow body (51) of the inner housing (50).

23. The device (10) according to claim 19, further comprising detachable sides (60) arranged for sealing ends of the main body (20) and hollow body (51) of the inner housing (50).

24. The device (10) according to claim 22, wherein the main body (20) is provided with annular recesses (21) at ends thereof configured for receiving and accommodating the detachable sides (60).

25. The device (10) according to claim 22, wherein the main body (20) is provided with annular recesses (21) at ends thereof configured for receiving and accommodating the detachable sides (60).

26. The device according to claim 22, wherein detachable sides (60) at sides facing the hollow body (51) are provided with annular recesses (61) configured for receiving and accommodating the ends (52) of the hollow body (51) of the interior housing (50).

27. The device according to claim 23, wherein detachable sides (60) at sides facing the hollow body (51) are provided with annular recesses (61) configured for receiving and accommodating the ends (52) of the hollow body (51) of the interior housing (50).

28. The device according to claim 22, wherein the inlets (30) are arranged in the detachable sides (60) and the inlets (30) are in fluid communication with the interior space of the hollow body (51) via the nozzles (80).

29. The device according to claim 23, wherein the inlets (30) are arranged in the detachable sides (60) and the inlets (30) are in fluid communication with the interior space of the hollow body (51) via the nozzles (80).

30. The device according to claim 18, wherein the outlet (40) is provided with a flange (41) for connection to a storage tank or process piping.

31. The device according to claim 18, wherein the nozzles (80) are provided with inlets (100) arranged for supply of one or more fluids, chemicals and substances in connection with shearing or cutting of the drilling fluid.

32. The device according to claim 18, wherein the device (10) is provided with means (90) for pre-mixing the drilling fluid in front of or in the nozzles (80).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] The present invention will below be described in further detail with references to the attached drawings, where:

[0049] FIG. 1 is principle drawing of the disclosed device for conditioning drilling fluid,

[0050] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device for conditioning drilling fluid in FIG. 1, and

[0051] FIGS. 3A and 3B are principal drawings of modifications of a device for condition drilling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2 for description of device 10 for conditioning drilling fluid according to a first embodiment. The device 10 for conditioning drilling fluid may also referred to as a shear gun.

[0053] The device 10 for conditioning drilling fluid according to the first embodiment comprises a mainly elongated main body 20 provided with inlets 30 at opposite ends for receiving drilling fluid thereof and an outlet 40 for discharge of conditioned drilling fluid.

[0054] The device 10 for conditioning drilling fluid is further provided with an interior housing 50 arranged in the mainly elongated main body 20 in the form of a horizontal hollow body 51 arranged to receive drilling fluid at both ends 52 thereof.

[0055] The inner surfaces of the horizontal hollow body 51 are surfaced with radially extending hard metal rings 53, such as of wolfram carbide, polycrystalline diamond, Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, ceramic material or electroplated diamond coting as well as hard metal plates 54 at the ends 52, such as of wolfram carbide, polycrystalline diamond, Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, ceramic material or electroplated diamond coating to reduce wear of the internal space of the hollow body 51.

[0056] The hollow body 51 is further provided with at least one opening 55, such as a hole, slot or slit, from the inner space of the hollow body 51 to the exterior thereof arranged to function as fluid outlets for conditioning drilling fluid. In the shown embodiment there are arranged two radially extending sections 56 comprising a number of openings 55, at each side of a vertical centre axis of the hollow body 51.

[0057] Preferably at least one opening 55 is arranged at a lower side of the hollow body 51 to enable drainage of the device 10 when not in use.

[0058] The hollow body 51 of the inner housing can further be divided in several part that at assembly in the main body 20 from the hollow inner body 51. This will ease the insertion of the mentioned rings 53 and plates 54 in the hollow body 51.

[0059] Instead of the mentioned rings 53 and plates 54, the inner surfaces of the hollow body 51 may be provided with a coating of hard metal, such as of wolfram carbide, polycrystalline diamond, Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, ceramic material or electroplated diamond coating, at interior surfaces thereof. In another alternative the hollow body 51 is made of hard metal, such as wolfram carbide, polycrystalline diamond, Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, ceramic material or electroplated diamond coating.

[0060] The mainly elongated main body 20 this encloses the hollow body 51 of the interior housing 50 with a spacing therebetween.

[0061] The outlet 40 of the main body 20 is in the shown embodiment arranged at a lower side thereof, preferably provided with a flange 41 for arrangement topside of storage tank or process piping directed horizontally or vertically. By that the outlet 40 is arranged at lower side thereof this will ensure that the device 10 is drained when not in use.

[0062] The device 10 for conditioning drilling fluid is further provided with detachable sides 60 arranged for sealing the ends of the main body 20 and the ends 52 of the hollow body 51 of the inner housing 50.

[0063] In the shown embodiment the main body 20 is provided with interior annular recesses 21 at ends thereof arranged for receiving and accommodating the detachable sides 60.

[0064] The detachable sides 60 are further, at sides facing the hollow body 51, provided with annular recesses 61 adapted for receiving and accommodating the ends 52 of the hollow body 51 of the interior housing 50.

[0065] The detachable sides 60 are thus retained by the main body 20 and the detachable sides 60 retain the inner housing 50. The detachable sides 60 are further provided with through holes 62 for receiving and accommodating fastening rods or bolts 70 extending through the device 10, where nuts 71 are arranged to secure the sides 60 to the main body 20 and inner 50 housing together. The hollow body 51 of the inner housing 50 may further be provided with longitudinally extending through holes for receiving and accommodating the fastening rods or bolts 50.

[0066] The mentioned inlets 30 of the device 10 for supply of drilling fluid are arranged in the detachable sides 60. The inlets 30 are provided with connectors 31 for connection of a drilling fluid supply hose, pipe, tube or similar. The inlets 30 are in fluid communication with the interior space of the hollow body 51 via high pressure nozzles 80 arranged in the detachable sides 60, extending into the inner hollow body 51, which high pressure nozzles 80 exhibit a reduction in inner diameter form the inlet 30 to the inner space of the hollow body 51. The high-pressure nozzles 80 are thus arranged opposing and inline of each other in the hollow body 51 and will thus supply fluid from opposite sides into the hollow body 51. The high-pressure nozzles 80 are preferably made of or applied an inner surface of hard metal, such as of wolfram carbide, polycrystalline diamond, Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, ceramic material, or electroplated diamond coating. In a further embodiment the high-pressure nozzle 80 are arranged with a controllable opening thereof, as described below with references to the FIGS. 3A and 3B. In yet a further embodiment the high-pressure nozzles 80 are formed as a venturi nozzle. The high-pressure nozzle 80 may be integrated in the detachable sides 60 or exchangeably arranged in the detachable sides 60 via threads (not shown).

[0067] There will further be arranged sealing devices (not shown) between the detachable sides 60 and the main body 20.

[0068] The device 10 for conditioning drilling fluid thus works by that at least one high pressure pump (not shown) supplies drilling fluid at high pressure to both inlets 30, preferably with the same pressure, where the drilling fluid as it passes the high pressure nozzles 80 is cut/crushed whereupon the cut/crushed drilling fluid flowing from both sides collide at centre of the hollow body 51 of the inner housing 50, where they are mixed and leaves the inner housing 50 via the openings 55 and is collected in the main body 20. The presence of conditioned drilling fluid in the main body 20 will reduce sound from the process. The conditioned drilling fluid will then exit the device 10 through the outlet 40 of the main body 20 to a storage tank, process piping or similar.

[0069] The high velocity flow of cut/crushed drilling fluid will also result in that a high degree of mixing is achieved.

[0070] The at least one high pressure pump can be a dedicated pump for the device 10 or available high-pressure pumps at the site.

[0071] If only one high-pressure pump is used there will have to be a splitter arranged in front of the device 10, diving the flow from the high-pressure pump to the two inlets 30 of the device 10.

[0072] Reference is now made to FIGS. 3A and 3B which are principal drawings of possible modifications of the above-described device 10 for conditioning of drilling fluid, wherein FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view seen from above. Some of the parts described are omitted for clarity, and the reference number for many of the parts above are omitted for clarity.

[0073] According to an alternative embodiment of the device 10 for conditioning drilling fluid it is provided with means 90 for pre-mixing of the drilling fluid in front of the nozzles 80. This may be achieved by arranging a mixing zone/are or chamber 90 in front of the nozzle 80 which chamber 90 is provided with an outlet 91 facing the nozzle 80. In the shown embodiment this chamber 90 is mainly cylindrical or disc-shaped, and the drilling fluid inlet 30 are further arranged to supply the drilling fluid radially to the chamber 90 which will create a vortex effect on the supplied drilling fluid which provides a mixing effect to the drilling fluid before entering the nozzles 80.

[0074] Inner surfaces of the mentioned chamber 90 is preferably surfaced with a coating or sintered hard metal, such as of wolfram carbide, polycrystalline diamond, Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride, ceramic material or electroplated diamond coating. Alternatively also this embodiment may make use of hard metal ring(s) as described above, wherein an opening is arranged corresponding with the inlet 30.

[0075] The chamber 90 may further be provided with blades or vanes for improved pre-mixing.

[0076] According to a further embodiment the nozzles 80 may be adjustable. According to one embodiment this is achieved by that the nozzles 80 further is provided with a stem 81 with a tapering end 82 facing the nozzle 80 opening, which stem 81 is arranged movable in longitudinal direction of the nozzle 80 along the longitudinal center axis of the nozzle 80 by means of an actuator (not shown) or by manual adjustment. Accordingly, the nozzle 80 opening may be adjusted by a control unit (not shown) arranged for controlling the actuator based on measuring equipment arranged in connection with the device, such as measuring equipment for measuring one or more of: pressure difference, temperature, flow, quality and/or content of the conditioned drilling fluid.

[0077] According to a further alternative embodiment of the device 10 for conditioning drilling fluid the device 10 may be arranged to utilize venturi effect for mixing in one or more fluids, chemicals and/or substances, such as one or more oils or water, into the drilling fluid. In the shown embodiment this may be achieved by that the device 10 is provided with one or more inlets 100 for supply of fluid, chemical or substance leading from the exterior of the device 10 to in front of or in the nozzles 80. By this is achieved that when fluid, chemical or substance is supplied to the mentioned inlet 100 the venturi effect caused by the nozzles 80 will draw in the mentioned fluids, chemicals and/or substances in connection with shearing/cutting the drilling fluid.

[0078] By arranging several such inlets 100 distributed in circumferential direction of the nozzle 80 an improved effect is achieved when supplying the same fluid, chemical or substance, or the several inlets 100 may be used to mix different fluids, chemicals and/or substances into the drilling fluid.

[0079] It addition to arranging measuring equipment in connection with the device 10, measuring equipment to be used by the device may also be arranged in connection with other parts of a drilling fluid handling process.

[0080] It will be possible to achieve desired properties of the drilling fluid (mud). The device 10 will be able to handle pressure up towards 500 bar, and an amount of liquid between 1000-1500 I/min.

[0081] Accordingly, the device for conditioning drilling fluid can be mounted into an existing process horizontally in any stage of the drilling fluid (mud) handling process.

[0082] The device is easy to mount/dismantle, and further is considerably less space-demanding than prior art solutions.

[0083] The wear parts of the device are further replaceable without down time in drilling.

[0084] The device for conditioning drilling fluid are thus in combination with a pump suitable as a stand-alone unit that may be arranged inline for a wide range of applications, such as but not limited to, rigs, supply vessels or onshore plants.

[0085] The device can further be provided with an obstruction, shaped with a planer, convex or concave surface, in center of the hollow body of the inner housing.