Internally heated screws

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11236560-B2
Application number	US-201916639396-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2019
Priority date	May 3, 2019
Publication date	Feb 1, 2022
Grant date	Feb 1, 2022

Abstract

Provided are systems and methods that are related to a fluid processing unit. A method for separating a drilling waste fluid, the method comprising: introducing drilling waste fluid into a thermal extraction chamber; allowing drilling waste fluid to flow longitudinally along two screws disposed within thermal extraction chamber, wherein each screw comprises a shaft, an orifice, and an internal heating element; allowing internal heating element to provide heat to thermal extraction chamber; allowing at least a portion of the drilling waste fluid to evaporate; removing evaporated fluid through a first outlet; removing solids through a second outlet. A thermal extraction chamber for separating drilling waste fluids, wherein thermal extraction chamber comprises: a barrel; a first screw; a second screw, wherein first screw and the second screw comprise a shaft, an orifice, a an internal heating element; an inlet port; a first outlet port; and a second outlet port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for separating a drilling waste fluid, the method comprising:
introducing the drilling waste fluid into a thermal extraction chamber via a hopper;
allowing the drilling waste fluid to flow longitudinally along two screws disposed within the thermal extraction chamber, wherein each screw comprises a shaft, an orifice, and an internal heating element;
allowing the internal heating element to provide heat to the thermal extraction chamber;
allowing the at least a portion of the drilling waste fluid to evaporate;
removing the evaporated fluid through a first outlet port;
removing the solids through a second outlet port;
determining a temperature of the two screws;
transmitting the temperature of the two screws to a programmable logic controller, wherein the programmable logic controller controls the internal heating element;
allowing the internal heating element to operate for a determined amount of time; and
shutting off the internal heating element via the programmable logic controller.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the internal heating element may be at least one internal heating element selected from the group consisting of a high wattage density cartridge heater, a cartridge heater, hot oil, a ceramic heater, a cast heater, steam, molten salt, an electrical resistance heater, an induction heater, and any combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical power source.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising providing about 1 kW to about 500 kW of energy to the internal heating element via the electrical power source.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each screw comprises a plurality of orifices.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein an internal heating element is disposed within each orifice.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each screw has a total surface area of about 1 m2 to about 15 m2.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the two screws have a combined surface area of about 1 m2 to about 20 m2.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the internal heating element provides heat to the thermal extraction chamber in an amount of about 1 kW to about 100 kW.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein each screw further comprises a thermocouple.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thermal extraction chamber comprises:
a barrel.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the two screws comprise a thermocouple.

13. A thermal extraction chamber for separating drilling waste fluids, wherein the thermal extraction chamber comprises:
a barrel;
a first screw;
a second screw,
wherein the first screw and the second screw comprise a shaft, an orifice, and an internal heating element; wherein the first screw and the second screw further comprise a slip ring disposed between the shaft and the internal heating element within the orifice; an electrical power source, wherein the electrical power source provides about 1 kW to about 500 kW of energy to the internal heating element

an inlet port;
a first outlet port; and
a second outlet port.

14. The thermal extraction chamber of claim 13 , wherein the first screw and the second screw comprise a thermocouple.

15. The thermal extraction chamber of claim 13 , wherein the orifice extends longitudinally through the shaft.

16. The thermal extraction chamber of claim 13 , further comprising a programmable logic controller, wherein the programmable logic controller controls the internal heating element.

17. The thermal extraction chamber of claim 13 , wherein the internal heating element may be at least one internal heating element selected from the group consisting of a high wattage density cartridge heater, a cartridge heater, hot oil, a ceramic heater, a cast heater, steam, molten salt, an electrical resistance heater, an induction heater, and any combination thereof.

18. The thermal extraction chamber of claim 13 , further comprising:
a thermocouple;
a programmable logic controller, wherein the programmable logic controller controls the internal heating element; and.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Kapila Rajesh C
• Hoffman Barry

Classifications

• E21B21/01

  Arrangements for handling drilling fluids or cuttings outside the borehole, e.g. mud boxes · CPC title

• E21B21/065 Primary

  Separating solids from drilling fluids · CPC title

• B01D21/2461

  Positive-displacement pumps; Screw feeders; Trough conveyors · CPC title

• F26B11/12

  in stationary drums or other mainly-closed receptacles with moving stirring devices (F26B11/22 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B01D21/009

  Heating or cooling mechanisms specially adapted for settling tanks · CPC title