Mud chemical delivery system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016289012-A1
Application number	US-201615085353-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 30, 2016
Priority date	Mar 31, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A silo, a chemical delivery system, and a method. The silo includes a housing and a vessel positioned within the housing and configured to contain a mud chemical. The vessel includes a discharge port and a discharge valve that controls discharge of the mud chemical through the discharge port. The discharge port is configured to connect to a skid by placing the silo on the skid, and the silo has a plurality of configurations for different types of mud chemicals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A silo for a chemical delivery system, comprising:
a housing; and a vessel positioned within the housing and configured to contain a mud chemical, the vessel comprising a discharge port and a discharge valve that controls discharge of the mud chemical through the discharge port, wherein the discharge port is configured to connect to a skid by placing the silo on the skid, and wherein the silo has a plurality of configurations for different types of mud chemicals.

2 . The silo of claim 1 , wherein plurality of configurations comprises:
a first configuration when the mud chemical comprises a powdered chemical; a second configuration when the mud chemical comprises a coarse chemical; and a third configuration when the mud chemical comprises a liquid chemical.

3 . The silo of claim 2 , wherein a position of the discharge port is adjustable to deliver chemical to one of a plurality of transfer systems of the skid.

4 . The silo of claim 2 , further comprising an air delivery system comprising:
one or more nozzles configured to direct air into the vessel, to fluidize the powdered chemical when the silo is in the first configuration; and an air escape valve that allows air to move out of or into the vessel when the air escape valve is opened, wherein the air escape valve is opened in response to a flow of gas being directed to the one or more nozzles.

5 . The silo of claim 2 , further comprising a mechanical stirrer configured to agitate the coarse chemical in the silo when the silo is in the second configuration.

6 . The silo of claim 1 , further comprising:
an expansion system configured to adjust to a change of gas volume inside the vessel when the silo is sealed; and an air escape valve that is in communication with the vessel, the air escape valve being opened when compressed gas is supplied thereto.

7 . The silo of claim 1 , further comprising a controller in communication with the discharge valve, wherein the controller is configured to control a rate of transfer of the mud chemical from the silo by modulating the discharge valve.

8 . The silo of claim 7 , further comprising an identifier configured to be read by a reading device of the skid, the identifier being configured to convey information related to the mud chemical to the reading device.

9 . A chemical delivery system for a drilling rig, comprising:
a silo comprising
a housing; and
a vessel positioned within the housing and containing a mud chemical, the vessel comprising a discharge port and a discharge valve configured to control discharge of the mud chemical through the discharge port, wherein the silo has a plurality of configurations for different types of mud chemicals; and
a skid comprising:
a base onto which the silo is received;
a discharge path comprising:
a powder discharge conduit configured to receive a powdered chemical from the discharge port when the silo is in a first configuration of the plurality of configurations;
a conveyor configured to receive a coarse chemical from the discharge port when the silo is in a second configuration of the plurality of configurations; and
a liquid discharge conduit configured to receive a liquid chemical from the discharge port when the silo is in a third configuration of the plurality of configurations.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the skid comprises a buffer box and a chute, the buffer box extending between the receiver and the powder discharge conduit when the silo is in the first configuration, the chute extending between the receiver and the conveyor when the silo is in the second configuration, and the discharge port being offset from the buffer box and the chute when the silo is in the third configuration.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the silo further comprises an identifier configured to convey information related to the chemical within the vessel; the skid further comprises a reader configured to acquire the information related to the chemical within the vessel; and the system further comprises a controller in communication with the reader, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the position of the chute and the buffer box in response to the information acquired from the identifier.

12 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a controller, wherein the skid comprises one or more transfer valves that control a flow of the mud chemical from the silo to the discharge path, and wherein the controller adjusts the one or more transfer valves to control a mud chemical delivery rate.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the skid comprises an arm, wherein the arm opens the discharge valve when the silo is lowered onto the base.

14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the skid further comprises:
a mechanical stirrer that is received through a port defined in the vessel of the silo a drive system when the silo is placed on the skid; and a motor that drives the mechanical stirrer.

15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the skid further comprises an air delivery conduit, an air delivery valve connected to the air delivery conduit, and a stabbing connection coupled to the air delivery conduit; and the silo further comprises an air supply connection and one or more nozzles in communication with the air delivery valve and with the vessel, wherein the stabbing connection is received into the air supply connection when the silo is received onto the base.

16 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the housing of the silo comprises a foot, and wherein the skid further comprises a load cell upon which the foot is supported, the load cell being configured to measure a weight of the silo.

17 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of silos including the silo, wherein the plurality of silos includes at least one silo in each of the first, second, and third configurations, the plurality of silos being received onto the skid and configured to deliver the mud chemical thereto.

18 . A method for delivering a chemical to a drilling rig, comprising:
lowering a silo onto a base of a skid; opening a discharge port of the silo using an actuator of the skid; selecting a discharge path for a mud chemical contained within the silo based on a type of the mud chemical; delivering the mud chemical from the discharge port into the discharge path of the skid; and directing the mud chemical from the discharge path to a mud mixing system and a drilling rig.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising acquiring data related to the mud chemical from an identifier of the silo using a reader of the skid, wherein:
the skid comprises a pneumatic discharge line, a conveyor, and a liquid discharge conduit; selecting the discharge path comprises selecting the pneumatic discharge line when the data represents that the mud chemical is powdered, selecting the conveyor when the data represents that the mud chemical is coarse, and selecting the liquid discharge conduit when the data represents that the mud chemical is liquid; and delivering the mud chemical from the discharge port into the discharge path comprises configuring the skid to direct the chemical to the pneumatic discharge line, the conveyor, or the liquid discharge conduit based on the data acquired from the identifier.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising adjusting a feed rate of the mud chemical using a valve actuator of the skid, in response to a mud property of mud in the mixing system.

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Orban Jacques
• Rogers Brian

Classifications

• B65G65/425 Primary

  arranged to be movable · CPC title