Agitating – Mortar mixer type – Methods
Patent
1980-09-16
1982-08-31
McCarthy, Edward J.
Agitating
Mortar mixer type
Methods
366176, 366332, 366334, 366341, B28C 546, B01F 1502, B01F 1100
Patent
active
043470025
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to the well drilling art and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for the preparation of drilling mud.
The present invention may be most advantageously used in the oil and gas production for the preparation of drilling mud.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
At present drilling mud is prepared by mixing clay powder with water either in mechanical mixers, jet-cutting mills and hydrojet mixers exhibiting a sufficient stirring capacity but low performance and efficiency of dispersing action, or in magnetostriction apparatus which exhibit high performance but also have a low efficiency of dispersion of solid phase "Driller's Handbook" by V. I. Mischevich, N. A. Sidorov, vol. 1, published 1973, Nedra Publishers, Moscow, pp. 359-367 (in Russian).
Dispersion of solid phase of drilling mud is an important production step in the preparation of drilling mud since it substantially improves quality of the drilling mud and reduces the consumption of clay powder, weighing compound and chemicals.
Known in the art are various apparatus for the preparation of drilling mud by dispersing solid phase, such as bead mills, comprising a milling chamber accommodating a shaft, plates and milling bodies. These apparatus are, however, rather unproductive, they are inconvenient in operation and exhibit rapid wear of milling bodies (USSR Inventor's Certificates Nos. 447.497, 447.498 published in Bull. "Discoveries, Inventions, Industrial Designs and Trademarks", No. 39, 1974, IPC, E21B, 11/00).
Known in the art is an apparatus for the preparation of drilling mud, comprising a closed vessel having inlet and outlet pipes and accommodating a piston which is arranged between perforated plates (USSR Inventor's Certificate No. 438.433, published in Bull. "Discoveries, Inventions, Industrial Designs and Trademarks", No. 29, 1975, IPC B01F, 11/00).
Drilling mud is prepared in this apparatus by stirring the components during the piston movement. A dispersing action is not, however, ensured in this apparatus since the intensity of destruction of compacted aggregates of solid phase is low due to a constant pressure of materials being mixed. In addition, the apparatus required the use of a special pump thus increasing power requirements and cost.
The main object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for preparation of drilling mud which owing to an efficient dispersing action ensure the intensity of physico-chemical exchange process while substantial lowering power requirements and cost.
The invention resides in that in a method for the preparation of drilling mud, comprising mixing solid and liquid phases of drilling mud to obtain a homogeneous suspension, according to the invention, drilling mud is caused to pass under pressure, after the mixing, through apertures of a diameter which is greater than maximum size of an individual solid phase particle but smaller than the diameter of aggregates of such particles, to prepare dispersed drilling mud.
The method according to the invention enables an improvement of intensity of dispersing action owing to the throttling of a mixture which results in a commminution of solid phase particles due to turbulization and cavitation occurring when the flow of drilling mud passes through the apertures.
pH of the drilling mud is preferably caused to grow simultaneously with the passage of the drilling mud through the apertures. An increase in pH (that is alkalinity) of drilling mud improves the conditions for dispersing solid phase.
pH of drilling mud is preferably caused to grow by means of a unipolar electric treatment of drilling mud thus eliminating the influence of noxious oxidation products in the zone of negative electrode, improving the intensity of physico-chemical exchange processes and contributing to an improvement of the efficiency of dispersing action.
The method disclosed in the present invention is preferably carried out in an apparatus comprising a vessel for stirring solid and liquid phases of drilling mud, having inle
REFERENCES:
patent: 1680678 (1928-08-01), Halliburton
patent: 2103549 (1937-12-01), O'Neil
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