Return Fluid Separator

Abstract

A separator for drilling waste including a tank comprising an inlet and an outlet; a screening device disposed within the tank; a conduit coupled to the outlet; and a rotary valve coupled to the conduit. A separator including a tank having an inlet and an outlet; a trough in fluid communication with the tank; and a screening device having a plurality of members disposed within the tank, wherein the screening device is configured to direct an effluent phase through the members into the trough and a solids phase to the outlet. A method of separating drilling waste including flowing a return fluid to an inlet of a tank; and directing the return fluid against a screening device disposed within the tank, wherein an effluent phase of the return fluid passes through the screening device and wherein a solids phase of the return fluid falls to an outlet of the tank.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A separator for drilling waste comprising:
 a tank comprising an inlet and an outlet;   a screening device disposed within the tank;   a conduit coupled to the outlet; and   a rotary valve coupled to the conduit.   
     
     
         2 . The separator of  claim 1 , further comprising a trough coupled to the tank configured to remove an effluent phase of the drilling waste. 
     
     
         3 . The separator of  claim 1 , further comprising an isolation valve coupled to the conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The separator of  claim 3 , wherein the isolation valve is disposed between the outlet and the rotary valve. 
     
     
         5 . The separator of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet is disposed on a side of the tank. 
     
     
         6 . The separator of  claim 1 , wherein the screening device is disposed in the tank at a predetermined angle. 
     
     
         7 . The primary separator of  claim 6 , wherein the screening device extends from a first upper edge of the tank to an opposite lower end of the tank. 
     
     
         8 . The primary separator of  claim 6 , wherein the inlet is disposed below an upper edge of the screening device. 
     
     
         9 . The primary separator of  claim 1 , wherein the screening device comprises a plurality of axially aligned longitudinal members. 
     
     
         10 . The primary separator of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary valve comprises a rotor and a coating applied to the rotor. 
     
     
         11 . The primary separator of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary valve comprises air jets disposed proximate a discharge end of the rotary valve. 
     
     
         12 . A separator for drilling waste comprising:
 a tank comprising an inlet and an outlet;   a trough in fluid communication with the tank; and   a screening device comprising a plurality of members disposed within the tank,   wherein the screening device is configured to direct an effluent phase through the plurality of members into the trough and a solids phase to the outlet.   
     
     
         13 . The separator of  claim 12 , further comprising a conduit coupled to the outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The separator of  claim 12 , further comprising a rotary valve coupled to the conduit. 
     
     
         15 . The separator of  claim 12 , further comprising an isolation valve coupled to the conduit. 
     
     
         16 . A method of separating drilling waste comprising:
 flowing a return fluid from a well to an inlet of a tank; and   directing the return fluid against a screening device disposed within the tank, wherein an effluent phase of the return fluid passes through the screening device and
 wherein a solids phase of the return fluid falls to an outlet of the tank. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising moving the solids phase from the outlet through a conduit to a rotary valve. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising actuating the rotary valve to transfer at least a portion of the solids phase to a secondary separator. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising flowing the effluent through a trough coupled to the tank to a flow distribution vessel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising actuating an isolation valve.