Magnetic metal extractor from drilling fluid

Abstract

An exemplary apparatus for removing metallic debris from a drilling fluid is provided that includes a first end member, a second end member, and one or more elongated members extending between the first end member and the second end member. The elongated members may each include at least one magnet. Drilling fluid may flow past the elongated members, which may be located in a drilling fluid cleansing machine such as a shale shaker, so that metallic debris in the drilling fluid, if any exist, are attracted by the magnets in the elongated members. Some of the metallic debris may adhere to an exterior surface of the elongated members so that the metallic debris are removed from the drilling fluid. The metallic debris can then be removed from the exterior surface of the elongated members.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for removing metallic debris from a drilling fluid, the apparatus comprising:
 a first end member;   a second end member; and   two or more elongated members extending between the first end member and the second end member, wherein the two or more elongated members include a magnet and the two or more elongated members are spaced from each other to allow a drilling fluid to flow between the two or more elongated members.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end member and the second end member are cylindrical. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the two or more elongated members comprise three elongated members. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongated members are substantially equally spaced radially around a central axis of the end members. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongated members have an interior channel and the magnet is located in the interior channel, and further comprising an adhesive positioned in the interior channel. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the adhesive includes an epoxy and a catalyst. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the interior channel is substantially sealed. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the interior channel is sealed by the first and second end members being coupled to the two or more elongated members. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the magnet includes neodymium. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the end members is slightly less than the width of a drilling fluid outlet of a drilling fluid cleansing machine. 
     
     
         11 . A method of removing metallic debris from a drilling fluid, the method comprising:
 flowing a drilling fluid past a first elongated member to attract at least some metallic debris from the drilling fluid to the first elongated member;   flowing the drilling fluid past a second elongated member to attract at least some metallic debris from the drilling fluid to the second elongated member;   removing the first and second elongated members from a flow path of the drilling fluid; and   removing at least some metallic debris from the first and second elongated members.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising flowing at least some of the drilling fluid between the first elongated member and the second elongated member. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising flowing at least some of the drilling fluid past a third elongated member to attract at least some of the metallic debris to the third elongated member. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising locating the first elongated member and the second elongated member in a feeding cabin of a drilling fluid cleansing machine. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising locating the first and second elongated members in a drilling fluid outlet of a drilling fluid cleansing machine. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising locating the first and second elongated members in the flow path of the drilling fluid between a screen and a drilling fluid outlet of the drilling fluid cleansing machine. 
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacturing an apparatus to remove metallic debris from a drilling fluid, the method comprising:
 providing a first elongated member;   providing a second elongated member;   coupling a first magnet to the first elongated member; and   coupling a second magnet to the second elongated member.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein coupling the first magnet to the first elongated member includes sealing the first magnet in a volume within the first elongated member, and coupling the second magnet to the second elongated member includes sealing the second magnet in a volume within the second elongated member. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein sealing the first magnet in a volume within the first elongated member and sealing the second magnet in a volume within the second elongated member comprises securing a first end member to a first end of the first and second elongated members and securing a second end member to an opposite, second end of the first and second elongated members. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising coupling an elongated member to at least one of the first end plate and the second end plate, wherein the elongated member is configured to move the apparatus from a first position to a second position.