Method for separating solid lubricating material from drill cuttings

摘要

Solid lubricating particles such as spherical plastic beads which are useful in drilling operations are separated from drill cuttings by (1) depositing a mixture of the particles and cuttings on a reciprocating deck which operates in a manner such that the mixture moves in one direction across the deck and (2) passing a wash stream across the mixture in a second direction approximately perpendicular to the direction of the mixture flow. The wash stream causes the solid lubricating particles to move in the second direction at a rate significantly greater than the drill cuttings. The lubricating particles are readily recovered from the drill cuttings for reuse in the drilling operation.