Apparatus and method for separating solids from a solids laden drilling fluid

摘要

A method for operating a shale shaker to separate solids from a solids laden fluid, the shale shaker comprising a basket for holding at least one screen and a vibratory mechanism for vibrating the basket to an acceleration value, the method comprising the steps of monitoring the magnitude of the load of solids laden fluid in the basket and adjusting the acceleration value induced in the basket according to the magnitude of the load, wherein the acceleration is stepped down to a low acceleration value below a low load threshold.

主权项

1. A method for operating a shale shaker to separate solids from a solids laden drilling fluid, the method comprising:
introducing a flow of solids laden drilling fluid to a basket of said shale shaker; controlling operation of a vibratory mechanism of said shale shaker so as to control an acceleration induced in said basket along a stepped non-linear basket acceleration operating curve based on a magnitude of a load of said solids laden drilling fluid in said basket, wherein controlling said basket acceleration along said stepped non-linear basket acceleration operating curve comprises varying said basket acceleration at least between a substantially constant first acceleration and a substantially constant second acceleration that is greater than said substantially constant first acceleration, said basket acceleration being maintained at said substantially constant first acceleration over a first operating load range wherein said magnitude of said load of solids laden drilling fluid in said basket is between a substantially zero load and a first load threshold.