Floating Gas Trap System Using Agitation

摘要

A gas trap system for releasing gas-phase fluids is provided herein. The gas trap system is designed to reside within a return fluids tank, such as at a drill site. The gas trap system first includes a gas trap. The gas trap is configured to agitate drilling fluids in the return tank, and then to release gases during agitation. Liquids are circulated and released through a liquids exhaust port while gases are released through a gas exhaust port near the top of the gas trap. The gas trap system is configured to float along vertical guide rods in response to changes in height, weight and viscosity of the drilling fluids in the return tank. A method of capturing gaseous phase fluids from a fluid return is also provided herein. The fluid return is preferably drilling fluids at a drill site.

主权项

1. A gas trap system, comprising:
a motor; a gas trap configured to agitate drilling fluids when positioned in a return tank, and then to release gases during agitation, the gas trap comprising:
an elongated canister having a wall,a through-opening at a lower end of the canister configured to receive drilling fluids from the return tank,an impeller adjacent the lower end of the canister,a shaft residing axially along the canister, with the shaft operatively connected to the impeller and configured to impart rotational movement to the impeller in response to energy provided by the motor, thereby agitating the drilling fluids within the chamber of the canister,a liquids exhaust port along the wall of the canister configured to release liquids from the canister during fluid agitation, anda gas exhaust port configured to release gases from a top end of the canister also during fluid agitation; at least one vertical guide rod; an upper guide rod plate having through openings for slidably receiving corresponding vertical guide rods; a guide stand comprising:
an elongated vertical bar having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end being releasably connectable to the return tank, andan extension tubing having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is operatively connected to the vertical bar intermediate the upper and lower ends of the vertical bar, and the second end is operatively connected to the upper guide rod plate; wherein the gas trap is configured to travel vertically along the at least one guide rod in response to a change in a characteristic of the drilling fluids, with the upper guide rod plate serving as an upper travel limit.