Under-balanced drilling fluid separation apparatus.

摘要

A vertical pressure vessel separator 100 for processing a returning stream of drilling fluids (40, figure 1) from an under-balanced drilling operation comprises an interior chamber 102 divided into a solids slurry section 104, a liquids section 106, and a gases section 108. The solids slurry section has a cone-shaped bottom head 140 for collecting solids slurry 48 due to the effect of gravity, and means for agitating or fluidizing the slurry to enhance the movement of the solids through an exit 144 in the bottom of the vessel.