| 摘要 |
<p>A system for separating particulate material (42) from drilling fluid (24) for underwater wells of the type which comprise an above-water drilling platform (12), a string of drill pipe (16) extending from the platform (12) to the subsea floor for drilling the well and an annulus (18) extending into an earth formation (20) beneath the subsea floor. The drill pipe (16) runs through the annulus (18) into the formation (20) for drilling a well in the formation (20). Also included is a system for circulating a drilling fluid (24) downwardly through the string of drill pipe (16) and upwardly through the annulus (18) for removing particulate material (42) generated from drilling the well. The system further including a return conduit (28) and pump (30) for returning the drilling fluid (24) to the water surface. The system comprises an expandable tank (40) positioned on the subsea floor and connected between the annulus (18) and the return conduit (28) so that the drilling fluid (24) flows through the tank (40). The tank (40) is shaped and dimensioned to allow at least a substantial amount of particulate material (42) to settle out of the drilling fluid (24) as the fluid (24) flows through the tank (40) to the return conduit (28). The tank (40) can also be used for separating particulate matter from drilling fluid (24) for land wells; and as a storage tank (40) for production wells, both subsea and on land.</p> |
