IP Library Granted Patent US 11,008,833
Granted Patent B2
US 11,008,833 · App. 16/387,207 · Granted May 18, 2021

Drilling fluid disposal injection system and method

Inventors: Jason Larchar (Spring, TX); Steve Bills (Houston, TX)
Assignee: MILESTONE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, LLC
E21B41/0057E21B21/01E21B21/062E21B21/065E21B21/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,008,833
App. No.
16/387,207
Granted
May 18, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for injecting a portion of a drilling fluid waste into a well includes a receiving pit configured to receive a drilling fluid waste. A shaker is configured to receive the drilling fluid waste from the receiving pit and to separate solids from the drilling fluid waste to produce a separated drilling fluid waste. A mixing tank is configured to receive the separated drilling fluid waste from the shaker and to mix the separated drilling fluid waste. One or more tanks are configured to receive water. A pump is configured to cause the separated drilling fluid waste and the water to flow into a well.

Claims (65)

1. A system for injecting a portion of a drilling fluid waste into a well, comprising:

a trench configured to receive a drilling fluid waste from a pipeline or a truck;

a receiving pit configured to receive the drilling fluid waste from the trench;

a shaker configured to receive the drilling fluid waste from the receiving pit and to separate solids from the drilling fluid waste to produce a separated drilling fluid waste;

a mixing tank configured to receive the separated drilling fluid waste from the shaker and to mix the separated drilling fluid waste;

one or more tanks configured to receive and filter water to produce filtered water; and

a pump configured to cause the separated drilling fluid waste and a first portion of the filtered water to flow into a well, wherein a second portion of the filtered water is transferred to the trench, the pipeline, the truck, or a combination thereof.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a line that is in fluid communication with the pump, wherein the pump causes the separated drilling fluid waste to flow through the line and into the well and then subsequently causes the first portion of the water to flow through the line and into the well.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a line that is in fluid communication with the pump, wherein the separated drilling fluid waste and the first portion of the water are combined to form a mixture in the line at a point that is upstream from the pump, and wherein the mixture flows through the pump and into the well.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the drilling fluid waste is transferred from the receiving pit back to the trench, and wherein the drilling fluid waste is disposed within the trench and the receiving pit prior to being transferred into the shaker.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the separated drilling fluid waste is transferred from the mixing tank back into the receiving pit.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a drying slab configured to receive the solids from the shaker, the receiving pit, or both.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more tanks comprises:

a first tank configured to receive the water and to separate solids from the water to produce a separated water;

a second tank configured to receive the separated water and to separate oil from the first separated water to produce the filtered water;

a third tank configured to receive the oil from the second tank; and

a fourth tank configured to receive the filtered water from the second tank water.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the second portion of the filtered water is transferred from the fourth tank to the trench.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first sensor configured to measure a first property of the separated drilling fluid waste flowing from the mixing tank to the well; and

a second sensor configured to measure a second property of the water flowing from the one or more tanks to the well, wherein the first property, the second property, or both comprises flowrate, density, viscosity, or a combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a third sensor configured to measure a third property of a mixture of the separated drilling fluid waste and the water, wherein the third property comprises flowrate, density, viscosity, or a combination thereof.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the filtered water is transferred to the trench.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the filtered water is used to prevent or remove buildup of the drilling fluid waste in the trench, the pipeline, the truck, or a combination thereof.

13. A system for injecting a portion of a drilling fluid waste into a well, comprising:

a trench configured to receive a drilling fluid waste from a vehicle or a pipeline;

a receiving pit configured to receive the drilling fluid waste from the trench, wherein the receiving pit comprises one or more weirs, and wherein at least a portion of the drilling fluid waste is transferred from the receiving pit back to the trench;

a shaker configured to separate solids from the drilling fluid waste to produce a separated drilling fluid waste;

a drying slab configured to receive the solids from the receiving pit and the shaker;

a mixing tank configured to receive the separated drilling fluid waste from the shaker and to mix the separated drilling fluid waste, wherein at least a portion of the separated drilling fluid waste is transferred into the receiving pit;

a first tank configured to receive water and to separate solids from the water to produce a first separated water;

a second tank configured to receive the first separated water and to separate oil from the first separated water to produce a second separated water;

a third tank configured to receive the oil from the second tank;

a fourth tank configured to receive the second separated water from the second tank, wherein at least a portion of the second separated water is transferred from the fourth tank to the trench; and

a pump configured to cause the separated drilling fluid waste and the second separated water to flow into a well.

14. A method for injecting a portion of a drilling fluid waste into a well, comprising:

transferring a drilling fluid waste from a pipeline or truck into a trench;

transferring the drilling fluid waste from the trench into a receiving pit;

transferring a first portion of the drilling fluid waste from the receiving pit back into the trench;

transferring a second portion of the drilling fluid waste from the receiving pit to a shaker, wherein the second portion of the drilling fluid waste is disposed within the trench and the receiving pit prior to being transferred into the shaker;

separating solids from the second portion of the drilling fluid waste, using the shaker, to produce a separated drilling fluid waste;

transferring the separated drilling fluid waste from the shaker into a mixing tank;

introducing the separated drilling fluid waste from the mixing tank into a well; and

introducing water from one or more tanks into the well.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising transferring at least a portion of the separated drilling fluid waste from the mixing tank to the receiving pit.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising transferring the solids from the receiving pit and the shaker to a drying slab.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

separating solids from the water in a first of the one or more tanks to produce a first separated water;

transferring the first separated water from the first tank into a second of the one or more tanks;

separating oil from the first separated water in the second tank to produce oil and a second separated water;

transferring the oil from the second tank to a third of the one or more tanks; and

transferring the second separated water from the second tank to a fourth of the one or more tanks, wherein the water introduced into the well is the second separated water.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the water in the first tank comprises salt water.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising transferring at least a portion of the second separated water from the fourth tank to the trench.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the separated drilling fluid waste is introduced into the well before the water is introduced into the well.

21. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

measuring a first property of the separated drilling fluid waste flowing from the mixing tank; and

measuring a second property of the water flowing from the one or more tanks, wherein the first property, the second property, or both comprises flowrate, density, viscosity, or a combination thereof.

22. A system for injecting a portion of a drilling fluid waste into a well, comprising:

a trench configured to receive a drilling fluid waste from a pipeline or a truck;

a receiving pit configured to receive the drilling fluid waste from the trench, wherein at least a portion of the drilling fluid waste is transferred from the receiving pit back to the trench;

a shaker configured to receive the drilling fluid waste from the receiving pit and to separate solids from the drilling fluid waste to produce a separated drilling fluid waste, wherein the drilling fluid waste passes through the trench and the receiving pit prior to flowing into the shaker;

a mixing tank configured to receive the separated drilling fluid waste from the shaker and to mix the separated drilling fluid waste;

one or more tanks configured to receive water; and

a pump configured to cause the separated drilling fluid waste and the water to flow into a well.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2023
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: MILESTONE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 065201/0272 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2023
From: MILESTONE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, LLC
To: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE AGENCY, LLC
Reel/Frame 065087/0684 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2020
From: MILESTONE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 052273/0890 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 18, 2019
From: LARCHAR, JASON; BILLS, STEVE
To: MILESTONE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 049500/0591 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200332626A1 · Oct 22, 2020