Patent ID: 7867399
Filing Date: 2011-01-11
Classification: C10G,E21B

Abstract:
1. A method of treating a waste drilling mud comprising a bulk emulsion and a drilling mud solid, wherein the bulk emulsion comprises an hydrophobic phase and an aqueous phase, the method comprising: (a) separating a fraction of the drilling mud solid from the waste drilling mud, the fraction comprising particles above a diameter, the fraction further comprising a residual organic phase; (b) demulsifying the bulk emulsion, to form a demulsified hydrophobic phase and a demulsified aqueous phase; (c) separating the demulsified hydrophobic phase from the demulsified aqueous phase, to create an aqueous product and an oil product, wherein the oil product comprises a water content and a solids content suitable for reuse; (d) vaporizing the residual organic phase from said fraction of the drilling mud solids in a screw heat exchanger, including a screw conveyor with a drive screw, wherein heat is provided by the drive screw, to create an organic vapor and a first solid product; and (e) condensing the organic vapor, to create a second oil product.