Patent ID: 7913776
Filing Date: 2011-03-29
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A process for recovering an oil-based drilling fluid from used oil-based drilling mud, the used oil-based drilling mud having drilling cuttings material and a fluid phase, the fluid phase having high gravity solid material and low gravity solid material, the process comprising: separating the drilling cuttings material from the fluid phase of the used oil-based drilling mud, the step of separating the drilling cuttings material from the fluid phase of the used oil-based drilling mud further comprising screening the used oil-based drilling mud; separating the high gravity solid material from the fluid phase of the used oil-based drilling mud the step of separating the high gravity solid material from the fluid phase of the used oil-based drilling mud at least one, further comprising centrifuging the used oil-based drilling mud, such centrifugation discharging a first overflow fraction and a first underflow fraction, the first overflow fraction comprising an emulsion and low gravity solid material and the first underflow fraction comprising high gravity solid material; and separating the low gravity solid material from the fluid phase of the used oil-based drilling mud, the step of separating the low gravity solid material from the fluid phase of the used oil-based drilling mud further comprising: