Patent ID: 6357906
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: B01F

Abstract:
A method of mixing a bulk material with a drilling fluid comprising:providing a drilling fluid tank with the drilling fluid therein; placing the bulk material into a hopper, said hopper having a throat section extending therefrom, and wherein said throat section extends to a mixing chamber; descending the bulk material into said throat section; injecting a solution into the hopper so that air within said bulk material is removed; channeling the bulk material and the solution from the throat section into the mixing chamber; communicating a liquid into the throat section through an inlet located above said mixing chamber so that a barrier of liquid is kept above a jet in said mixing chamber so that the air is kept out of said mixing chamber; injecting the drilling fluid into the jet of said mixing chamber to form a slurry within said mixing chamber and wherein said step of injecting the drilling fluid into the mixing chamber comprises a first nozzle and a second nozzle positioned within said mixing chamber, and a ceramic plate positioned between said first nozzle and said second nozzle; exiting the slurry from the mixing chamber into the drilling fluid, and wherein said step of exiting the slurry includes exiting from a first outlet line located on said mixing chamber and exiting from a second outlet line located on said mixing chamber.