AU5348999A - Mixing system - Google Patents

Mixing system Download PDF

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Publication number
AU5348999A
AU5348999A AU53489/99A AU5348999A AU5348999A AU 5348999 A AU5348999 A AU 5348999A AU 53489/99 A AU53489/99 A AU 53489/99A AU 5348999 A AU5348999 A AU 5348999A AU 5348999 A AU5348999 A AU 5348999A
Authority
AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
mixing system
pressure pump
mixing
drilling
downstream
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
AU53489/99A
Other versions
AU762491B2 (en
AU762491C (en
Inventor
Manfred Schauerte
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tracto Technik GmbH and Co KG
Original Assignee
Tracto Technik Paul Schmidt Spezialmaschinen KG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from DE29818289U external-priority patent/DE29818289U1/en
Application filed by Tracto Technik Paul Schmidt Spezialmaschinen KG filed Critical Tracto Technik Paul Schmidt Spezialmaschinen KG
Publication of AU5348999A publication Critical patent/AU5348999A/en
Publication of AU762491B2 publication Critical patent/AU762491B2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of AU762491C publication Critical patent/AU762491C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01FMIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F23/00Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
    • B01F23/50Mixing liquids with solids
    • B01F23/56Mixing liquids with solids by introducing solids in liquids, e.g. dispersing or dissolving
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01FMIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F23/00Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
    • B01F23/50Mixing liquids with solids
    • B01F23/59Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01FMIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F25/00Flow mixers; Mixers for falling materials, e.g. solid particles
    • B01F25/30Injector mixers
    • B01F25/31Injector mixers in conduits or tubes through which the main component flows
    • B01F25/312Injector mixers in conduits or tubes through which the main component flows with Venturi elements; Details thereof
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01FMIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F25/00Flow mixers; Mixers for falling materials, e.g. solid particles
    • B01F25/40Static mixers
    • B01F25/42Static mixers in which the mixing is affected by moving the components jointly in changing directions, e.g. in tubes provided with baffles or obstructions
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01FMIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F35/00Accessories for mixers; Auxiliary operations or auxiliary devices; Parts or details of general application
    • B01F35/20Measuring; Control or regulation

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Accessories For Mixers (AREA)
  • Soil Working Implements (AREA)

Description

AUSTRALIA
Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(ORIGINAL)
Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority B.
B
Related Art: Name of Applicant: Tracto-Technik Paul Schmidt Spezialmaschinen Actual Inventor(s): Manfred Schauerte Address for Service: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: CONTINUOUS MIXING SYSTEM Our Ref 602792 POF Code: 1282/308317 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): -1- -2 Continuous mixing system The invention relates to a mixing system as used for the preparatory mixing of a drilling fluid for horizontal drilling.
In horizontal drilling, with the aid of drilling or flushing liquids which are fed to the drill and, for example, emerge in the region of the drill head and are thus passed into the drilled hole, the drilling operation is improved and facilitated in that the soil is softened and the drillings are removed.
It has become established practice to use a suspension of bentonite in water, which is used in different consistencies, depending on the existing soil conditions. Such a suspension has the property of retaining the drillings in suspension so as to be able to remove them from the drilled hole, and also has the advantage, when a new pipe run is drawn in, that the latter is lubricated and, after having been drawn in and after a certain amount of time for hardening, is protected from the surrounding soil. To vary the properties of the suspension, It is known to admix polymers and other substances, for example soda ash, in order to adjust the pH.
Known mixing systems operate by the principle that the desired quantity of drilling fluid is preparatorily mixed in a storage tank whose content is then available for the drilling operation. Such mixing systems are known as batch mixers, since one batch can be made available for drilling in each mixing operation.
After the drilling fluid has been used up, the storage tank is replenished by the preparatory mixing of a new batch. As the practical effect of this is to cause disruptive delays in drilling, it is customary to provide a second storage tank, so that the liquid batches can be mixed in one tank while the other tank supplies the drill. The disadvantage of such systems resides in an increased space requirement and additional costs. Another disadvantage of the known batch mixers resides in the fact that the necessary mixing pumps must be especially durable because of the aggressive nature of an abrasive medium like bentonite. This results either in increased costs or in increased wear.
3 -3- Furthermore, the necessary quantity of drilling suspension cannot-generally be accurately estimated, so that the drilling fluid is often not completely used up after the end of the drilling operation and has to be disposed of. If the drilling fluid is left in the tank, subsequent swelling of the drilling fluid may occur. Because of the increased viscosity, problems may arise during drilling when this drilling fluid is once again used. In the winter, moreover, it is impossible to rule out frost damage to equipment by a drilling fluid that has not been completely used up.
The drilling fluid is generally fed to the drill by a high-pressure pump. Such pumps are not generally self-priming pumps. However, since the drilling fluid quite often has to be pumped at very high viscosity, the use of a selfpriming supercharge pump is necessary to charge the high-pressure pump on the suction side. The use of such a supercharge pump also results in a 15 substantial increase in cost The object of the invention is therefore to permit a simplified charging of a S: drilling system with a drilling fluid.
The object is achieved by the subject of the independent claims.
S. Advantageous embodiments will be found in the subclaims.
The achievement of the object Is based on the principle of introducing additives, such as the pulverulent bentonite, upstream or downstream of the high-pressure pump.
In the case of a feed upstream of the high-pressure pump, service water is fed to the pump via a hydrant, a feed line for the additive medium being provided between hydrant and high-pressure pump. The feeding-in of the additive medium may be mechanically assisted and regulated with reference to various parameters. The same applies to the addition of supplementary additives such as, for example, polymers or soda ash.
After the additive medium has been fed in, it passes with the service water into the high-pressure pump, where intensive mixing takes place. In addition, a mixing section for further mixing may be provided downstream of the high-pressure pump. A swelling section may also adjoin the mixing section if a particular duration of swelling is desirable.
4 When the additive medium is introduced downstream of the high-pressure pump in the direction of flow, it is introduced in the region of the highpressure jet of the high-pressure pump, which results in intensive mixing of the additive medium with the service water. The feed-in section may also be adjoined by additional mixing and swelling sections.
The mixing system according to the invention allows continuous, in other words on-line, mixing of the additives for the drilling fluid with the service water. Additional storage tanks are thus avoided, so that the mixing system is of exceptionally small dimensions and can be used directly adjacent to the drill. Because of its small size, the mixing system may be designed as integral parts of mobile drills.
Furthermore, during drilling, only that quantity of liquid which is directly consumed is mixed. Unused residual quantities of drilling fluid after drilling are avoided by the mixing system according to the invention.
Furthermore, minimal expenditure of material is achieved, since in addition to storage tanks mixing, circulating or supercharge pumps are also avoided. This is even possible in the case of non-aspirating high-pressure pumps, in that the liquid introduced on the suction side is, according to the invention, of low viscosity since it comprises either pure service water (fed in downstream of the high-pressure pump) or service water with bentonite that has not yet swelled (fed in upstream of the high-pressure pump).
A further advantage lies in the simplified possibility of reusing prepared drilling fluid. The large quantities of liquid which are frequently used in horizontal drilling have meant that "recycling" of the drilling fluid is necessary for both economic and ecological reasons. With the mixing system according to the invention, the viscosity of the reprocessed drilling fluid can be optimized for the new drilling operation by a preselected ratio of added water to admixed additive medium.
The compact construction achieved by means of the invention makes it possible to connect the mixing system to mobile drills of any desired size, as a high degree of variability exists regarding the possible quantity admixed and the mixing performance. The mixing system then merely needs to be connected to a hydrant on the construction site, the desired quantity of drilling fluid being available for the drilling operation in any combination of circumstances. The storage container preferably used for the additives to the mixing system is a silo or a so-called "big bag". The batch tanks otherwise customary, which can be of substantial dimensions for larger drilling systems, are unnecessary.
For structural reasons, the mixing system according to the invention has a lower energy consumption and longer service life than conventional units, not least because of the elimination of the additional pumps needed in the prior art.
With an automated mixing process, which can be achieved with the mixing system according to the invention, fully automatic running of the drilling operation is possible, as far as the drilling fluid is concemed, and can be supplemented by automation of the reprocessing system.
SWith the example of embodiment comprising addition of the additive medium on the pressure side, it is merely necessary to feed the service water to the high-pressure pump. This can be done either via a hydrant by the high-pressure pump itself or by a conventional water pump. The highpressure pump itself does not need to be resistant to abrasive media.
The invention is explained in detail below with reference to the examples of embodiment shown in the drawing.
In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows a mixing system according to the invention with the suspension medium being fed in upstream of the high-pressure pump in the direction of flow, Fig. 2 hows the mixing system according to Fig. 1 with feed lines for additives, Fig. 3 shows the mixing system according to Fig. 1 with a feed line for the additive medium downstream of the high-pressure pump, Fig. 4 shows the mixing system according to Fig. 3 with a feed line for additives, 6 Fig. 5 shows the mixing system according to Fig. 1 with a buffer pipe and level adjustment, and Fig. 6 ,shows the mixing system according to Fig. 5 with an additional feed line for additives.
According to a first embodiment of the invention, the suspension medium is fed to the service water upstream of the high-pressure pump (Figs. 1, 2, 6).
The service water is fed to the mixing system according to this embodiment S. on the low-pressure side of a high-pressure pump, via a hydrant. On the low-pressure side, the mixing system also has a pressure-reducing valve 12, via which the service water is fed to the high-pressure pump 7 via a is filter member 13 and a shut-off valve 14. With the aid of the shut-off valve 14, the service water feed can be turned on and off, and adjusted in accordance with certain parameters on the basis of control commands from a system of control electronics 1 connected to the valve 14. The system of control electronics 1 Is connected to a sensor 8 which measures the volume of water actually passing through, which is determined by the head of the high-pressure pump 7 with adjustable drive 24, which can be set manually via a potentiometer) or adjusted automatically.
With the aid of the setting members 4, particular target values can be preset in order to achieve a desired mixing ratio, the individual parameters being determined by the system of control electronics 1.
The quantity of additive medium necessary for the desired mixing ratio (bentonite as a quantity in suspension) is fed in via a conveying device 6 which is connected to a so-called big bag 5 or other storage containers containing the bentonite stock, precise metering taking place via a drive 3 of the conveying device 6 which is connected via a setting member 2 to the system of control electronics 1.
In this arrangement, bentonite passes via a feed line 21 into the conveying device 6, which conveys it to the high-pressure pump 7 in a quantity dependent on the speed of the drive 3, the speed of revolution of the drive being transmitted to the system of control electronics 1 via a sensor With the aid of a variance comparison, the system of control electronics 1 guarantees, via the setting member 2, that the desired speed of rotation of 7-- 7 the drive 3 is maintained. The suspension medium passes downstream of the shut-off valve 14 on the low-pressure side of the high-pressure pump 7 into the service water and is conveyed together therewith by the highpressure pump 7 into a high-pressure mixing section 15, intensive mixing already taking place as a result of the pumping operation of the highpressure pump 7. The mixing section 15 comprises a plurality of static or dynamic mixers operated in series or parallel, static mixers being preferred, as in these only the components to be mixed are moved. The mixing is intensified by division, deflection and reforming of the media. In this process, the spherical structure of the bentonite constituents is broken up by the high shear forces acting in the mixer. This results in a reduction of *the swelling time, as the surface of the suspension medium at which the water molecules accumulate is increased.
s5 Provided adjacent to the mixing section 15 is a swelling section 16 which, depending on the embodiment, allows a longer or shorter swelling period of the drilling suspension. The swelling section 16 may consist of an intermediate container or a coiled tube, or may also take the form of the section of the drilling pipe 10 Via which the suspension is fed to the drilling head 11 or the expansion tool 17.
Further additives, such as for example polymers or soda ash, may be added to the drilling suspension via the feed lines 18, 19, which are again fed in immediately upstream of the high-pressure pump 7.
If the water supply is inadequate or non-existent, the service water may also be fed in via a storage tank 9.
in the preferred embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the suspension medium passes into the service water in a buffer container 23. The buffer container possesses a level switch b) which switches the bentonite feed on and off, depending on whether the medium is above the upper mark a or below the lower mark b. The buffer container 23 preferably takes the form of a narrow, vertically arranged pipe which prevents demixing of the service water/drilling suspension mixture before entry into the pump 7. The buffer container 23 further prevents the unintentional introduction of air into the high-pressure pump 7.
8 In another embodiment of the invention (see Figs. 3 and the suspension medium is fed in on the high-pressure side of the high-pressure pump 7.
With this arrangement, the suspension medium passes into the service water in the region of the water jet nozzle 22 of the high-pressure pump, as a result of which intensive mixing is achieved. The mixing situation can be influenced via the design of the water jet nozzle 22. Preferably, the diameter of the water jet nozzle can be adjusted according to the flow volume, in order to ensure an intensive water jet at all times.
**7e
S
e e e *f f

Claims (14)

1. A mixing system for the preparation of a drilling fluid for horizontal drilling methods, having a high-pressure pump and a feed line (21) for the additive medium arranged upstream of the high-pressure pump in the direction of flow.
2. The mixing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feed line for the additive medium is arranged not upstream but downstream of the high- pressure pump in the direction of flow.
3. The mixing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the additive medium is arranged in a buffer container which is arranged upstream 15 of the high-pressure pump and is introduced into the service water, and the buffer container (23) has a level adjustment system b).
4. The mixing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the additive medium is passed into the service water immediately downstream of a water jet nozzle (22) of the high-pressure pump
5. The mixing system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the water jet nozzle (22) is adjustable.
6. The mixing system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, comprising a conveying device for the introduction of the additive medium.
7. The mixing system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveying device and/or the high-pressure pump (7) possesses an adjustable drive (24).
8. The mixing system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, comprising a shut-off valve (14) which is regulated together with the adjustable drives via a system of control electronics and with the aid of setting members and a flow sensor
9. The mixing system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, comprising a mixing section (15) downstream of the pump
10 The mixing system as claimed in claim 9, comprising a static mixing section
11. The mixing system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, comprising a swelling section (16) arranged downstream of the pump
12. The mixing system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the swelling section (16) comprises a coiled tube.
13. The mixing system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the swelling section (16) is formed from the drilling linkage.
14. The mixing system as claimed in one of the preceding claims, 15 wherein the drive of the mixing system is hydraulic. A method for the preparation of a drilling fluid, characterized in that the additive medium is fed into the service water upstream or downstream of a high-pressure pump DATED: 5th October, 1999 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: TRACTO-TECHNIK PAUL SCHMIDT SPEZIALMASCHINEN ^en n~~
AU53489/99A 1998-10-14 1999-10-06 Mixing system Ceased AU762491C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE29818289 1998-10-14
DE29818289U DE29818289U1 (en) 1998-10-14 1998-10-14 Continuous mixing plant
DE19918775 1999-04-24
DE19918775A DE19918775B4 (en) 1998-10-14 1999-04-24 Mixing apparatus for the production of a drilling fluid for horizontal boring has a high pressure pump and a pipe for addition medium

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
AU5348999A true AU5348999A (en) 2000-04-20
AU762491B2 AU762491B2 (en) 2003-06-26
AU762491C AU762491C (en) 2005-02-17

Family

ID=26053078

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
AU53489/99A Ceased AU762491C (en) 1998-10-14 1999-10-06 Mixing system

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP0994235B1 (en)
AU (1) AU762491C (en)

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU3719300A (en) 1999-03-03 2000-10-04 Earth Tool Company, Llc Method and apparatus for directional boring
DE10019759C2 (en) 2000-04-20 2003-04-30 Tracto Technik Static mixing system
US8196677B2 (en) 2009-08-04 2012-06-12 Pioneer One, Inc. Horizontal drilling system
CN103739108B (en) * 2013-06-24 2016-03-02 四川海普流体技术有限公司 The method of additive is added in a kind of sewage treatment process
CN104633452A (en) * 2015-03-10 2015-05-20 汤晓辉 Anti-deposition device for long-distance cement grout transportation
CN108222865B (en) * 2018-01-04 2021-02-26 中国石油大学(华东) Self-feedback three-phase system drilling fluid mixing system and method for mixing drilling fluid
CN111088955B (en) * 2019-12-27 2021-09-28 四川石油天然气建设工程有限责任公司 Drilling fluid storage workstation

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2631017A (en) * 1947-05-05 1953-03-10 Gibson Roy Clyde Mud and chemical mixer
US3115195A (en) * 1961-08-28 1963-12-24 Jersey Prod Res Co Method of reducing viscosity of drilling fluids during drilling
US3691070A (en) * 1970-04-27 1972-09-12 Nat Lead Co Employment of bentonite in brine muds
US3893655A (en) * 1972-07-10 1975-07-08 Union Oil Co Apparatus and method for dispersing solid particles in a liquid
US4444277A (en) * 1981-09-23 1984-04-24 Lewis H Roger Apparatus and method for conditioning oil well drilling fluid
US5213414A (en) * 1989-12-04 1993-05-25 Baker Hughes Incorporated Mixing apparatus
SU1755907A1 (en) * 1990-04-20 1992-08-23 Всесоюзный научно-исследовательский институт по креплению скважин и буровым растворам Научно-производственного объединения "Бурение" Mixer
DE4217373C2 (en) * 1992-05-26 2003-02-20 Klaus Obermann Gmbh Device for the preparation and preparation of mixtures or suspensions containing at least one liquid component
WO1999054588A1 (en) * 1998-04-21 1999-10-28 Bulk Mixer, Inc. Drilling fluid mixing apparatus and methods

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU762491B2 (en) 2003-06-26
EP0994235A2 (en) 2000-04-19
EP0994235A3 (en) 2002-01-30
AU762491C (en) 2005-02-17
EP0994235B1 (en) 2004-12-29

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