Shale shakers

Abstract

A shale shaker or vibratory separator which, in one aspect, has a base, vibration isolation apparatus on the base, a basket, mount apparatus for mounting the basket on the base, and at least one of the base, basket, and the mount apparatus made of, encased in, or coated with composite material which, in certain aspects, is all or part flexible composite material; and methods of using such separators and shakers.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A shale shaker comprising 
 a base,    vibration isolation apparatus on said base,    a basket,    mount apparatus for mounting said basket on said base, and    at least one of said base, said basket, and said mount apparatus made of composite material.    
     
     
         2 . The shale shaker of  claim 1  wherein the composite material is non-metal composite material.  
     
     
         3 . The shale shaker of  claim 1  wherein the composite material includes at least a portion thereof made of flexible composite material.  
     
     
         4 . The shale shaker of  claim 1  wherein the composite material includes at least one reinforcing part within the composite material.  
     
     
         5 . The shale shaker of  claim 4  wherein the reinforcing part is made of metal.  
     
     
         6 . The shale shaker of  claim 4  wherein the reinforcing part is made of material from the group consisting of wood, plastic, fiber, and composite material.  
     
     
         7 . The shale shaker of  claim 1  further comprising 
 electronic tracking apparatus on the shale shaker.  
 
     
     
         8 . The shale shaker of  claim 1  further comprising 
 the basket having a plurality of interconnected walls, said walls connected by electromagnetic welding.  
 
     
     
         9 . The shale shaker of  claim 1  wherein 
 the shale shaker has a screen support apparatus and vibratory apparatus for vibrating the screen support apparatus, and  
 isolation apparatus for isolating the screen support apparatus to inhibit vibrations vibrating the screen apparatus from vibrating objects other than the screen support apparatus and the screen apparatus.  
 
     
     
         10 . The shale shaker of  claim 9  further comprising 
 mounting apparatus to which is mounted the isolation apparatus,  
 the mounting apparatus made from composite material.  
 
     
     
         11 . The shale shaker of  claim 10  wherein the mounting apparatus includes at least a portion made from flexible composite material.  
     
     
         12 . The shale shaker of  claim 11  wherein the at least a portion made from flexible composite material is a plurality of spaced-apart amounts of flexible composite material.  
     
     
         13 . The shale shaker of  claim 10  wherein the mounting apparatus is made from flexible composite material.  
     
     
         14 . The shale shaker of  claim 9  wherein the isolation apparatus is a plurality of spaced-apart isolation apparatuses.  
     
     
         15 . The shale shaker of  claim 9  wherein the isolation apparatus is from the group consisting of springs, resilient members, cushions, flexible hollow members, and inflatable members.  
     
     
         16 . The shale shaker of  claim 15  wherein the isolation apparatus is coated with composite material.  
     
     
         17 . The shale shaker of  claim 15  wherein the isolation apparatus is encased in composite material.  
     
     
         18 . The shale shaker of  claim 9  further comprising 
 mounting apparatus to which is mounted the isolation apparatus,  
 the mounting apparatus coated with composite material.  
 
     
     
         19 . The shale shaker of  claim 9  further comprising 
 mounting apparatus to which is mounted the isolation apparatus,  
 the mounting apparatus encased in composite material.  
 
     
     
         20 . The shale shaker of  claim 1  wherein the basket includes a plurality of interconnected walls.  
     
     
         21 . A shale shaker comprising 
 a base,    vibration isolation apparatus on said base,    a basket,    mount apparatus for mounting said basket on said base, and    at least one of said base, said basket, and said mount apparatus encased in composite material.    
     
     
         22 . A shale shaker comprising 
 a base,    vibration isolation apparatus on said base,    a basket,    mount apparatus for mounting said basket on said base, and    at least one of said base, said basket, and said mount apparatus coated with composite material.    
     
     
         23 . The shale shaker of  claim 1  wherein the shale shaker is for treating fluid introduced thereto, the fluid to be treated comprising fluid with drilled cuttings therein.  
     
     
         24 . The shale shaker of claim of  claim 1  wherein the shale shaker is for treating fluid introduced thereto, the fluid to be treated including lost circulation material.  
     
     
         25 . The shale shaker of  claim 24  wherein the lost circulation material includes fibrous lost circulation material.  
     
     
         26 . A method for treated fluid with a shale shaker, the method comprising 
 introducing fluid to be treated to the shale shaker, the shale shaker having a base, vibration isolation apparatus on said base, a basket, mount apparatus for mounting said basket on said base, and at least one of said base, said basket, and said mount apparatus made of, encased in or coated with composite material, and    processing said fluid through the shale shaker.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said fluid includes drilled cuttings.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said fluid includes lost circulation material.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said composite material includes at least a portion thereof that is flexible composite material.  
     
     
         30 . Any invention disclosed herein.