Drilling fluid flow facilitation

Abstract

A system for facilitating flow of settled solids with drilling fluid from a container, the system including pressure nozzle apparatus with at least one nozzle from which is flowable fluid under pressure, powered rotation apparatus for selectively rotating the pressure nozzle apparatus so that the at least one nozzle is movable within the container as fluid is pumped through the at least one nozzle into the container; and, in one aspect, translation apparatus for moving the pressure nozzle apparatus with respect to the container as fluid under pressure is pumped to the at least one rotating nozzle.

1 . A system for facilitating flow of drilling fluid from a container of drilling fluid, the drilling fluid containing solids, the system comprising 
 pressure nozzle apparatus with at least one nozzle from which is flowable fluid under pressure,    powered rotation apparatus connected to the pressure nozzle apparatus for selectively rotating the pressure nozzle apparatus so that the at least one nozzle is rotatable within the drilling fluid containing solids in the container as fluid is pumped through the at least one nozzle into the container.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising 
 supply apparatus for supplying fluid under pressure to the pressure nozzle apparatus.    
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the container is from the group consisting of mud tank and mud pit.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising 
 powered translation apparatus to which the pressure nozzle apparatus is connected, the powered translation apparatus for moving the pressure nozzle apparatus generally horizontally with respect to the container.    
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising 
 control apparatus for selectively controlling the powered rotation apparatus.    
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4  further comprising 
 control apparatus for selectively controlling the powered rotation apparatus, and    the control apparatus for selectively controlling the powered translation apparatus.    
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising 
 sensor apparatus within the container for sensing at least one parameter of the fluid in the container, and    a computer system for receiving signals from the sensor apparatus indicative of the at least one parameter, the computer system for directing the control apparatus.    
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7   supply apparatus for supplying fluid under pressure to the pressure nozzle apparatus, and    wherein the control system is for receiving signals from the computer system for controlling the supply apparatus in response to said signals so that masses of solids in the drilling fluid are dispersed.    
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising 
 the pressure nozzle apparatus for moving settled solids from a floor of a container,    pump apparatus for evacuating from the container settled solids moved by the pressure nozzle apparatus, the settled solids evacuatable with drilling fluid,    shaker apparatus for receiving and processing the settled solids and drilling fluid pumped by the pump apparatus from the container,    the pump apparatus for pumping the settled solids and drilling fluid to the shaker apparatus, and    the shaker apparatus for producing a flow of re-usable drilling fluid and disposable separated-out solids.    
   
   
       10 . A method for facilitating flow of drilling fluid from a container, the method comprising 
 feeding drilling fluid material into a container having a system for facilitating flow of drilling fluid, the system comprising pressure nozzle apparatus with at least one nozzle from which is flowable fluid under pressure, and powered rotation apparatus connected to the pressure nozzle apparatus for selectively rotating the pressure nozzle apparatus so that the at least one nozzle is rotatable within the drilling fluid containing solids in the container as fluid is pumped through the at least one nozzle into the container, the method further comprising    dispersing masses of solids within the drilling fluid material by pumping fluid under pressure through the at least one nozzle and rotating the pressure nozzle apparatus with the powered rotation apparatus.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the masses of solids include masses of settled out solids on a floor of the container.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the system further comprises sensor apparatus for sensing parameters of the drilling fluid material and for producing signals indicative of measured parameters, the system having a control system including computer apparatus for receiving signals indicative of the measured parameter and for directing the control system in response to said signals, the method further comprising 
 the computer apparatus directing the control apparatus.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the system further comprises 
 the pressure nozzle apparatus for moving settled solids from a floor of a container,    pump apparatus for evacuating settled solids moved by the pressure nozzle apparatus from the container, the settled solids evacuatable with drilling fluid,    shaker apparatus for receiving and processing the settled solids and drilling fluid,    the pump apparatus for pumping the settled solids and drilling fluid to the shaker apparatus, and    the shaker apparatus for producing a flow of re-usable drilling fluid and disposable separated-out solids,    the method further comprising    moving settled solids from the floor of the container,    evacuating settled solids with drilling fluid from the container with the pump apparatus,    pumping with the pump apparatus the settled solids with drilling fluid to shaker apparatus    processing with the shaker apparatus the settled solids with drilling fluid, producing reusable drilling fluid and separated-out solids.    
   
   
       14 . A system for facilitating flow of drilling fluid from a container of drilling fluid, the drilling fluid containing solids, the system comprising 
 pressure nozzle apparatus with at least one nozzle from which is flowable fluid under pressure,    powered translation apparatus to which the pressure nozzle apparatus is connected, the powered translation apparatus for moving the pressure nozzle apparatus generally with respect to the container.    
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising 
 powered rotation apparatus connected to the pressure nozzle apparatus for selectively rotating the pressure nozzle apparatus so that the at least one nozzle is rotatable within the drilling fluid containing solids in the container as fluid is pumped through the at least one nozzle into the container.    
   
   
       16 . A method for recovering usable drilling fluid from solid masses adjacent a floor of a container, the method comprising 
 moving solid masses adjacent a floor of a container with a moving system, the moving system comprising pressure nozzle apparatus with at least one nozzle from which is flowable fluid under pressure to move the solid masses, and powered rotation apparatus connected to the pressure nozzle apparatus for selectively rotating the pressure nozzle apparatus so that the at least one nozzle is rotatable within the container to enhance movement of the solid masses as fluid is pumped through the at least one nozzle, the method further comprising    rotating the pressure nozzle apparatus with the powered rotation apparatus, and    evacuating from the container with pump apparatus drilling fluid and solid masses moved by the moving system.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising 
 feeding the drilling fluid and solid masses evacuated from the container to shaker apparatus for receiving and processing the drilling fluid and solid masses, and    producing with the shaker apparatus a flow of re-usable drilling fluid and disposable separated-out solids.