Drilling return flowline continuous agitation flocculant metering dispenser

Abstract

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a Drilling Return Flowline Continuous Agitation Flocculant Metering Dispenser in a flowline. The metering device includes a pump and a reservoir. The reservoir contains flocculant (e.g., a polymeric drilling fluid, MF55 drilling fluid) in a suspension (e.g., water). The pump maintains a continuous circulation of the flocculant suspension through the pump. A first outlet meters a predetermined flow rate of the flocculant suspension into a flowline in a drilling reserve pit. The remainder of the flocculant suspension is returned to the reservoir through a first outlet. A valve on the first outlet and a second valve on the second outlet allows an adjustment of the return and metering outlet streams. The metered flow allows the flocculant into the flowline such that the drilling fluid is constantly mixed with the flocculant suspension as the drilling fluid is returned to the drilling reserve pit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flocculant dispenser comprising:
 a pump comprising an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet; and,   a flocculant container fluidly coupled to the inlet of the pump and to the second outlet of the pump, wherein:
 the first outlet is fluidly coupled to a conduit containing a flow of contaminated drilling fluid from a well to a reservoir such that the pump dispenses a fluid flow (Q2) of flocculant-bearing fluid into the contaminated drilling fluid, 
 the pump recirculates a fluid flow (Q3) recirculating into the flocculant container via the second outlet, and 
 the sum of Q2 and Q3 is less than or equal to a fluid flow (Q1) from the flocculant container to the pump via the inlet. 
   
     
     
         2 . The flocculant dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the pump configured to fluidly coupled to an external return line containing contaminated drilling fluids. 
     
     
         3 . The flocculant dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the external return line is configured to receive fluids from a well. 
     
     
         4 . The flocculant dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the external return line is configured to dispense fluids through the return line to a drilling pit. 
     
     
         5 . The flocculant dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the flocculant fluid is a polymeric drilling fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The flocculant dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the flocculant fluid is MF55 drilling fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The flocculant dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is configured to maintain a continuous circulation of the flocculant bearing fluid through the pump. 
     
     
         8 . The flocculant dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet filter valve to the pump configured to release displaced air before fluids enter the pump. 
     
     
         9 . The flocculant dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the inlet filter valve is a ball valve. 
     
     
         10 . The flocculant dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the flocculant container is referred to as the first flocculant container, further comprising a second flocculant container fluidly coupled to the pump such that when a flocculant switch it released the flocculant container swaps from the first flocculant container to the second flocculant container. 
     
     
         11 . A flocculant dispenser comprising:
 A pump comprising an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet;   A flocculant container selectively fluidly coupled to the inlet of the pump and selectively fluidly coupled to the second outlet of the pump; and   a flow-induced fluid injector comprising:
 a first inlet selectively fluidly coupled to the second outlet of the pump; 
 a second inlet fluidly coupled to a source of flocculant; and, 
 an outlet fluidly coupled to the inlet of the pump, 
   wherein, the first outlet is fluidly coupled to a conduit containing a flow of contaminated drilling fluid from a well to a reservoir such that the pump dispenses a fluid flow (Q2) of flocculant-bearing fluid into the contaminated drilling fluid in:
 a recirculation mode wherein the pump recirculates a fluid flow (Q3) recirculating into the flocculant container via the second outlet, and the sum of Q2 and Q3 is less than or equal to a fluid flow (Q1) from the flocculant container to the pump via the inlet; and 
 an injector mode, wherein the pump circulates a fluid flow (Qb) of contaminated drilling fluid from the conduit through the first inlet of the fluid injector, across the second inlet of the fluid injector, and out the outlet of the fluid injector such that a flow of flocculant from the source of flocculant is dispensed into Qb via the second inlet of the fluid injector to form the fluid flow Q2. 
   
     
     
         12 . The flocculant dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the pump configured to fluidly coupled to an external return line containing contaminated drilling fluids. 
     
     
         13 . The flocculant dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the external return line is configured to receive fluids from a well. 
     
     
         14 . The flocculant dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the external return line is configured to dispense fluids through the return line to a drilling pit. 
     
     
         15 . The flocculant dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the flocculant fluid is a polymeric drilling fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The flocculant dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the flocculant fluid is MF55 drilling fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The flocculant dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the pump is configured to maintain a continuous circulation of the flocculant bearing fluid through the pump. 
     
     
         18 . The flocculant dispenser of  claim 10 , further comprising an inlet filter valve to the pump configured to release displaced air before fluids enter the pump. 
     
     
         19 . The flocculant dispenser of  claim 18 , wherein the inlet filter valve is a ball valve. 
     
     
         20 . The flocculant dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the flocculant container is referred to as the first flocculant container, further comprising a second flocculant container fluidly coupled to the pump such that when a flocculant switch it released the flocculant container swaps from the first flocculant container to the second flocculant container.