Separator sub with annular flow passage

Patent · Tue Dec 18 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5799516

Hayatdavoudi, A; Adams, L M

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for drilling a well. A separator sub includes a cyclone separator which separates a stream of drilling mud into a less dense first portion and more dense second portion. The stream of drilling mud flows downward in an annular stream around the cyclone separator and then flows into a lower end of the cyclone separator. The less dense first portion of the stream of drilling mud is directed from the cyclone separator downward to a drill bit so that the drilling mud adjacent the drill bit has a density less than an initial density of the stream of drilling mud. The more dense second portion of the stream of drilling mud is directed upward from the cyclone separator and is ejected into a well annulus with an upward component of velocity and thereby reduces a hydrostatic drilling mud pressure adjacent the drill bit.

• Assignee: Petroleum Instrumentation and Technological Services
• Patent Number(s): US 4488607
• OSTI ID: 5799516
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
COMPRESSIBLE FLOW
CONCENTRATORS
CONTROL
CYCLONE SEPARATORS
DENSITY
DRILLING
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
DRILLING FLUIDS
DRILLS
EQUIPMENT
FLOW RATE
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
HYDROSTATICS
INERTIAL SEPARATORS
LIQUID FLOW
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
PRESSURE CONTROL
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
WELL DRILLING