Patent Application
20230144265
The present disclosure generally relates to ditch magnets, and more particularly to magnetic assemblies used to remove ferrous metals from an oilfield drilling mud stream.
A Halbach magnetic circuit or array provides increased attracting and holding power over conventional magnetic circuits. The Halbach array effectively increases the magnetic surface gauss which, in turn, holds more ferrous metal, especially the lower mass, fine ferrous metal particulate. It is highly important to capture ferrous metal in the drilling mud stream, especially fine metal, since the drilling mud is recycled down the wellbore and the shale shaker screens may permit the fine metal to pass through if the fine metal is smaller than the screen aperture.
Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a magnetic tool with a ditch magnet that may include end plates (or handles) having a mostly open architecture. These end plates may be permanently affixed to the ends of the magnetic bar. Ferrous metal may pass through by urging captured ferrous metal from one end of the ditch magnet to the opposite end. The captured ferrous metal may be urged from one end of the ditch magnet bar to an opposite end using a composite, multi-component wiper. The wiper may remove captured ferrous metal safely and effectively from the ditch magnet bar.
Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a magnetic tool comprising: at least one magnetic bar; and end plates affixed to each end of the at least one magnetic bar, the at least one magnetic bar and the end plates forming a ditch magnet, wherein captured ferrous metal may be urged through from one end of the ditch magnet to an opposite end. The end plates may be permanently affixed to each end of the at least one magnetic bar. The end plates may be located inboard on each end of the at least one magnetic bar. The magnetic tool also may include a composite, multi-component wiper that may urge the captured ferrous metal from one end of the ditch magnet to the opposite end. The wiper may remove the captured ferrous metal from the at least one magnetic bar. The wiper may be applied to each of the at least one magnetic bar. The wiper may include two or more components that are capable of being installed, removed, and replaced without removing the end plates when they are affixed to the at least one magnetic bar. The ditch magnet may be used in an oilfield drilling fluid mud stream.
Other embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a magnetic tool comprising at least one magnetic bar; end plates affixed to each end of the at least one magnetic bar, the at least one magnetic bar and the end plates forming a ditch magnet; and a take-apart wiper comprising two or more components that are capable of being installed, removed, and replaced without removing the end plates when they are affixed to the at least one magnetic bar, wherein the take-apart wiper may urge captured ferrous metal through from one end of the ditch magnet to an opposite end. The take-apart wiper may be formed of a non-ferrous material. The take-apart wiper may further include one or more fasteners. The one or more fasteners may be nylon-insert flange locknuts that firmly grip threads to resist loosening and distribute load. The end plates may be permanently affixed to the at least one magnetic bar. The end plates may have an open architecture capable of allowing the captured ferrous metal to pass through without releasing the end plates from the at least one magnetic bar. The at least one magnetic bar may include two or more magnets affixed to a low-carbon steel pole, wherein the two or more magnets affixed to the pole are installed in a stainless-steel tube. The at least one magnetic bar may include spacers positioned between the two or more magnets when affixed to the pole. The end plates may have an outside diameter that is greater than the take-apart wiper interior diameter.
Further embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a method for using a magnetic tool comprising: collecting ferrous metal on a magnetic bar having a first end plate on a first end and a second end plate on a second end with a wiper secured beneath the first end plate, the collecting step comprising: turning the magnetic bar in a vertical direction; and moving the wiper from its position beneath the first end plate down toward the second end plate, wherein ferrous metal releases from the magnetic bar moving through the second end plate to form piles of captured ferrous metal. The magnetic tool may be placed in an oilfield drilling fluid mud recycling stream having ferrous metal from the wellbore to attract and retain the ferrous metal to prevent the ferrous metal from being reintroduced into the wellbore. The method also may include removing the magnetic tool from the oilfield drilling fluid mud recycling stream for cleaning; and removing the captured ferrous metal from the magnetic bar.
For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a magnetic tool that may incorporate one or more Halbach magnetic circuits in a permanent magnetic assembly, resulting in improved magnetic attraction and holding power. The one or more Halbach magnetic circuits being used in a permanent magnetic assembly may be referred to as a ditch magnet. The magnetic assembly may be used in an oilfield drilling fluid “mud” stream in embodiments of the present disclosure.
The ditch magnet may include end plates (or handles) having a mostly open architecture, and these end plates may be permanently affixed to the ends of the magnetic bar. Ferrous metal may pass through by urging captured ferrous metal from one end of the ditch magnet to the opposite end. The captured ferrous metal may be urged from one end of the ditch magnet bar to an opposite end using a composite, multi-component wiper. The wiper according to embodiments of the present disclosure may remove captured ferrous metal safely and effectively from the ditch magnet bar. It should be appreciated that the wiper may be used with a ditch magnet bar where the end plates (handles) are either permanently attached or located inboard of the ditch magnet bar ends.
Wiper 101 may be formed of a non-ferrous material and may comprise two or more components that may be installed, removed, and replaced without removing end plates 103a, 103b from where they are affixed to magnetic bar 102. In embodiments of the present disclosure, wiper 101 may include fasteners, including, but not limited to, 18-8 stainless steel nylon-insert flange locknuts and/or 18-8 stainless steel socket head screws. Inclusion of a nylon insert may firmly grip threads to resist loosening, and the flange may distribute load over a large area. However, other fasteners may be utilized in wiper 101 without departing from the present disclosure. Further, while fasteners have been described as formed of stainless steel, other materials may be used without departing from the present disclosure.
End plates (handles) 103a, 103b may be permanently affixed to magnetic bar 102 without fasteners or bolts needed to removably secure end plates 103a, 103b to magnetic bar 102. The open architecture of end plates 103a, 103b may allow ferrous metal to pass through without removing fasteners or bolts to release end plates 103a, 103b from magnetic bar 102, thereby saving time and reducing the likelihood of misplacing or losing components of magnetic tool 10.
In operation, as depicted, for example, in
While embodiments of the present disclosure have been described for use in an oilfield drilling fluid “mud” recycling stream, it should be appreciated that the magnetic tool may be used in other liquid flow processes or in dry flow processes such as the food industry and the plastics industry without departing from the present disclosure. It also should be appreciated that the magnetic tool according to embodiments of the present disclosure may be suspended above a process flow stream, such as in an installation over a conveyor belt or vibratory conveyor.
It should be appreciated that there may be embodiments of the present disclosure where the magnetic tool may be used without inclusion of a mechanical wiper. There also may be embodiments of the present disclosure where a wiper may be used on a magnetic bar of a magnetic tool where the magnetic circuit does not include one or more Halbach magnetic circuits.
The magnetic tool according to embodiments of the present disclosure may improve ferrous metal capture and cleaning. As magnet strength within the magnetic tool increases, more ferrous metal may be captured, and use of the wiper allows for easier removal of the captured ferrous metal. In addition, use of the magnetic tool according to embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a safer means for removal of ferrous metal, as ferrous metal can be sharp and cause injury to a user. Inclusion of the wiper in the magnetic tool according to embodiments of the present disclosure may reduce these safety hazards involved in cleaning off the ferrous metal, along with decreasing the amount of time to perform the cleaning cycle. This may allow the ditch magnet to be more quickly placed back in service.
Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
The present Application is a non-provisional of, and claims priority to, U.S. Patent Application No. 63/276,693 filed Nov. 8, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63276693 | Nov 2021 | US |
