Mud treating apparatus

Claim 1

THE COMBINATION WITH A DRILLING MUD SYSTEM FOR A WELL INCLUDING A RETURN DUCT FOR RECEIVING CONTAMINATED MUD RETURNED FROM THE WELL, A CLEAN MUD TANK, A CONDUIT CONNECTING SAID DUCT AND SAID TANK, A MUD SUPPLY DUCT CONNECTING SAID TANK AND THE WELL, AND MAIN MUD PUMP MEANS IN SAID SUPPLY DUCT FOR FORCING MUD FROM SAID TANK INTO THE WELL, OF MUD TREATING MEANS COMPRISING A MUD TREATING VESSEL ADJACENT SAID CONDUIT, MUD DEGASSING MEANS IN SAID VESSEL, AN INTAKE PIPE LEADING FROM A FIRST PART OF SAID CONDUIT INTO SAID VESSEL, A DISCHARGE PIPE CONNECTING SAID VESSEL WITH SAID CLEAN MUD TANK, AND TREATING PUMP MEANS WITH ITS INLET AND DISCHARGE WHOLLY SUPPLIED FROM SAID DISCHARGE PIPE FOR CIRCULATING MUD FROM SAID CONDUIT FIRST PART THROUGH SAID TREATING VESSEL AND THENCE TO SAID CLEAN MUD TANK FOR CAUSING DEGASSING OF THE CONTAMINATED MUD RETURNED FROM THE WELL INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID MAIN MUD PUMP MEANS.