Flowline degaser

Claim 1

A method for degasing drilling mud used in a drilling operation and exiting the bore hole in a bell nipple comprising the steps of: directing drilling mud from the bell nipple through a flow line into a tank means through an inlet port therein; dispersing the mud flow over a downwardly inclined surface within said tank means to remove gas from the drilling mud and the mud flowing out of said tank means through an outlet port; venting the removed gas from said tank means for disposal, the drilling mud flowing into said tank means and through said tank means by gravity flow; and drawing the drilling mud from the flow line entering said tank means in the bell nipple with a vacuum within said tank means to prevent accumulation of gas in the area surrounding the bell nipple.

Claim 2

A method for degasing drilling mud used in a drilling operation and exiting the bore hole in a bell nipple comprising the steps of: directing drilling mud from the bell nipple through a flow line into a tank means through an inlet port therein; dispersing the mud flow over a downwardly inclined surface within said tank means to remove gas from the drilling mud and the mud flowing out of said tank means through an outlet port; venting the removed gas from said tank means for disposal, the drilling mud flowing into said tank means and through said tank means by gravity flow; and drawing the drilling mud from the flow line entering said tank means in the bell nipple with a vacuum within said tank means to prevent accumulation of gas in the area surrounding the bell nipple.

Claim 3

A method for degasing drilling mud used in a drilling operation and exiting the bore hole in a bell nipple comprising the steps of: directing the drilling mud from the bell nipple downwardly through a flow line for flow into a tank through an inlet port therein; dispersing the drilling mud flowing into said tank over a downwardly inclined surface within said tank to remove gas therefrom; agitating the drilling mud by positioning baffles on the inclined surface for removal of additional gas therefrom; venting the gas removed from the drilling mud flowing through said tank for disposal; removing the drilling mud flowing through said tank through an outlet port in said tank; and evacuating the area in said tank above the inclined surface to drive gas from the driling mud flowing therethrough, the vacuum being sufficient to draw gas from drilling mud at the bell nipple to prevent accumulation of gas surrounding the area about the bell nipple.

Claim 4

A method for degasing drilling mud used in a drilling operation and exiting the bore hole in a bell nipple comprising the steps of: directing the drilling mud from the bell nipple downwardly through a flow line for flow into a tank through an inlet port therein; dispersing the drilling mud flowing into said tank over a downwardly inclined surface within said tank to remove gas therefrom; agitating the drilling mud by positioning baffles on the inclined surface for removal of additional gas therefrom; venting the gas removed from the drilling mud flowing through said tank for disposal; removing the drilling mud flowing through said tank through an outlet port in said tank; and evacuating the area in said tank above the inclined surface to drive gas from the driling mud flowing therethrough, the vacuum being sufficient to draw gas from drilling mud at the bell nipple to prevent accumulation of gas surrounding the area about the bell nipple.

Claim 5

An apparatus for degasing drilling mud exiting from a bell nipple in a drilling operation comprising: a tank means having an inlet port at a first elevation for flow of the drilling mud exiting said bell nipple therethrough and an outlet port at a lower, second elevation; structure within said tank means defining a downwardly inclined surface from said first to said second port for dispersing the drilling mud to remove gas therefrom; and vent means communicating with said tank means above said inclined surface for venting the removed gas from said tank means, said vent means including a blower means for creating a vacuum within said tank means above the inclined surface to drive gas from the mud, the vacuum being sufficient to draw gas from mud at the bell nipple to prevent accumulation of gas in the area surrounding the bell nipple.

Claim 6

An apparatus for degasing drilling mud exiting from a bell nipple in a drilling operation comprising: a tank means having an inlet port at a first elevation for flow of the drilling mud exiting said bell nipple therethrough and an outlet port at a lower, second elevation; structure within said tank means defining a downwardly inclined surface from said first to said second port for dispersing the drilling mud to remove gas therefrom; and vent means communicating with said tank means above said inclined surface for venting the removed gas from said tank means, said vent means including a blower means for creating a vacuum within said tank means above the inclined surface to drive gas from the mud, the vacuum being sufficient to draw gas from mud at the bell nipple to prevent accumulation of gas in the area surrounding the bell nipple.

Claim 7

An apparatus for degasing drilling mud exiting from a bell nipple in a drilling operation comprising: a tank having an inlet port proximate one end of said tank for connection to said bell nipple for flow of the drilling mud exiting the bell nipple into said tank and an outlet port proximate the opposite end of said tank for flow of the drilling mud from said tank; structure within said tank defining a downwardly inclined surface from the inlet to outlet ports for dispersing and agitating drilling mud flowing through said tank to remove gas therefrom; an upper expansion chamber positioned above said tank and communicating with the space in said tank above the inclined surface by vents to permit the gas from the tank to flow therein for disposal; and at least one blower for drawing gas from said upper expansion chamber for disposal, the blower creating a vacuum within said upper expansion chamber and tank to drive gas from the drilling mud flowing through said tank, the vacuum being sufficient to draw gas from the drilling mud at the bell nipple to prevent accumulation of gas in the area surrounding the bell nipple.

Claim 8

An apparatus for degasing drilling mud exiting from a bell nipple in a drilling operation comprising: a tank having an inlet port proximate one end of said tank for connection to said bell nipple for flow of the drilling mud exiting the bell nipple into said tank and an outlet port proximate the opposite end of said tank for flow of the drilling mud from said tank; structure within said tank defining a downwardly inclined surface from the inlet to outlet ports for dispersing and agitating drilling mud flowing through said tank to remove gas therefrom; an upper expansion chamber positioned above said tank and communicating with the space in said tank above the inclined surface by vents to permit the gas from the tank to flow therein for disposal; and at least one blower for drawing gas from said upper expansion chamber for disposal, the blower creating a vacuum within said upper expansion chamber and tank to drive gas from the drilling mud flowing through said tank, the vacuum being sufficient to draw gas from the drilling mud at the bell nipple to prevent accumulation of gas in the area surrounding the bell nipple.

Claim 13

An apparatus for use in a drilling operation, the drilling operation using drilling mud exiting a bore hole through a bell nipple and having gas entrapped therein comprising: a tank forming a gas tight enclosure having an inlet port in a first end thereof, the inlet port being in fluid communication with the bell nipple permitting the drilling mud exiting the bore hole to flow into said tank, and an outlet port at the opposite end of said tank to permit removal of the drilling mud flowing therethrough and at least one vent port proximate said opposite end of said tank; structure defining a planar downwardly inclined surface from the inlet port to the outlet port, the drilling mud flowing through said tank flowing over the inclined surface and dispersing the drilling mud to remove gas therefrom, the inclined surface further having a plurality of baffles secured therealong to agitate the drilling mud to remove additional gas, the vent port being positioned above the inclined surface to permit gas removed from the drilling mud to flow therethrough; an upper expansion chamber positioned above said tank and communicating with the vent port for flow of removed gas therein for disposal; and at least one blower for drawing gas from said upper expansion chamber for disposal, the blower creating a vacuum within said upper expansion chamber and tank to drive gas from the drilling mud, the vacuum being sufficient to draw gas from the mud at the bell nipple to prevent accumulation of gas in the area surrounding the bell nipple.

Claim 14

An apparatus for use in a drilling operation, the drilling operation using drilling mud exiting a bore hole through a bell nipple and having gas entrapped therein comprising: a tank forming a gas tight enclosure having an inlet port in a first end thereof, the inlet port being in fluid communication with the bell nipple permitting the drilling mud exiting the bore hole to flow into said tank, and an outlet port at the opposite end of said tank to permit removal of the drilling mud flowing therethrough and at least one vent port proximate said opposite end of said tank; structure defining a planar downwardly inclined surface from the inlet port to the outlet port, the drilling mud flowing through said tank flowing over the inclined surface and dispersing the drilling mud to remove gas therefrom, the inclined surface further having a plurality of baffles secured therealong to agitate the drilling mud to remove additional gas, the vent port being positioned above the inclined surface to permit gas removed from the drilling mud to flow therethrough; an upper expansion chamber positioned above said tank and communicating with the vent port for flow of removed gas therein for disposal; and at least one blower for drawing gas from said upper expansion chamber for disposal, the blower creating a vacuum within said upper expansion chamber and tank to drive gas from the drilling mud, the vacuum being sufficient to draw gas from the mud at the bell nipple to prevent accumulation of gas in the area surrounding the bell nipple.