«2 United States Patent Fout US 8,349,193 B2 Jan. 8, 2013 (10) Patent No.t (4s) Date of Patent: (58) SAND SCREW DRYER (75) Inventor: Gary B. Fout, Cypress, TX (US) (73). Assignee: MA LAL.C,, Houston, TX (US) (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis, patent is extended or adjusted under 35, U.S.C. 15400) by 327 days (21) Appl. Nos 121683,786 (22) Filed: Jan.7,2010 6) Prior Publication Data US 201000170859.41 Jl. 8, 2010 Related US. Application Data (60) Provisional application No, 61/143,082, filed on Ja, 7, 2008, (1) Ie. Bor 2106 (2006.01) ‘BID 3306 (2008.01) ‘BOsB 982 (2006.01) ($2) USC so, 210803; 2101523; 2091464 100117 (58) Field of Classification Search 210523, 210803; 2001468; 100/117 See application ile for complete search history. (56) References Cited US. PATENT DOCUMENTS. 4379.08 A 4 41983 Basset 01987 lanka ecal 4102002 ‘Smith eal. 6S85.115 BL 7200 Reldocht al 7078433 B2 72006 ‘Brke et a TSM0617 BL 62008 James FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS ca, 2584046 AL 7/2007 ‘OTHER PUBLICATIONS, First Examiners Report issued Sep. 27, 21 incomesponing Cana- sian application No. 2.689.719 3 pages) Primary Examiner —David A Reifsnyder (74) Aornes; Agent, or Frm —Osha * Liang LLP 7) ABSTRACT An apparatus and process for separating dling Bud from dil catings are disclosed, The separations are performed in a drying auger unit, including: an inctined housing having sie walls joined by a bottom and having an inlet end and an ‘outlet endat east one inet for feeding a ettings shy tthe fine end helical auger located inthe housing for tansport- ing dill cutings from te inlet end of thehousingw the outlet end of the housing, and a drive for rotating the auger, an elevated pan disposed in and extending the length of the housing and having an arewate crass section with a radius rear than a radius of the belicl auger, wherein the pan is disposed proximate atleast lower quadeant ofthe helical suger, the bousing further comprising a liguid recovery zone ‘adjacent to the pan for transporting dling Mids, separated Jo the drill cuttings during transport along the pan by the helical auger, to liquid collection one disposed adjacent 0 the inlet; an outlet lor recovering drilling tid from the Tiquid collection zone; and atleast one fluid inlet nozzle for injecting a Mil into the liguid recovery zone to fcitate transport of aay solids in the liquid recovery 2one tothe guid collection zone; and atleast One outlet for recovering drill cuttings having a reduced content of dling Hid. 20 Claims, $ Drawing SheetsUS. Patent Jan. 8, 2013 22 18- 12 14 ot 44 FIG. 1 Sheet 1 of S US 8,349,193 B2 8 ‘4 20 28 26 33 16 42US. Patent Jan. 8, 2013 Sheet 2 of 5 US 8,349,193 B2 FIG, 2US. Patent Jan. 8, 2013 Sheet 3 of 5 US 8,349,193 B2 R~J oN 24 14) A im. {¢ 7 32 40 oO | 16 PUS. Patent Jan. 8, 2013 Sheet 4 of 5 US 8,349,193 B2US. Patent Jan. 8, 2013 Sheet 5 of 5 US 8,349,193 B2US 8,349, 1 SAND SCREW DRYER ‘CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED “APPLICATIONS. ‘This application, pursuant tw 35 USC. $119(), claims priority to U.S, Provisional Application Sex No, 61/143,082, fled Jan. 7, 2009. That application is incorporated by refer- ‘ence in its etre. » BACKGROUND OF DISCLOSURE 1. Field ofthe Disclosure Embostiments disclosed herein relat generally to separ tion of components ofa cuttings slurry. In a more specific aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus fr the concurrent transport and separation of drill cuttings fiom a cuttings slury. In yet further aspects, embodiments disclosed herein relat toa system anda process for handling, Separating, and disposing of a cuttings sluny 2. Background Oilfield diling Bui, also referred o as “dilling mud” oF “returned drilling fui.” serves multiple purposes in the industry. Examples of driling Mud can include, but are not limited to, water-based andor oil-based fuids that are cireu- lated dowahole to provide hydrostatic pressure during dil- ing operations, as well as remove cutings during a drilling ‘operation col and lubricate dil it. Typically, the Midis nixed atthe surface and pumped downhole at high pressureto the del bit through a bore othe dellseing, Oace the fluid reaches the drill bit it exits through various nozzlesand ports ‘where it ubricates and cools te dil it Dailing id provides a column of hydeostatc pressure, oF head, to prevent “blow out” ofthe well being drilled. This hydrostatic pressure offsets formation pressures thereby pre= ‘venting ids from blowing ou if pressurized! deposits in the formation are breeched. Two factors contributing to the hydeostatie pressureofthedriling mud column are the height {or depth ofthe column (ie, the verical distance from the surfaeto the bottom ofthe wellbore) itself andthe density (or its iaverse,specitic gravity) ofthe id used. Depending on the ype and constrstion ofthe formation to be dled, vari= ‘ous weighting and lubrication agents are mixed into the cll ing mud to obtain te right mistre, Typically, drilling Nuid weight is reported ia “pounds,” short for pounds per gall, ‘Generally, increasing the amount of weighting agent solute slissolvd inthe mud base will reat a heavier Hud, Drilling ‘uid thats too Light may ao protect the formation fom blow ‘outs, ad drilling uid that is too heavy may over invade the formation. Therefore, much imeandeansiderationispentto ‘ensure the mud mixture is oprimal. Because te md evalua- tion and mixture proces is ime consuming and expensive, «drillers and service companies prefer to reclaim the returned riling uid and reeyce it for continued se Another significant purpose ofthe dling mud is o carry the cutings away from the dll bit atthe bottom of the horeholeto the surface. Asa dri it puverizesco srapes the rock formation atthe bottom ofthe borehole, smal pieces of solid material are left behind. The dilliag fluid exiting the nozzlesat te bit acts to sti-up and ear the sold particles of > rock and formation tthe surface within the annulus between the drilstring and the borehole. Therefore, the fui exiting the borebole rom theanaulus isa slurry of formation cuttings in dling fui. ‘The exiting deilling Hids used in dling operations retwen fom dowahole as a cutings slurry, which typically will include both drilling Mud and eri cuttings. Thecomposiion 193 B2 2 ofthecutings slurry may also include other materials, suchas weighting additives and agents, other suspended particulate rater, wells other uid, Before the fd can be recycled and re-pumped dovsn through nozzles ofthe dil it, the drill cutting mst be separate Aer various separatory operations thecutings sary ean have a general liquid phase or a substantially solids phase farther having “ry” or “wet” solids. Those of ordinary skill inthe art will appreciate that “dry” or “wet” refers generally to the amount of drilling Mids remaining with the substan- tially solids phase ring and/or aller any separatory opera~ tion. Thus, the solids phase may be considered “wet” if a substantia quantity of Mid phase is sill present afer the separatory operation Likewise, the solids pase may be con sidered “dry” if the eutings do not contain a substantial quantity of uid phase. Those of ordinary’ skill inthe at will further appreciate tht the amount of ids remaining with either ofthe phases may vary according to the type of forma tion being dled, the typeof elling Huds use inthe dil- ‘ng operation, and the ype of separatory operation employed, Sepatation operations such as a clair, a cenefge, screen, a mud cleane, ofa shaker, are well known inthe at {or removing driling fui from a cutings slurry, However, these operations are not always capable of sufficient or adequate separation of eriling Rud from the ettings shar. For example, a cuttings slurry recovered from a shaker may have a reduced drilling fuids content as high as 50% by volune. The high volume of drilling uid in a eutings slury js problematic because atthe end-point in a process, this Surry is usually designated for disposal. The effect of sing dilling uid darough disposal is doubled because replace- reat drilling Mid is subsequently re-added as a make-up stream. Further, the added liguid weight remaining ia the cotiags slurry creates greater load requirement for asport and disposal operations. ‘Accordingly, there exists @ need in the aet for improved separation devices andor processes for removing drilling ‘lui fom del cutings SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to an spparatus for separating dling fh from drill cuttings the apparatus including: ‘an inelined housing having side walls joined by a bottom an having an inlet end and an outlet end, ‘atleast one inlet for feeding a cuttings slur comprising «dill cuttings and dling Huds othe ile en «a helical auger located in the housing for transporting dill eutings from the inlet end ofthe housing tothe ‘outlet end of the housing, anda drive for rotating the sages an elevated pan disposed in and exteding the length of the housing and having an arevate eross setion with a radius greater than a rans of the helical auger, wherein ‘hepanis disposed proximateat east lower quadrant of the helical anger, «the housing furer comprising a liquid recovery zone acdjacen tothe pan for transporting drilling Mud, sepa rated from the cell cuttings during transport along the pan by the helical auger to 2 liquid collection zone Aisposed adjacent tothe inet an outlet for recovering dling Mus from the lguid colletion zone; andUS 8,349,193 B2 3 al least one id inlet noze for injecting aud into the liquid recovery zone to fiitate transport of any solids in the Liquid recovery zane tothe liquid collstion zone and hat least one outlet for recovering drill cuttings having 3 reduced content of dilling ids. Inanother aspect, embodiments dsclosedherein relate to a process for separating driling ftid from dri cutings, the process inching: feoding a cutings slurry comprising drill ‘cuttings and drilling Hid to an inet ofa deving auge unit, ‘wherein the drying auger unit including: 8. an inlined howsing having side walls joined by abottom, ‘and having an inlet end and an outlet end; bat east one inlet for Feeding a cutings slury tothe inlet end «a helical auger located in the housing for transporting dill cutings from the inlet end of the housing t0 the cutlet end of the housing, and a drive for rotating the auger, an elevated pan disposed in and extending the length of ‘the housing and having an arcuate eros setion witha radius greater than a radius ofthe helical auger, wherein thepanis disposed peoximateat leasta lower quadrantof the helical auger; «the housing further comprising a Tiguid recovery zone adjacent tothe pan for transporting dling Mids, sepa- ‘od ftom the dail cutings during transport along the pan by the helical auger to a Higuid collection zane lisposed adjacent tothe inlet {an outlet for recovering driling uid from the liquid collection zone; and ‘al least one ud inlet nozzle fr injecting a uid into the liquid recovery zone to facilitate transport of any solids in the Liquid recovery zone tothe liquid colleton zone; and h. at least one outlet For recovering drill euttings having & reduced content of ering ids; th process further including concurrently inthe drying auger uni: coaveying the eurtings slury fas the inlet end of the housing tothe outlet end of the housing; and separating at least a portion of the drilling Huid from the dill cuttings to form a drilling fluid fraction and a dill cutings fraction having first reduced content of driling id; reooering the riling fi tration from the liquid collection zone; and recovering the drill eutings fraction having a first reduced ‘content of drilling Mus. Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1isan external view of drying auger unt eeording to embodiments disclosed herein FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a drying auger unit according to embodiments disclosed hein FIG. 3 isa lateral cross-sectional view of a drying auger unit according to embodiments dislosed herein FIG. isa schematic representation of separatory system, according to embodiments disclosed herein. FIG. Sisa schematic representationofa separatory system sccording io embodiments disclosed hereia, DETAILED DESCRIPTION Inoneaspect embodiments disclosed herinrelatetosepa- ration of components ofa cuttings slur. In a more specific Fa » s 4 spect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus Jor the concurrent transport and separation of dil euttings fom a cuttings slury. In yet further aspects, embodiments disclosed herein late wo asystem and a process for handling, separating, and disposing ofa cutings snr. As mentioned previously, processes for recovering dling fluid fom a cuttings slury, may include a carte, a centi= age, a screen, a mud cleaner, ora shaker. However, these ‘operations are not always capable of sufficient or adequate separation of drilling Auids from a cutings slury. For example, scutings slurry processed through eared 8 shaker may havea drilling Mud content of S% or greater by ‘volume. Such high volumes may be present du to the high surface arealow particle size of the drill cuttings. Use of rulliple processes, such as centrifuges and/or aulipleshak- ers may be costly of Himited due to consists on available space, seh as on drilling ngs tas been found that @ dying auger uit according to embodiment disclosed herein my be used 10 transport, as well as separate, cuttings slurtes during transport between various separation devices and storageisposal bins, enhanc- ing the ability to recover more drilling fuid from a cuttings slurry. The cuttings recovered fromthe drying auger unit may have a reduced dling fhid content. Forexample,deving augerunits according t embodiments disclosed herein may be wsed to transport drill eutings from a shaker 10 a storag‘disposal bin; in some embodiments. Separation of diling fhid from the dell cutings during teanspor from the shaker oth storage bin, for example, may result ina deerasein dling fis content from about SP! toless thanabout 35%, by volume, In some embodiments the Ailing fd content maybe reduced to 15-25%, by volume, As another example, a drying auger unit according to embodiments dislosed herein may Be used to transport cutiags tury froma clarifier toa shaker, where separation of ‘portion ofthe deiling fig during transport may reduce the separation load ofthe shaker, Referring now to FIGS, Land, drying auger unitaccond- ug loembodiments disclosed herein sillutated. The drying ‘ager unit 10 may inelude an inclined housing having side walls 14 joined bya bottom 16. Drying auger uit Wmay also includ an inlet end 18 and an outlet end 20. ‘A-cutings slury including dell cutings and drilling id may be fed o drying auger uit 10 viainlet 22. helical auger 24 ocatedat least parilly within housing 12, maybe sed to transport the dil euttngs trom inlet end 18 oward outlet end 20, where the helical auger, including multiple ights28, may berotated vi a dive unit 26 which may include motor 28), The drive unit, although illustrate as located proximate out- Jet end 20, may be located proximate inlet end 18 in some embodiments Separation of drilling fui fom drill eutings during trans- Ports fociftated as shown in FIG, 3, which isa cross-see= tional view of drying auger unit 10, suchas taken from section 43.3 showa in FG. 2, An elevated pan 30s disposed in and extends along the length of housing 12, Elevated pan 30 may have an arcuate cross section with an effective radius R greater than a radius ¢ of helical auger 24, For example, clevated pan 30 may have a general half-u shaped cross- Elevated pan 30, for example, may be located proximatea lower quadrat of the helical auger 24, preferably aoag the Tower quadrant proximate the upward rotation U of fights 25, Jn some embodiments, elevated pan 30 may extend at least 90°, such as from a lowermost portion Pin the direction of rotation of helical auger 24US 8,349,193 B2 5 As the drill cuttings are transported via the rotation of helical auger 24 from inlet end 18 toward outlet end 20, the ‘cuttings slurry gathers on elevated pan 30, dive tothe rota tional forces and friction generated by cotation of lights 25, ands transported upward toward outlet end 20, Gravitational frees ating ypon the cuttings slury and/or compression of the drill cuttings along the length of the helical auger 24 separate at leat a portion of the dling Mud from the il ‘cuttings. The separated drilling fv may then low into liguid recovery zone 32, lowing downward along the length or partial length of housing 12 for colletin ina liquidcollee- tion zone (not shown) located adjacent 1 or proximate inlet 22. The liquid collection zone and inlet 22 should be suf ciently segregated so as 10 avoid mixing of the collected liquid, substantially fee of dil euting, from the cuttings sluny feed during upset conditions, suchasexcessivecuttings slurry fed ates. Drill eating, having a decreased amount of drilling Bud, may then be recovered via outlet 33| As mentioned above, compression may beusedin conjunc 3 tion with gravity to separate the diling fid from the drill ‘cuttings, For example, Highs 28 of helical auger 24 may be ‘evenly spaced in some embodiments, thus using primarily erivitational forces to separate the drilling fi. In other ‘embodiments, fights 2 may havea decreasing spacing slong the lengh of elevated pan 3, thus compressing the cuttings slurry as it traverses tom inlet end 18 towand outlet end 20, facilitating additional separation of drilling fad from the ‘euttngs slurry. Additionally although oaly one helical auger is illustrated, vo or more augers may be used, Asa result of possible abrasion or wea, it may be neces sary to adjust the position of the helical auger 24, It may also be necessary to adjust the postion (eg. clearance A between helical auger 24 and elevated pan 30) based upon the typeof formation being drilled and the size of the drill cutings, ‘among other factor, In some embodiments, the bearing and seal assemblies 37a, 37 can be adjustable so as to provide ‘arable positioning of helical auger 24 ‘The motor 28.can be designed to runthe helical auger 24 at ‘ constant speed, of may be operated using a variable speed «rive, The motor is typically operate at speeds necessary to provide both adequate transportation and the desired separa- tion. In some embodiments, the helical auger is rotated at spocdssulicentto provide an axial velocity within range of 5 to 25 foet per minut. In other embodiments, the helical augers operated to providean axial velocity fromabout 1010 ‘bout 15 fet per minute. “The cuttings slurry composition may’ include small par- ticles, clays, lage cuttings, ec, where some ofthe particles ‘may ether temporarily adhere to fights 25,or may otherwise findtheir way into iquidcolletion zone 32. Assolids, suchas ‘lays or other components ofa cuttings slury may hinder flow of liquids within the liquid recovery zone or may decrease the ellcieny ofeuttings anspor, ane or ace id inlet nozzes 40 may be provided for injection ofa Mid, such 3s water or recovered drilling id, ito the lig recovery one, thus fecltating transport of solids, although undesie- ‘able, to the liquid collection zone, filter or sereen (not shown), forexample, may be provided at an inlet to the liquid collection zone to collet any such particles that may be ‘carried over by the lights into the liquid recovery zone, Fluid inletnozzles 40, venturi nozzles forexample, may be located slong one or more of the housing botiom a side wall, or housing top, where the liquid flaw from the nozzles 40 is, seneraly difected into the liquid collection zane. Nozzles 40 may also be oriented to clean flights 25 of helical auger 24, » 6 suchasillustated in FG, 3. The injection of td via nozzles 40 may be performed as needed, intemnittently, or continue ously. Reierring again to FIG. 1, the drying auger unitcan havea support means 42 for maintaining thedryerat an angles from horizontal. The support means 42can be any such support as ‘isknown in the art to support equipment, including a portable skid with suppor legs and/or wheels. In some embodiments, the support means 42 can further include it angle mocha nism 44 for adjusting the incline angle cvofthedeyer. Though the drying auger unit can be used in a nearly horizontal rangement (ie, -O degrees) due 1 elevated pan 30, the incTine angle is typically 0190 degrees. In some emboi- rents, the angle of elevation is inthe range of 15 to 2S degrees ‘omic horizontal. nother embodiments the angle of elea- tion from horizontal rages from about 5 to 35 depres. The angle of elevation provides various benefits, such as faclitat- ing deainage of fuids and fines to the liquid collection zone, tnd the rage of elevation may be varied depending upon the ‘ype of formation being drilled and/or the amount of separa- tion thats desired In some embodiments, housing 12 may include atop 4, for example, to shield separation operations from external environmental conditions, such as weather. Additionally use ff. top 48 may limit emissions from the process that may otherwise occur ifthe unit were open othe environment. In saditon to Fimitng emissions, an enclosed housing 12 may sso allow recovery of drilling tid vapors via @ vacuum system, which can then further inrease the amount of Mid recovered from the slurry. Heating ofthe cuttings slurry, such mate outlet end 16, may also enhace separation of 1 id from the dill eutings. “The drying auger unit ae described above with respect to FIGS. 1-3 may be used in processes use forthe recovery of diling uid froma cuttings slurry. As mentioned above, such processes may iaclnde clarifiers and shakers, among other apparatus. Drying auger units aecording to embodiments dis- closed heroin may be used to tansport cuttings sluties berwoon such unis, between such units and dil ettings disposal or collection bins, or may be used solely as means to separate dling Mud from a eutings slurry: Relering now to FG. 4, a process for the separation of ling Mud from a eutings shir. using drying auger unit sccarding to embodiments disclosed herein, illustrated. In this embodiment, a cuttings shury may be fe, for example, Joma water clarifier (aotshows) orother upstream apparatus o shaker 60 or mud cleaner 62. Following partial separation of drilling fui from drill cuttings, as mentioned above, the dill cutis and other material recovered from shaker 60 0¢ ‘ud cleaner 62 may have a substantial amount of fhid ass0- ciated with the particles, such as 5% or more by volute. ‘The cuttings slury recovered from shaker 60 or mud cleanet 62 may be fed to inlet 22 ofa drying auger unit 10 sccording to embodiments disclosed herein. Separations within drying auger unit 10 may be performed, as described above, recovering via outlet 33 a cuttings slurry having a reduced fluid content The cutings recovered via outlet 33 ‘nay then be dropped into arilear hopper 64 fr shipment to disposal ite, for example, Dring tu separated ftom the dil cutngs within dey- ing auger unit 10 may be collected in liquid collection zone 66, such as « sump. Sump pumps 68 or ober appropriate devices may then be used 10 forward the recovered drilling fluid for further processing, for recycle and reuse within 8 rd system, or may be pumped through nozzles 40 (FIG.3)US 8,349,193 B2 7 for use in operation and cleaning of drying auger unit 10, Alteratvely pump 82 may provide fresh water orallemative fuids to nozzles 40 ‘Other equipment that may’ be sstociated with the catings slurry separation may also include a centrifuge 84, a dewa- tering system 86, and reserve fluids tanks 88. Fach of these ray be appropriately connected ata desired point within the recovery and separation system via suitable low conduits and transport devices (pumps, etc.) (aot shovsn). However, depending on the type of contamination, 1o additional mechanical or chemial treatment may be esuired. As such, ‘embodiment f the present disclosure may include the reat ment of drill cutings that ether have or have not been mechanically or chemically treated. Referring now 10 FIG. 8, a process forthe separation of| ding fuid trom a cutings slury, using muliple deying auger units according to embodiments disclosed herein, is itstated, where lke numerals represent ike pats. In this, ‘embodiment, cutings slurry may be fe, for example, rom 8 water clarifier 99 or other upsteam apparatus (0 firs ‘drying aoger unit 10A. The fist drying auger unit 104 may peeforman intial separation ofthe driling uid from te dil ‘cuttings, partially reducing the drilling id content of the ‘euttngs slurry. The partially separated cuttings susry may then be fed from drying auger unit 0A to shaker 60 or mod ‘leaner 62, as described above. Thus, transport ofthe cuttings fomclariler 9010 shaker 60 may havethe added henetit of at least partially separating the dling Mid from te dil eut- tings. Acivantageously, drying auger units aocoring to embodi- ments dislosed herein beneficially reduce the amount of diling uid within acutings slurry. The apparatus may be _appropately’ sized according to specific needs and may be ‘constructed of any suitable materials ws would he apparent 10 8 person of skill inthe art. The drying auger unit 8 advana- gous over the prorat for various reasons For example, the drying auger uit can be used wi slurries from different kinds of formations, suc a sand and large shale formations, Alternately, the drying auger unit can also be used with fine silts or clay bearing fomatioas, The deying auger unit alsois, usable with large, bulky cuttings or with small fines on the micron seale. The dryer is also henefical over the prioe att because it provides concurent transportation and separation ‘of the cuttings slur. Also advantageously, the drying auger unit may help reduce the amount of driling fluid lost to disposal, which simltancously means less make-up Bids are need since the separated and recovered drilling uid can be cleaned (sueh as by washing) and recirculated toa dling Hid stor- ‘age tank for eventual reuse in the drilling operation. Other ‘etmbodients disclosed herein provide for methods of weat- ing and disposing dell eutings. After proper treatment, dil ‘cuttings may bemixod with readily available filler, sochas op soil, and reused in construetion operations, By using the ‘cuttings in couseuctionoperatons, the cuttings do aot haveto be buried in the ground, which may have environmental impacts, such as the formation fr sink reas in certain loca- tions. Furthermore, using the dill cuttings in construction ‘operations may decrease the cost of disposal because the ‘construction material may be sold for profi, thereby offset ting operation expenses. Further, use of a clarifier (or equivalent) to feed an upstream drying anger unit provides the advantage of inital separating some of the dling fi from the cuttings shure. The pe-removal of illing ids reduces te Toad the next drying auger uit and other further dowasteam units, whieh advantageously reduces wear and tear and conserves energy: 8 While the present disclosure has been described with respect oa limited aumber of embodimeats, those skilled in ‘hear, having benefit ofthe present disclosure will appreciate that other embodiments may be devised which do not depart 5 from the soope ofthe disclosure described herein. Accoa= ingly, the seopeo the disclosure should belimitedonlyby the claims appended hereto, ‘What is claimed is: 41, Aa apparatus for separating dling Hid trom drill 10 tings, the apparatus comprising: ‘a aninelined housing having sde walls joined by a bottom. ‘and having an inlet end and an outlet end: ‘bat eas one ile for Feeding. cuttings slurry comprising ‘dil cuttings and driling fads tothe inlet end; «) helical auger located in the housing for tansporting dell cutigs from the inlet end of the housing tothe ‘outlet end of the housing, and drive for rotating the auger, 4)an elevated pan dispose in and extending the length of the housing and having an arcuate erss section with a radius greater than rai of the helical auger, wherein ‘hepanis disposed proximateat east lower quadrant of the helical auger €) the housing futher comprising a Figuid recovery zone adjacent othe pan for transporting dling Mids, sepa- rated from the cell cuttings during transport along the pan by the helical auger, to a figid eolletion zone Aisposed adjacent othe ine £) an outlet for recovering dilling uid from the liquid collection zone; and _2)alleastone Mid inlet nozzle forinjctinga Midna the liquid recovery zone to facilitate transport of any solids inthe liquid eeovery zone to the liquid eollston zone and ‘ny atleast one outlet for recovering del eurtings having a reduced coatent of dling Mids 2.The apparatus of claim 1, where the elevated pan has a general hall-u shaped erss-setion, 3. Theapparatusof elaim2, wherein thecross section ofthe hal-u shaped pan extends atleast 90° fom approximately 8 lowermost path ofthe helical auger. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherci the at least one fuid ine port for injecting a hid is a venturi nozzle, 45. The apparatus of chim 1, wherein the drive rotates the auger at aspoedto convey the dill eutings at an axial velocity inthe range from about § to bout 25 foot per minute. 6, The apparatus of clam 1, wherein the inclined housing js inclined at an angle inthe range from about I degree to shout 45 degrees, 7. The appara of lan 1, wherein the inclined housing js inclined at an angle in the range from about 10 degree to shout 20 degees, '8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dive isa variable speed dive. 9. proces for separating drilling Mud rom drill utings, the process comprising: feeding a cuttings slurry comprising drill eutingsanddrill- ing fuid to an inlet of a drying auger unit, wherein the ‘drying auger unit comprises: 2) an inclined housing having side walls joined by a bottom and having an inlet end and an outlet end 'b) at east one inlet for feding a cuttings suey wo the inlet end: ©) aheical anger located inthe housing for transporting dill cuttings from the inet end o the housing to the ‘outlet end ofthe housing, and a deve for rotating the auger, sUS 8,349,193 B2 9 an elevated pan disposed in and extending the length of the housing and having an areuate cross section ‘with adi grate than radius of the helical auger, ‘wherein the pan s disposed proximate at east kwer quadrant ofthe helical auger; ‘pte housing farther comprising aliquid recovery zone adjacent 10 the pan for transporting dling Ruids separated from the dill cutings during transport long the pan bythe helical auger, oa liquid colle tion zone disposed adjacent to the inet, {am oult for covering drilling Huds fom the guid collection zone; and a east one uid inlet nozzle for injecting 2 uid nto the liquid recovery zone to facilitate transport of any solids inthe quid recovery aone tothe liquid elle: tion zone; and ‘at east one outlet for recovering dil estings having reduced content of drilling uid ‘concurrently inthe deying suger unit ‘conveying the cuttings shurry from the inlet end of the housing to the outlet end ofthe housing; and separating at leas portion of the drilling Mid from the rill cuttings to forma dling id facton anda drill cuttings fection having a fist reduced content of, ling Mud recovering the drilling fd faction from the Tiguid col- lection zone; and recovering the drill cuttings fraction having first reduced content of drilling Mud. 10. The process of claim 9, furber comprising injeting 2 wash Sid through the a leas one fluid inlet noze 11, The process of claim 10, wherein the wash fluid eoa prises at least one of recovered dilling Mud and water. 12 The process of claim 9, farther compising recovering a Muid comprising drill cutings and deilling fluid from a wellbore; separating atleast a portion ofthe diling Mud from the dill cuttings ina clariier to form a liquid faction and a cuttings fraction; feeding the cutings fraction from the clarifier toa shaker separating driling fi from dri cuttings in the shaker to form a uid fraction and the cuttings slurry feeding the cuttings shury recovered from the shaker to the ‘dying auger unit. 18. The process of claim 9, farther comprising recovering @ Muid comprising dill eutings and drilling uid from a wellbore; separating at leas a portion ofthe driling Mud from the dill cuttings in clarifier o form aliquid fraction and the cuttings slur. 14. The process of claim 13, further comprising: feeding the cuttings slurry having frst reduced content of tilling Mud to a shaker; and separating additonal dling uid from te cuttings lurey to praduce a drill cuttings fraction having a second reduced drilling tid content. Fa » 10 15, The process of claim 44, futher comprising: feeding the dil cuttings fraction having a second reduced ‘dlling uid content toa second drying auger unit the second drying auger unit comprising: 8) an inelind housing having side walls joined by a ‘hotfom and having an inlet end and an outlet en: bat least one inlet fr feeding a cuttings slurry to the inlet end: ‘©)ahelcal anger locate inthe housing for transporting dill cuttings from the inlet end ofthe housing wo the ‘outlet end ofthe housing, and a deve for tating the auger, ‘a elevated pan disposed in and extending the length of the housing and having an arcuate cross section witha rdins greater than aris of the helical auger, ‘wherein the pan is disposed proximate at east wer quadrant ofthe helical auger, ‘yt housing further comprising a liguid recovery zone adjacent to the pan for tamsporting drilling Bids, Separated from the dill cutings during transport along the pan by the helical auger, oa guid eollec- toa zone disposed adjacent othe inet {an outlet for recovering drilling fui fom te igi collection zone: and 1) atleast one fui inlet nozzle for injecting a uid into ‘the liquid recovery 2one to facilitate transport of any solids inthe liquid recovery zone tothe liquid eollee- tin zone; and bat east one outlet for recovering dil euttings having reduced content of drilling ids; ‘concurrent inthe second deying auger unit ‘conveying the dillcuttings faction from te inlet end of ‘the housing to the outlet end ofthe housing: and separating at east «portion ofthe dling Mid from the ‘dill cutings to form a socond drilling Mid fraction and a drill cuttings fraction having a third reduced content of drilling Buid, ‘recovering the second drilling id fraction fromthe liquid collection zone; and recovering the dil cuttings faction having tht reduced ‘content of ering ud 16. The process of claim 9, wherein the cuttings slury comprises at least 40 percent cilling uid by volume. 17. The process of claim 16, wherein the dill eutings sfoction having a first reduced content of drling Huds com- prises Jess than 35 percent dling uid by volume 18, The process of claim 16, wherein the dill cutings fection having first reduced content of eling Huis com- prises ftom about 15 to about 25 percent drilling Muid by volute. 19, The process of lain 9, wherein the dive is variable speed dive, the proces further comprising deeaniaing a deiling fluid coateat of the recovered dell ‘euttings fraction and adjstingaspeod ofthe drivein response othe determined. ‘iling Nid content. 20, The process of claim 9 rer comprising recycling at least a portion ofthe deiling Mud fuction oa dling mand system,