Robert M Sweet
Engineers in Riverton, UT

4484643, Nov 27, 1984

Jun 27, 1983

6/507862

Anil Mahyera - Salt Lake City UT
Carel J. H. Brest Van Kempen - Salt Lake City UT
Robert M. Sweet - Riverton UT
Amber C. Davidson - Salt Lake City UT

Methane Drainage Ventures - Placentia CA

E21B 2106

175206

A gas-liquid-solids separation system for use with a drilling device includes a surge tank for holding drilling efflux comprising gas, liquid and solids, and adapted for mounting on a drilling device in a position for having a drill shaft extending therethrough. A stuffing box attached to a back side of the surge tank means and configured for enabling passage of the drill shaft therethrough prevents the drilling efflux from escaping the surge tank. A flange attached to the front side of the surge tank and aligned with the stuffing box for allowing passage of the drill shaft therethrough provides a seal between the surge tank and a borehole casing to enable the drilling efflux to flow into the surge tank means. An agitator disposed within the surge tank maintains suspension of the solids within the liquid, and a gas cyclone in fluid communication with the surge tank withdraws gas from the surge tank and separates any entrained liquid therefrom. The liquid and solids suspended therein are transferred to a slurry cyclone for separation and thereafter the liquid is stored in a tank for subsequent reuse as a cutting fluid.

4480842, Nov 6, 1984

Jun 27, 1983

6/507863

Anil Mahyera - Salt Lake City UT
Robert M. Sweet - Riverton UT
Carel J. H. Brest Van Kempen - Salt Lake City UT

F16J 1518, F16J 1540

277 22

A self-aligning stuffing box for use with a drilling device having a rotatable drill shaft includes a packing gland having an opening therethrough sized for passage of the rotatable drill shaft and includes packing rings for forming a seal between the packing gland and the drill shaft. A generally spherical exterior surface on the packing gland is supported by an interior spherical surface of a socket in a ball-and-socket like manner to enable the packing gland, packing rings and the rotatable drill shaft to pivot about the longitudinal axis of the rotatable drill shaft together. A frame slidably supports the socket and enables the socket, packing gland and packing ring means and rotatable drill shaft to be laterally displaced, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drill shaft, as a single unit, in order to prevent damage to the packing rings by vibrational movement of the drill shaft during drilling.