1. Field of the Invention
The inventions disclosed and taught herein relate generally to induced or forced air filtration; and more specifically related to a system for removing contaminants from air used to ventilate an equipment room on an offshore drilling rig.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the drilling industry, drilling fluids, such as drilling mud, which may be a mixture of clay, water, and various additives, are pumped down through the drill string into the well. The drilling fluid exits the drill string at the bottom through holes or jets in a drill bit. The fluid picks up cuttings and other solids from the well and carries them away from the bit and out of the well in the annulus between the well and the drill string.
Once the drilling fluid is returned to the surface, equipment, such as mud pits and shakers, are used to remove large amounts of coarse, drilling cuttings from the drilling fluids so that the drilling fluids may be reused or recirculated within the well. The cuttings are generally filtered out of the drilling fluid on a series of filters or screens provided within the shaker. The drilling fluid that has passed through the equipment is now clean of coarse debris and is ready to be cleaned via other processes prior to being ready for reuse.
On offshore drilling rigs, where area or space is a precious commodity, the equipment is typically located below the main work deck in an enclosed area. Drilling fluids typically contain a measure of volatile organic compounds and fugitive contaminants from the drilling process. Because of this, the enclosed room is subject to forced ventilation to remove unpleasant and/or hazardous fumes. Depending on where the fumes are vented on the rig and the various and changing environmental conditions, the fumes may infiltrate other workspaces on the rig.
The inventions disclosed and taught herein are directed to a filter system for removing or reducing equipment room contamination of ventilation air.