US Patent 11859454 Acoustic shale shaker

An apparatus can be used to separate drill cuttings from drilling fluid. The apparatus includes a receptacle, a screen, acoustic transducers, and a collection pan. The receptacle is configured to receive a mixture of the drill cuttings and the drilling fluid. The receptacle is configured to distribute the mixture of the drill cuttings and the drilling fluid across a first end of the screen. The acoustic transducers are attached to the screen. The acoustic transducers are configured to generate acoustic vibrations in a range of frequencies. The generated acoustic vibrations facilitate travel of the mixture across the screen and cause the drill cuttings to separate as the mixture travels across the screen. The collection pan is positioned at a second end of the screen opposite the receptacle. The collection pan is configured to receive at least a portion of the drill cuttings that have traveled across the screen.