| CPC E21B 21/067 (2013.01) [B01D 19/0005 (2013.01); B01D 19/0042 (2013.01); B01D 19/0063 (2013.01); E21B 41/02 (2013.01)] | 27 Claims |

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1. A method of removing oxygen from a drilling fluid, the method comprising:
pumping the drilling fluid into a first inlet of a mixer, the drilling fluid flowing into the mixer from the first inlet in a first direction;
pumping a gas including nitrogen into a second inlet of the mixer to mix the gas with the drilling fluid, the gas flowing into the mixer from the second inlet in a second direction substantially opposite from the first direction, thereby permitting mass transfer of the oxygen from the drilling fluid to the gas to produce a deoxygenated drilling fluid; and
discharging the deoxygenated drilling fluid from an outlet of the mixer.
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