Mud recycling system is used for the separation process in the drilling cuttings, sediment and other particles, so as to maintain the circulating drilling fluid’s performance and storage. In order to meet the needs of the drilling work, the mud recycling system should improve the physical and chemical properties of the fluid.
Mud cleaner is the second and the third equipment of solid control system,Mud cleaner is mentioned the combination of desander and desilter. Generally, a desander and a desilter will be installed after shale shakers in a solids control system. On the other hand, the combination of a desander and desilter, acknowledged as mud cleaner can substitute the desander and desilter.

At present, we did the practice of putting together a set of mud cleaner with technicians. It is absolutely a time consuming experience, but reaping helpful benefits.

First of all, two different size hydrocyclones ought to be mounted on the manifold assembly. The 10” cone is for desander, that can separates solids of different size from 40 to 100 microns. The 4” cone is for desilter, which can separates solids of varied size from 16 to 50 microns. Regarding the two cone’s structure, both of them take the shape of a cone, but the desander cone is assembled by the shell, big cone tube , and small tube tone, the three pasts be lined and fixed by clamps; the desilter cone is a complete cone, but needs an elbow when installed on the manifold assembly.

Today we did try our best to install the cones on the manifold assembly. Firstly, although there are rubber ring for clamps, we have the clamp inside coated with sealant for better sealing. And then one of the technicians showed us how link the elbow to the cone. It seemed simple to put the rubber ring on one end of cones, and the put one end of elbow into the rubber ring, and then fix it with clamp.  But we when have a try, it is totally not easy. We were just thinking the technician must have magic power leading the rubber ring to its position, or the rubber ring is alive, he turned against us and caused tough problems.  In china we have an idiom ‘Shu Neng Sheng Qiao’ it means practice makes perfect. That may explains why it is tough for us to do this job.

When all cones were installed, fatigue seems like a snake wending its body on my body, but I am thinking it is also exciting and benefiting, isn’t it?

Chemically Enhanced Centrifugation, CEC, otherwise known as flocculation, is a method to enhance the remove of fine solids in WBM through a centrifuge.  Small quantities of additives are mixed with theused WBM, which coagulate and flocculate fine colloidal solids into larger clumps, which are then easily removed using a centrifuge.CEC reduces the volume of waste mud generated as it allows the clarified fluid to be reused to build new drilling fluids.  Overall the total volume of waste, the size of the pits, and the quantity of water required per well are all reduced.

During drilling with WBM, fine colloidal solids build up, eventually leading to a requirement to dump or dilute.  CEC offers an alternative a sit allow the fine particles to be coagulated, flocculated and removed by the use of a centrifuge. A coagulant is added to neutralise the negative charges holding the fine colloidal particles apart followed a flocculent (typically a polymer) to bridge together the small floccs into larger clumps, which can then be removed by gravity separation or a centrifuge.

The CEC system is a containerised compact unit designed to meter in the correct quantities of both coagulants and flocculent.  It has tanks to store the prepared chemical solutions and metering pumps to accurately dose them into a mud mixing line.  The flocculated mud should be centrifuged at low speed to ensure the clumps are not broken up by excessive shear.

Benefits of chemically enhanced centrifugation :

1/ Overall reduction in water usage and increased recycling

2/ Smaller pit volumes and in closed loop system no need for a reserve pit

3/ Reduced environmental impact

4/ Real time mixing reduces overall chemical consumption

5/ Powder polymer unit reduces chemical consumption

Screw conveyor is also called Auger, which is a very common equipment used in drilling cuttings solids control system and waste management systems, especially in a rig jobsite equipped with both solids control system and waste management system.

Some screw conveyors are used for collecting the drilling cuttings discharged by shale shakers, desanders, desilters and decanter centrifuge in a solids control system and then transfer such solids cuttings to the next step, waste management system.

Other screw conveyors are used in the waste management system, to convey the cuttings to the drying shaker with a high-G force or the vertical cuttings dryer, whatsoever, first treating equipment in a waste management system.

GN has 2 types of screw conveyors available, one of GN screw conveyors has a hopper shaped shell, like a tank, it can receive the material from the truck or something like that. See the picture on right hand. Another type is more common, with shell and cover, the cover helps to prevent the operators from being hurt by the machine.

GN screw conveyor’s benefit:

1, standard design for each section, each section is 12 ft long, easy for the end user to remove the middle sections to choose the total length per the jobsite condition.

2, more screw dimensions available per conveying capacity, like 12 inch, 14 inch and 16 inch diameter screws.

3, anti-wearing material screw material and shell material.

4, stable and long life time motors.

5, hang bearings before laying the blades on the screws, for perfect concentricity.

May you have interest in such system or equipment, pls contact us at our website or email me directly.

The working principle of shale shakers:

Solids control system can help to clean and recycle the drilling fluid in the process of drilling. Shale shaker is essential to the solids control system and it play a huge role as the primary stage equipment. The liquid passes through the filter paper, thus leaving the solid particles. Screens on the shale shakers will let the liquid flow into the mud tanks, while it also will prevent the solids which are bigger than the hole passing. By applying a pair of vibration motors under the action of the force generated by the motor. Vibration shaker can accelerate the passage of liquid and to stop the solid advance. So as to accelerate seeking speed and prevent solids blocking holes.

About GN’s shale shakers

Nov-Brandt and SWACO are excellent manufacturers which can make high quality shale shakers and other solids control equipment ,and they have rich manufacturing experience around the world. In China, Hebei GN Solids Control co. td is the top company that produces shale shakers and other solid control equipment. GN has its unique design while pursuiting the high quality. GN made shale shakers will show their superiorty below.

GN shale shakers superiority

1. Shaker deck bottom (screen bed) adopts ss316L, which is more stronger and anti-abrasive, thus the shale shakers will enjoys a long service life.

2. The whole shaker deck enjoys a better stability after heat-treated, thus it can operates for a long consistent time under high G force.

3. The shale shaker adopts patent tighten sealing of shaker and wedged locking system of screen, so it is faster and easier to get screen replaced.

4. Electric control is available to adjust deck angle, and also mechanical adjusting is alternative.

So it is more convenient and safe.

5. Martin or OIL vibration motor（A-TEX, IECEX）

6. SIMENS, Schneider electrical components

7. Weir feeder, box feeder, hopper feeder, (Top feeder) is for option.

8. Rubber covered dumping spring to give safety operation with less noise.

9. Ball blasting, and 3 layer anti-corrosion epoxy paints ( brand Kansai).

On the basis of group together the advantage of solid control cycle system, domestic and international alike, the solid control cycle system is a the system product which is designed by grouping the practical demand together of the well drilling craft.

It practice by five level treating sections: shale shaker, vacuum degasser, desander, desilter and centrifuge. It can process, then storage and mix of drilling fluid in the tank below the solids control machines, remove the harmful solid cutting, maintain the level of purified of the drilling fluid. Drilling fluid that require in the special situation during the cycle such as fluid weight added, shear and issue removal, and can increase the efficiency and safety of well drilling function effectively. It is convenient to transport by the road and railway, and it can be moved to the well site at a minimum distance.

The corresponsive match of the solid control equipment is essential, the one to five level of the process should be correspond each other, and the interval of separation size should be appropriate and have a certain overlap, and the smaller particles which are not disposed by the upper can be disposed in the next level.

Purification process cycle of drilling fluid

The mud which is withdrew out from the wellhead then it well be transported to shale shaker  or enter into the mud tank below after disposing by shale shaker. The mud which overflowed from the mud tank (if the gas exist, it can start the vacuum degasser, and inhale mud from the degassing warehouse, and enter into the desanding after degassing). The mud will enter into desilter  after be disposed by desander. The mud disposed by desilter enter into drilling fluid centrifugal through the mud tank, the mud disposed by centrifugal enter into the vault and through the mud tank, and the well drilling pumps pump the drilling mud into well hole repeatedly for using circularly.

It contents the normal cycle and stable status of the mud in the drilling process. Under the premise of safety, environmental protection, efficiency to ensure the task of well drilling.

Merger talks between Halliburton and Baker Hughes stalled yesterday with the companies still haggling over price and divestiture concerns, people with knowledge of the matter said.

Halliburton could make an unsolicited tender offer for Baker Hughes instead, and nominate a slate of directors to the target’s board, three of the people said, asking not to be identified discussing private information. Alternatively, the companies may still be able to revive the negotiations, one person said.

Baker Hughes fell about 3% after the close of regular trading, to $58.10 a share as of 5:26 p.m. in New York. Halliburton fell to $54.53 after closing at $55.08 apiece.

Baker Hughes, based in Houston, said yesterday that companies are in talks. Ahead of the disclosure, a person with knowledge of the matter had said a deal could come as soon as Monday.

Since then, the two sides have become stuck on disagreements about the deal’s price and the billions of dollars in assets that would have to be sold for the deal to pass antitrust scrutiny, one of the people said. Combining the world’s second- and third-largest oilfield service providers will draw scrutiny from antitrust regulators.

The companies may have to sell $7.5 billion to $10 billion in assets to address regulator concerns, two people said. They generated a combined $55.5 billion of sales in the twelve months through September, data compiled by news outlet Bloomberg show.

If the deal went ahead it would create a company with 140,000 employees.

Full Article: Bloomberg

Nowadays, the oil drilling company more and more find the advantages of application of slim hole drilling in the oil exploration. This type slim hole drilling technology is coming from the mining industry. From the name, we could see the slim hole drilling actually represents the small diameter coring drilling.

The slim hole drilling not only provide the cores for the drilling, it also reduce the drilling cost by nearly 30% comparing with the conventional drilling, especially for the environmental sensitive and remote area drilling projects. For remote location, the smaller core hole rig package also greatly reduces the logistics and transportation expenses.

A well with diameter that is smaller than 8 1/2 would be the most accepted criterion for the slim hole drilling. Reducing the borehole diameter can significantly cut the drilling cost as less mud and casing would be required. And the slimhole rig weighs sometimes only about one fifth of the conventional rig. In additional, the saving of slim hole drilling will also come from many sources, such as less site preparation, easier equipment mobilization, less cuttings to dispose, reduction in the amount of cosumables and smaller equipment. Besides the cost saving, there are advantages of slim hole drilling that makes the operation particularly suitable for sites demanding on a low impact to the environment.

Although, the slim hole drilling is actually increasing clearly, the concern on the safety is inhibiting the rapid spread of slim hole drilling. It is available for an operator to assemble the slim hole drilling equipment within 3 to 6 months with no previous experience. But it will not be easier to achieve for the deeper hole and offshore drilling. The application of slim hole drilling still depends on how successful this technique would be developed in the next few years.

No matter for the coring drilling and slim hole drilling for oil exploration, the rig may request a drilling fluids recycling system, if any requirement on the mud system, GN Solids America would be ideal supplier you could rely on.

Last week, GN service team just come back from Africa, successfully having finished the commission of GN decanter centrifuge. As a leading and top manufacturer of solids control and waste management equipment, GN win and convince its customers not only with high quality, but also with considerate service. Regarding to GN service. One of GN service team just came back from Africa. GN decanter centrifuge has a good reputation in Africa, and until now, GN has sold more than 30 sets of GN decanter centrifuge to Africa this year. Usually, GN exports about one hundred and fifty sets of decanter centrifuge a year, and 70% of them are GNLW363 model( two options, one is fixed speed, the other one is with VFD control panel).

This time, GN has its two decanter centrifuge works in the Africa job site, both of them are GNLW363 Series, one is fixed speed with maximum speed to 3200rpm, but also the speed can be changed with different pulleys. GN service team taught the customer how to change the belt, but it took 3 to 5 hours with enough tools. The other one is with VFD control panel, which makes it more easier and more convenient to change the speed from 0 to 3200 rpm. It can also change the bowl speed and conveyor speed to achieve the best performance.

GN decanter centrifuge is used as the final stage equipment to remove ultra fine solids out of the mud with higher speed, or to recycle the barite with a lower speed. GN has excellent service team which is familiar with the working principle and how to adjust speed to get best performance. GN solids control (http://www.gnsolidscontrol.com) could be your right choice for solids control equipment and system.

Vertical cuttings dryer is an ideal equipment for oil recovery and cuttings disposal for oil based drilling cuttings and synthetic-based mud. It works together with decanter centrifuge in a drill cuttings treatment system. GN new designed drill cuttings management system includes the equipments below:

One set Decanter Centrifuge GNLW363BG-VFD, high speed & variable speed (0-3200rpm)

One set Cuttings Dryer GNCD930C, fixed speed (800rpm), with air line, upgrade scraper and basket screen.

One set Vertical slurry pump GN50YZ20A-18 for feeding Decanter Centrifuge

One set Netzsch Brand NEMO pump for flushing cuttings dryer

Feeding system of the vertical cuttings dryer has been a problem for the operators, normally there are several ways for feeding:

1 vacuum unit or vacuum collection system for transportation of drilling cuttings:

Working together with diaphragm pump.

2 Screw Conveyor system:

Screw conveyor is composed of electric motor, gear box, screw or auger, bracket, coupler, feeding hopper, solids discharge port, cover, etc. They are often used horizontally or at a slight incline as an efficient way to move the drilling cuttings from solids control system.

3 Peristaltic pump

A peristaltic pump is a type of positive displacement pump used for pumping the drilling waste to the top hopper of the vertical cuttings dryer from the cuttings collection hopper.

The 3ways of feeding system may be adopted to different conditions according to the jobsite situation. When there is enough place and enough financial support, you can choose vacuum unit together with 2 units of screw conveyor, one is installed horizontally and the other one is installed inclined. But for compact design, hose shear pump might be an ideal choice.

GN solids control will design the drilling cuttings disposal sytsem customized, we need to have the engineer team to visit the client’ jobsite firstly then give them a proper solution. Pls contact GN solids control to get more solutions. If you wish to contact sales in USA, pls contact GN solids America.

As a leading manufacturer of oilfield solids control application dewatering decanter centrifuge, GN Solids America is keeping improving its products quality and performance stability. Especially for the decanter centrifuge, GN has now designed the third generation with some design on consideration of the working convenience and long time stable working.

GN first generation decanter centrifuge is with main motor and back located on both sides of the rotation bowl. For fixed speed model, the control panel is located between 2 motors. When open the cover of the collecting box, you will found it is impossible to open the cover completely as the control panel is in the way of opening the cover. The operator need hold the cover all the time while making inspection on the bowl. For the second generation decanter centrifuge, the designer take the location of the control panel and easy open the bowl cover into consideration. So, the main motor and back are designed to locate at the same side. The main motor directly drives the bowl while the back motor drives the screw propeller through belt pulley. It saves large space to put the fixed speed control panel. And the operator can open the collecting box cover very easy. Moreover, there is a design of supporting bar at both sides of the cover, when you open the cover completely, the cover would be supported and the operator could make inspection of the bowl with two hands.

GN Solids America is keeping perfecting the design and eliminating the disadvantages of the products. The upcoming third generation decanter centrifuge is a best example. It keeps all the excellent design of GN 2^nd generation centrifuge. On the basis of that, the third generation is with the feed tube installed at the big end (liquid port) which could eliminate the accumulation of the solids inside the screw then to extend the life time of the feed tube. At the solid discharge port, it adds another 2 plows to prevent the solids accumulation, and on the above of the solids discharge port, there is a semi-round baffle plate which could stop most of the solids spraying onto the inner wall of the collection box. At the small end of the bowl, there are 2 scrapers which would prevent the accumulated solids to wear the bolts on the end.

GN now have several unit third generation decanter centrifuge under manufacturing process, if you are interested, please feel free to tell us, we also can provide the shaker screen worldwide.