BAKER HUGHES - Drilling Fluids Reference Manual

Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids
Figure 5-21
Diagram of Costs vs. Mud Weight
As Figure 5-21 indicates, weighted muds have both an expensive liquid and solids phase. We
therefore want to save both the liquid phase and the barite. This can be a difficult task.
Figure 5-22 shows a flow diagram for a low to unweighted oil mud. The desander may be bypassed,
or if run, the underflow could be screened. A mud cleaner would be used to remove sand and save
mud. A high volume centrifuge would be used to dispose of solids. All solids should be disposed of,
including barite, until the cost of barite is greater than the cost of dilution.
Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids
Reference Manual
Revised 2006 5-47