BAKER HUGHES - Drilling Fluids Reference Manual

Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids
Figure 5-23
Flow Diagram for a Weighted Oil Mud
Figure 5-24
Flow Diagram for a Two-Stage Centrifuge for Medium to High Weight Oil Muds
In Figure 5-24 it shows a two-stage centrifuge. The flow diagram is applicable to a medium to high
weight oil mud. The concept is to use the first centrifuge to recover barite. The centrifuged mud
would then be fed to a second centrifuge which would remove and discard fine solids. The “clean”
mud would then be put back into the mud system and also be used for dilution of the first centrifuge.
It has been found that as long as the “clean” mud weights 9.0 ppg or less, this procedure is
economical. At some point in time, whole mud will have to be removed from the system for viscosity
control.
Shakers and centrifuges are the two primary defenses against solids build up in oil muds. Shakers
remove a large portion of drill solids, as cuttings remain more competent in oil muds. Shakers and
centrifuges discard the least whole mud with the solids they remove.
Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids
Reference Manual
Revised 2006 5-49