BAKER HUGHES - Drilling Fluids Reference Manual

Chapter 10
Table of Contents
MECHANICAL SOLIDS CONTROL..................................................................................................10-1
DRILLING FLUIDS.................................................................................................................................10-1
Classification of Solids..................................................................................................................10-1
Low Gravity Solids Concentration...........................................................................................10-3
EFFECTS OF SOLIDS ON RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES ......................................................................10-5
Current Solids Control Techniques.............................................................................................10-6
Vibrating Screen Separators ...................................................................................................10-7
Solids Removal by Centrifugal Force...................................................................................10-10
Hydrocyclones .........................................................................................................................10-11
Fluid (Mud) Cleaners ..................................................................................................................10-14
Centrifuges ...................................................................................................................................10-15
RMS Centrifuge ...........................................................................................................................10-18
General Operation of the RMS Centrifuge ..........................................................................10-18
Closed-Loop Systems ............................................................................................................10-18
Typical Equipment Configurations........................................................................................10-20
Calculations Used in Solids Control Evaluations ...................................................................10-22
NOMENCLATURE................................................................................................................................10-24
List of Figures
FIGURE 10 - 1 AVERAGE SOLIDS RANGE OF WATER-BASE DRILLING FLUIDS (FRESHWATER) .............10-2
FIGURE 10 - 2 DRILLING FLUID REQUIRED IF DISCARD STREAM FROM ALL SOLIDS PROCESSING
EQUIPMENT AVERAGES 30% BY VOLUME SOLIDS ..........................................................................10-4
FIGURE 10 - 3 TYPICAL SCREEN MOTIONS..............................................................................................10-8
FIGURE 10 - 4 CROSS-SECTIONAL VIEW OF HYDROCLONE OPERATION...............................................10-12
FIGURE 10 - 5 TYPICAL CYCLONE PERFORMANCE (COMPARISON BY SIZE) .........................................10-14
FIGURE 10 - 6 SOLID BOWL DECANTING CENTRIFUGE.........................................................................10-16
FIGURE 10 - 7 PROCESS RATE OF BARITE RECOVERY DECANTING CENTRIFUGE.................................10-17
FIGURE 10 - 8 RMS SEPARATION CHAMBER.........................................................................................10-18
FIGURE 10 - 9 CLOSED LOOP SOLIDS SYSTEM – UNWEIGHTED FLUID .................................................10-19
FIGURE 10 - 10 CLOSED LOOP SOLIDS SYSTEM – WEIGHTED FLUIDS ..................................................10-20
FIGURE 10 - 11 UNWEIGHTED FLUID: CENTRIFUGE PROCESSING ACTIVE SYSTEM .............................10-20
FIGURE 10 - 12 UNWEIGHTED FLUID: CENTRIFUGE PROCESSING HYDROCYCLONE UNDERFLOW......10-21
FIGURE 10 - 13 WEIGHTED WATER-BASE FLUID: SINGLE-STAGE CENTRIFUGING (BARITE RECOVERY)
.......................................................................................................................................................10-21
FIGURE 10 - 14 WEIGHTED FLUID: TWO STAGE CENTRIFUGING .........................................................10-22
List of Tables
TABLE 10 - 1 API CLASSIFICATION BY PARTICLE SIZE...........................................................................10-2
TABLE 10 - 2 THE DISINTEGRATION OF SOLIDS......................................................................................10-6
TABLE 10 - 3 ASTM SIEVE DESIGNATION ............................................................................................10-10
TABLE 10 - 4 RECOMMENDED HYDROCLONE FEED HEAD REQUIREMENTS (PRESSURES BASED ON 9
LBM/GAL FLUID).............................................................................................................................10-13
BAKER HUGHES DRILLING FLUIDS
REFERENCE MANUAL
REVISION 2006 10-i