The vacuum degasser, also known as a mud/gas separator is one of the first units of solids control equipment arranged to treat drilling mud. As such, they process all of the drilling mud from the flow line before the mud reaches the primary shale shakers.
Introduce vacuum degasser
The vacuum degasser consists motor rated for continuous operating running an Ingersold-Rand vacuum pump with a push-button starter panel. The self-contained unit provides up to Hg of vacuum to efficiently handle high-viscosity fluids. The units have no moving parts and rely on the density difference between the gas and the mud for removal. The process is simple, yet very effective for the well-drilling fluids processing system.
The vacuum degasser is used to remove the small entrained gas bubbles left in the mud by the mud/gas separator. These units are positioned downstream from mud/gas separators, gumbo removal equipment (if utilized), shale shakers, and mud conditioners (if utilized) while hydrocyclone desanders and decanting centrifuges follow in the arrangement.
Vacuum Degasser operates on the ‘thin strata principle’ in which a thin layer of drilling fluid is forced over nine baffle plates arranged to maximize surface area and vacuum exposure. Vacuum is applied to the drilling fluid as it flows across the baffles. These forces combined to ‘break out’ 99.9% of entrained gasses. Degassed mud is passed on to downstream handling equipment while waste gas is routed from the rig to be flared or captured by environmental control equipment.
The benefit of AP Series Degasser
- Weir around the plates for equal distribution of liquid on each plate.
- 5 hp (3.73 kW) TEXP electric motor with starter and fan guard (Available in ATEX/EU).
- Multiple leaf plates surface area spreads gas-cut mud so that entrained gas bubbles are brought to the surface where deep corrugation provides turbulence giving maximum separation efficiency of gases from mud.
- The processing capacity of 1,200gpm (4,542lpm) with up to 16 ppg (1.92 sg) drilling fluid.
- Epoxy coated internal surfaces for corrosion resistance.
- Low maintenance float assembly.
- Vent on each plate for direct vertical exiting of the separated gases.
- Easy installation.
- Minimal moving parts for reliable operation.
