Good solids-removal equipment operation, including that of shale shakers, helps prevent these problems.
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SOLIDS CONTROL GUIDELINES
Maintain Drilled Solids
If the mechanical equipment does not remove a significant portion of the drilled solids reporting to the surface, it can become very expensive to maintain a reasonable level of undesirable drilled solids. Dilution, then, becomes a major portion of the solids-management strategy. Calculations indicate the performance of the solids-removal equipment.
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SOLIDS REMOVAL EQUIPMENT EFFICIENCY
The term solids removal equipment efficiency is frequently used to describe solids-control equipment performance. This term may be somewhat confusing. American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice (RC) 13C, ‘‘Solids Control,’’ refers to the solids-removal process in terms of system performance.
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SETTLING PITS
Drilling fluid enters the removal-tank section after it passes through the
main shale shaker. Immediately below the main shaker is the first pit,
called a settling pit or sand trap. Fluid passing through the shaker screen
flows directly into this small compartment. The fluid in this compartment
is not agitated. This allows solids to settle. The fluid overflows from
the sand trap into the next compartment, which should be the degasser
suction pit. The sand trap is the only compartment not agitated in the
mud tank system.
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