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Solids Analysis

Source of solids'
Drill Cuttings (Main Source)
Added In pure Materials ( Barite or Caco3)
Surfaces ( wind of desert environment)
DRILLING FLUID TESTS
SOLIDS CONTENT
Measure of the amount and type of solids present
in the fluid.
Retort of fluid to determine the amount of fluid
and solids present.

SOLIDS INDICATORS
High fluid loss
Excessive wall cake
Increase in flow properties (PV & GELS)
Types of Solids
Inert solids :
Solids has no significant electrochemical reactions
with the mud that can changes in mud properties
as PH , viscosity , YP . (As Barite )

Active solids :
Solids are very active with mud particles due to its
high activity and high service area , can cause
changes in Mud properties as PH , Viscosity , Yp
Gels ..etc , ( As: clays, salts , Anhydrites )
Type of solids
Low gravity solids
Solids in the mud including various types of drill
solids, added clays , calcium carbonate , those
solids has Sp gr around (2.6 - 2.7 SPgr).

High gravity solids


Solids in the mud used to weight up the mud as
Barite , usually the SPgr of these solids in range
of 4.2 or more.
DRILLING FLUID TESTS
Sand CONTENT
Measure of the amount of
solids greater than 74
microns in size.
Sand Content Tube is used.

SAND INDICATORS
High fluid loss
Excessive/poor quality wall
cake
Increase in flow properties
(PV & GELS)
Abrasion of tools occurring
Solids Removal is Vital
to Improved Drilling
API Particle Size Designations

Size Designation Micron Size

Intermediate 250 - 2000

Medium 74 250

Fine 44 - 74

Ultra-Fine 2 - 44

Colloid Less than 2

Silt Size ranges from 2-74 microns


Sand Size ranges from 74-1000 microns
Surface area comparisons

1 inch x 1 inch x 1 inch

1/2 inch x 1/2 inch x 1/2 inch

1/4 inch x 1/4 inch x 1/4 inch


Surface Area vs. Particle Size
Halving particle size beginning with a one inch cube:
Cube Edge Surface Area

1 1 6 in2
2 0.5 12 in2
3 0.25 24 in2
4 0.125 48 in2
5 0.0625 96 in2
6 0.0313 192 in2 1 in3 = 1.5 oz (approximately)
7 0.0156 384 in2
8 0.0078 768 in2
9 0.0039 1356 in2
10 0.0020 3072 in2
11 0.0010 6144 in2
12 0.0005 12,288 in2
13 0.0002 24576 in2
14 0.000122 49,152 in2
15 0.000061 98,304 in2 = 628.7 ft2 = 26 ft x 26 ft
16 0.000031 196,608 in2 = 1365.3 ft2 = 37 ft x 37 ft

1/25400 in = 0.000039.4 in = 1
Shale Shaker

Most Important Solids Removal Equipment on


Rig.
Cheapest Way of Removing Drill Solids.
Most Often Overlooked.
Only equipment that actually removes by
particle size.
What Does Screen Mesh Mean?

Mesh Count - Openings Per Inch


80 Mesh - 80 Openings Per Inch
One Mesh
Includes Width of One Opening Plus Width of One Wire
Mesh count only tells the number of openings per linear inch
in each direction.
Changing wire diameter without changing number of
openings will change the cut point. Mesh Count is the same.
Size of Openings Depends on
Mesh Count
Wire Size
Mesh Count Illustration
One Inch*

Mesh, number Opening


of openings per Width
linear inch

*7 mesh screen represented


Plugged Screens
Typical Rig Single Deck/Screen
Shaker
Linear Motion Shaker
Scalping and Linear Motion Shakers
Hydrocyclones
Hydrocyclones
Overflow

1. Pressurized slurry 2. Slurry rotation develops


enters tangentially high centrifugal forces
throughout cyclone
Feed

3. Suspended solids
driven toward wall
4. Liquid moves inward and downward in
and upward as spiraling accelerating spiral
vortex

Liquid Discharge or Underflow


Hydrocyclones Optimistic Cut Points
Cone Diameter (Inches) D50 Cut Point

12 65 70

6 32

4 16 18

3 12
Desander
Desilters
Mud Cleaner
Centrifuges
Decanting Centrifuge Diagram
Misconceptions About Centrifuges

INCORRECT:

The centrifuge separates all Barite from any drilled


solids.

INCORRECT:

Since the full circulating rate is not processed,


it can not be effective.
Operating Parameters Affecting
Separation
A centrifuge is a separation device
Settling forces are multiplied by rotation of bowl
F = V / RG
Major parameters are:
Bowl speed and differential speed
Pond depth
Particle nature, diameter, and density
Liquid density and viscosity
Feed rate (GPM)

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