Drilling mud Equipment

Some oil refineries store the crude oil in cylinder tank and clean the tank regularly. The tanks are cleaned and the oil sludge would be taken out with solids in it. The sludge cannot be discharged directly to environment, as it has large content of valuable oil, moreover it will pollute the environment.
Can the solid and oil could be separated and recycled. Absolutely they can. The solids and oil are 2 types of material with different density, which makes the solids easily separated by the decanter centrifuge. GN has a sludge treatment system is especially for oily sludge separation. This system is consisting of 3 parts: storage, mixing and separation.

The whole system is mounted on one skid, at one end of the skid. A square tank is used to collect and store the oily sludge. Always this tank compartment will be equipped with an agitator to prevent the solid sedimentation. As the solids in the sludge are really fine that cannot be removed out by only use the decanter centrifuge. The flocculation agent is needed to gather the fine solids and become large size block. GN’s sludge treatment system has automatic dosing system for flocculation agent mixing. The configured mature chemicals will be fed into the tank, once blocks got, the sludge will be transferred via a pump to the decanter centrifuge for separation.
Solids discharged out of the centrifuge will be collected by the screw conveyor and delivered to some catching box waiting for further treatment. The liquid coming out from the centrifuge includes water and oil, as the oil tank is cleaning by using the high pressure flushing water. This water and oil mixture has to be further treated by an oil water separator or a 3 phase decanter centrifuge.
Decanter centrifuge is the key equipment in the oily sludge treatment system. GN has already enriched the centrifuge production line from 9 inch to 30 inch. The centrifuges could be respectively for mining slurry separation, oily waste treatment, and dewatering system even some other industry like civil waste water treatment.

Besides of the drilling industry, the decanter centrifuge could also be used in some other industries such as the waste water treatment. The sources of the waste water may include dirty water in river or lake, civil sewage and the waste water from paper mill. For this kind waste water treating, some operator will also use the machine of filter press which is also an efficient machine to separate the solid from the water and get dry mud cakes.
Decanter centrifuge and filter press are different working principle on remove the fine solids from waste water. Filter press use the fine mesh, while the centrifuge by centrifugal force. However, purpose is the same just by adding the flocculation agent to make fine solids become large size blocks that can be easily separated. Filter press need more polymers when working, while decanter centrifuge use less, some material like even no need polymer if separated by using a decanter centrifuge. This will save the cost on polymer.

Decanter centrifuge is a type of machine can work continuously without flushing, only before fully stop the machine, the operator need feed clean water to flush inside of the centrifuge bowl. If use the filter press, the operator need flush the filter mesh frequently, this is really a large consumption on water. With the advantage of easy operation, one operator can operate and monitor 2 or 3 unit centrifuges at the same time. While one belt filters press may need 2-3 operators at one time. Decanter centrifuge will save a lot on the labor cost.
From the structure, the decanter centrifuge is designed compact enough with a small footprint, while the belt filter press will need large space to put it. To some small workshop with limited area, a decanter centrifuge will be a better option.
GN now have 22 inch decanter centrifuge could be used in water treatment; it can be supplied with polymer dosing system. GN now is developing much bigger centrifuge with 30 inch bowl that could be used in some other industries.

GN Solids Control is the 1st one manufacturer in China who ever sent the drilling cuttings solidification unit to client’s jobsite. It was predictable that many comments regarding the performance of GN solidification unit would come back. More important is how to response to these comments.
GN is always keeping developing new products, which is the reason of the first unit drilling cutting solidification unit coming from GN. Some of the comments on GN solidification unit are positive, while some are very good suggestions for GN to perfect the design. The unit sent to site was designed whole assembly installed on one skid, which makes the unit too long to move and locate the unit easily. The new design divides the machine into 2 parts; one is for solidification agent storage, the other part is for mixing. These 2 parts could be located more freely according to the site space. Comparing with old model, the new one has larger tank for agent storage, on top of the tank, hand rails are installed. The agent bag pallet could be put on top of the tank, which greatly increases the working efficiency. Though 2 parts, the whole system still could be put into one 40ft container for oversea transportation.

The drilling cutting discharged out of the shale shaker and decanter centrifuge could be fed into the solidification unit for treatment. However, there is a misunderstanding on the performance of the solidification unit: No matter how wet the cutting is, so long it is fed into the solidification unit; the dry material will come out. This is not correct. The much wet the cutting is, the more solidification agent will be used. Hence, the operator should make the cutting as dry as possible before feeding into the solidification unit.
GN’s solidification unit was proved greatly saved the man power on site as it can working continuously, the speed could also be adjusted as per the working condition. Solidification unit is one of the final solutions for water base drilling cuttings. Easy operation and maintenance are its advantages.

Diamond core drilling is a type of drilling used to get the stratum samples so that the geological experts could analyze what under the ground, and if there is mineral reserve, how deep need to be drilled for exploitation. Diamond core drilling always uses tube type drill bit for getting a cylinder earth sample. The drill hole is not too big to use plenty drilling mud. However, on consideration of environmental protection, the recycling of the
drilling mud is firmly requested, which is also a method of cost saving.

The drilling mud recycling system of the diamond core drilling can also be called as solids removal unit. As the drilling site of diamond core drilling is always space limited. The solids removal unit needs to be as compact as better. GN has 2 equipments that are made especially for diamond core drilling: Mini shaker and Mini centrifuge unit.
GN Mini shaker is 2-panel screen design with vibration G force up to 7.1 that is used to remove the coarse solids in the drilling fluids. Heat treatment on whole shake deck greatly strengthens the deck to ensure a better performance on drying the solids.
GN Mini centrifuge is 2-phase type for solids and liquid separation, 9 inch bowl diameter, with speed up to 3800RPM, the centrifuge could effectively remove the solids with size of 2 microns in the mud. Stainless steel material of the bowl guarantees the good working for all kinds of chemical liquid. The protection of tungsten carbide tiles on screw and ceramic casing at solids discharge port significantly extends the life time of the centrifuge.

The mini shaker and mini centrifuge could be ordered separately as well as included in GN’s solids removal unit. By fixing the shaker and centrifuge unit on a tank, GN could provide clients a very compact mini mud recycling system-SRU. GN SRU can also do the job for re-configuration the drilling mud. GN also has modular type solids removal unit which is transportable by helicopter to remote area.
GN solids removal unit could greatly decrease the solids content in drilling mud so that to make the drill bit down hole perform well. It could greatly reduce the consumption for water and drilling mud, which is a large saving and benefit for environment. GN now has brochure especially for solids removal unit, any interests, please feel free to contact with GN.

The persons who know solids control equipment may know well on the shale shaker and mud cleaner unit. These 2 machines are very common in solids control system that do solids separation job from the first to forth stage. The shale shaker is located at the very beginning of the mud recycling system for primary solids control; the coarse cuttings could be removed by the shale shaker. While after treated by the shale shaker, the drilling fluids would be transferred to the mud cleaner for further treatment.
For the purpose of easy maintenance, in the same solids control system, the mud cleaner is equipped with under drying shaker that is same model as the primary shale shaker. Mud cleaner is just a machine on which the cyclone frame was fixed above. The mud cleaner unit is only able to be used to separate the solids via the hydrocyclone units. Why the mud cleaner unit cannot be used as a shale shaker even if it has the under drying shaker? This is really a good question. GN’s engineer equipped a logging tank to the mud cleaner unit and the mud cleaner unit becomes a shale and mud cleaner composition unit.

Normally, GN’s shaker unit has back type logging tank that is used to collect the drilling fluids coming out from the drilling hole. The drilling fluids accumulated in the logging box firstly and then overflow into the shaker deck, thus the shaker screen will not be damaged by the high pressure drilling fluids. This unit could be used as a shale shaker unit.
De-sanding and de-silting cyclone are installed on the mud cleaner for finer solids separation. The solid discharged out from the bottom nozzle of the cyclone also has high pressure that will shorten the screen life if directly dropped onto the screen surface. To avoid this situation, there is a hopper collection box that is used as buffer between the cyclone and screen. To make this machine compact, GN’s engineer designed to insert the buffer box into the logging box, which means the logging box is also used as second buffer box for the cyclone unit. This is the function of mud cleaner.
One thing need to be noted is this shaker and cleaner machine can only be used for one function one time: either shaker or mud cleaner. This is a cost saving unit with small footprint, for some project not very urgent, this unit could be a very ideal choice. GN ever showed this unit at Beijing CIPPE, much attention was attracted there.

To be a professional manufacturer for solids control equipment, GN has nearly 10 years experience on decanter centrifuge research and fabrication. With these years development, GN decanter centrifuge have been supplied to the many giants in the oilfield industry. Subsidiary company of Halliburton, Baker Hughes, COSL and some other world famous company tried GN decanter centrifuges and gave good remarks.
A company has to keep improving if he wants to live for a long time. GN is an example for continuously upgrading the existing equipment and developing the new products according to the market feedback. At the beginning of foundation of GN Solids, GN only made middle speed decanter centrifuge that can only be used in normal drilling fluids recycling system, like barite recover process and some high speed unit could be used in fine solids separation. The middle speed model and high speed model will be kept in the same one mud recycling system.

Thanks to the many kind clients’ feedback and valuable suggestions, the only thing GN did in the past years was to perfect the design of the centrifuge and improve the quality. Nowadays, GN’s 4th generation decanter centrifuge is under design processing. The best seller of GN C version decanter centrifuge could be electric controlled as fixed speed or variable speed. The PLC design high standard positive pressurized control cabinet is available. Top quality centrifuge bowl material duplex SS2205, optimized feeding direction and high standard material for solids discharge touching parts make GN decanter centrifuge could be adopted in waste cuttings management system, drilling fluids de-watering system, and crude oil tank bottom sludge cleaning out of solids control system. In the past two years of winter of oil business, it was widely application of GN’s decanter centrifuge that brought GN many orders which kept GN alive, even became bigger than ever before.
GN’s second facility close to HQ will be launched into use very soon. This facility is specialized used to develop centrifuges. Most industries could be a GN’s future market like the sewage treatment, environmental projects and food industry. Actually, it is because many inquiries coming from these industries, which urges GN to expand into these areas. Where there is a request, there is a market.

Mud Agitator is one of the solids control equipment that is mainly used to mix the drilling fluids in the mud tanks to keep the solids inside the drilling fluids suspending other than sedimentation down to the tank bottom.
GN’s sales team ever received many inquiries on the mud agitators; unfortunately, most of the clients have no idea on how to choose the right model for their project and even don’t know how to use the equipment properly to ensure a longer life time.

GN’s sales are good at understanding clients’ specific request by asking few simple questions. With the answer from the clients, GN always could give the best proposal for clients. Now let’s see what these questions are and what information GN need to give a proposal.
a. What is the inside dimension of the mud tank or pit. From this question, GN will know the inside length, width and depth of the mud tank, and then GN will know how long the agitator shaft should be suggested for clients and how big impeller should be used. For the deep mud tank or pit, the stabilizer will be provided to hold the agitator shaft for stable performance.
b. What is the shape of the mud tank, cylinder or rectangular? Then GN will know how to design the agitator.
c. What is the electric specification, mainly GN would like to know the jobsite electric voltage and frequency. Different countries may have different frequency, the 50 Hz motor cannot be used under 60 Hz, and safety is ever the first think we should keep in mind.
d. What is the S.G. of the liquid? For very thick liquid, GN will propose bigger horse power motor to drive the agitator.
Mud agitator is always installed in mixing tank with jet mixing unit, active mud reserve tank and trip tank. For some clients who get the mud agitators from GN and make the mud tank by themselves, GN always recommends them to make the mud tank with same dimension, thus they can get the agitator all same model, which would be much better for clients’ future maintenance. GN suggest the RPM setting of the mud agitator between 40-96, too high will disturb the solids suspending, while too low will lead to solids sedimentation.

GN’s decanter centrifuges are 2 phase type and mostly used in oilfield for drilling fluids fine solid particle separation and waste management as GN is known as a China leading professional manufacturer for solids control equipment for oil & gas industry. However, according to the working principle, the centrifuge should be able to be used in some other industry for liquid and solids separation just like the dredging slurry separation and construction site solids removal.
GN ever sent one solids removal system including shale shaker and decanter centrifuge to London for the construction project there. On the construction site, the worker may use water to wet or mix some construction material. Nowadays, most of the office building has parking area at the ground floor of the building. When the beginning of building, the workers will operate the rotating drilling machine to drill some holes on the ground for piling. This type of drilling will also need water for cooling down the drill bit and take out the drilling cuttings from bottom of the drilling hole.

GN’s solids removal system is used to separate the solids and liquid. On construction site, it will be used to remove the stone and other large size solid particles from the water. The unit sent to GN’s customer in London was a 2 phase solids control system. The configurations are as below:
1 unit shale shaker with 3-panel screens for primary solids control could remove most of the large size solid particles. The solid particles on construction site would be various from sand, stone, leaves and waste cans. The shaker could remove almost all the coarse particles by using the wire mesh screens.
1 unit decanter centrifuge with speed up to 3200 rpm is used for fine solids separation. GN’s centrifuge is made of excellent material on bowl and screw propeller for long lifetime and easy maintenance.
1 mud storage tank is divided into two compartments for sand trap under the shale shaker and clean liquid collection under the centrifuge. 2 pumps are installed on the tank skid. One of the pump transfers the slurry from sand trap compartment to the centrifuge, another one is used to transfer the liquid out from the tank for reusing.
GN’s mud tank system is with the CE certificate thus the clients from Europe could use GN’s mud system freely without worrying about the compliance. For any request, welcome contact GN for more information.

Centrifugal pump is widely used on oilfield for the drilling mud transferring in solids control system. Even in the same mud system, the centrifugal pump could be used for different application.

Centrifugal pump used as transferring pump for the cyclone unit

De-sander and de-silter are very traditional solids control equipment. They are located after the shale shakers and fed by pump unit to remove the solid particles in the drilling fluids. Centrifugal pump is an ideal choice for transferring the drilling fluids to cyclone unit as the cast iron impeller could bear the abrasion of thick solid particles in drilling fluids. Normally, both de-sander and de-silter would be equipped with each centrifugal pump with same capacity.

Centrifugal pump used as trip pump for when rising up the drilling pipe

When replace the drilling bit or drill pipe, the rig winch will raise the drilling tools out of the well. At this time, extra drilling fluids need to be injected down to the well hole to keep the pressure balance in the well. The drilling fluid is pumped down to well by using the centrifugal pump. By checking the amount of returned the drilling fluids, the operator could know the earth layer pressure and if there is any leaking under the well hole.

Centrifugal pump used as mixing pump for mud mixing

All the mud recycling system need mud mixing system for pre-mix the drilling fluids and adding the additional chemicals in the fluids during drilling process. The chemicals are brought to the mud tank system by the drilling fluids running in the jet mixing system. The power of the flowing fluids is coming from the mixing pump. Centrifugal pump can also be used as the power source of the mud gun line in the mud recycling system. In the same one mud system, it is better to use same model centrifugal pump for feeding cyclone and mud mixing, as the future maintenance would be convenient.
GN’s centrifugal pump is coupling connected with electric motor. All the parts are interchangeable with the world famous brand pump. If any requirement, please feel free to let us know.

In past couple years, GN Solids Control is keeping research and development the new products so that clients could get a turnkey solution for drilling mud solids control and waste management. With the gradually issuing of the new environmental regulations, the drilling operators focus their eye on the final solution of disposal on the drilling waste.

Solidification unit is a new developed product of GN for the final treatment of drilling waste including drilling cuttings, oil bottom sludge and so on. It is not firstly designed and manufactured by GN; some other world famous waste management equipment supplier already made and sent if for onsite application. As a leading manufacturer of waste management equipment in China, no doubt, GN will develop this type of equipment.
So far, GN’s solidification unit already been sent to customer’s site for application and the feedback was good. GN’s solidification unit has 2 chemical storage tanks where the operator could put the cement and lime in it. By adjusting the feeding rate, the chemicals and waste would be fed to the mixing vessel. Here the waste would become inactive material that will not pollute the soil and water. Furthermore, the discharges can be used to pave the road for site.

Customer firstly fed wet waste into this unit and the treatment result is not as good as expected. Later, GN’s engineer told them this solidification unit is used to treat the waste what firstly should be treated by the dryer unit. Like the drilling cuttings could be treated much dryer by the high G force drying shaker and vertical cuttings dryer unit.
GN is also thankful for the good suggestions from customer on perfect the design of this unit. And GN did upgrade the design and make it more compact for site layout and transportation. For some points request good sealing, GN also took into consideration. Any interest on GN’s solidification unit, please feel free to contact with us for more information.