The AX-1 Shaker - Solids Control System Design
When considering the design of new build solids control packages, or where major platform upgrades are being considered, the Axiom AX-1 Shale Shaker design concept offers an opportunity to completely re-evaluate the overall package, providing increased functionality in a smaller, lighter and more cost effective envelope.
Solids control package – design objectives
There are six key design objectives associated with the Solids Control package:
- Maximize overall drilled solids removal efficiency.
- Minimize drilled solids degradation through secondary processes.
- Minimize drilling fluid loss associated with the processes.
- Minimize the solids control package footprint and weight.
- Minimize the overall system processing volumes and complexity.
Limitations of current solids control package designs
- Restricted fluid processing capacity of traditional shale shakers.
- Reliance on secondary & tertiary solids separation processes.
- Inherent inefficiencies of hydro cyclones when processing weighted or viscous drilling fluids.
- Solids degradation within the transfer pumps.
- High liquid content of discharges from hydro-cyclone based processes.
AX-1 based design concept
- Install sufficient shaker capacity to permit processing of fluid returns whilst utilising 200mesh or finer screens.
- Avoid use of hydro cyclone technologies
- Inherent inefficiencies of hydro cyclones when processing weighted or viscous drilling fluids.
- Install high 'G' centrifuges for ultra fine solids removal
Benefits of the Axiom AX-1 based design concept
- Efficient primary solids control process
- Minimal solids degradation within the surface system
- Reduced complexity of the system
- Reduced liquid discharges associated with the drilled solids
- Opportunity to contain or process the drilled solids
- Reduced size & weight for the solids control package
- More economical installation
Fundamentally, there is no compromise in terms of the overall solids removal efficiency of the system.
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