Shale shaker is the primary solids control equipment that removes drill cuttings from the drilling fluid while circulating and drilling. There are many different designs and research into the best design is constantly ongoing since solids control is vital in keeping down costs associated with the drilling fluid.

Oil Drilling Solids Control Shale Shaker

In oil & gas drilling solids control industry, linear motion shale shaker is widely used for drilling mud purification system.

How can we keep oilfield shale shaker work efficiently? We need do the following points:

1. The excess pressure significantly decreases the drilling rate and removes cuttings from beneath the drill bit. Eight general rules to assure shale shakers will work properly and remove cuttings.

2. The shale shaker should be run continuously while circulating. Cuttings cannot be separated if the shaker bed is not in motion.

Fluid should cover most of the screen. If only one quarter or 1/3 of the screen is covered, the screen is too coarse and should be replaced with a finer screen.

3. If fluid flows through a hole or tear, cuttings are not removed. Any screen with a hole or tear should be replaced immediately. With a panel screen, the hole or tear can be plugged.

4. Shaker screen replacements should be made as quickly as possible. Minimize downtime by planning your work. Locate and arrange tools and screens before starting. If possible, get help. This will decrease the amount of cuttings being kept in the mud because the shaker is not running. If possible, change screens during a connection. In critical situations, drilling may be interrupted and the pumps stopped while the screen is replaced.

5. Dilution fluids ( water or oil ) should not be added in the possum belly or on the shaker screen.

6. Dilution fluids should be added downstream. Dilution-fluids ( even water ) additions should be metered or otherwise measured.

7. Except for cases of lost circulation ( when it is necessary to retain lost circulation material ), the shaker should not be bypassed, not even for a short time.

Large cuttings should be removed from the possum belly when mud is not being circulated. If the possum belly is dumped into the sand trap just before making a bit or wiper trip, the sand trap should also be cleaned. Otherwise, when fluid circulation starts after a trip, the large cuttings dumped into the sand trap will likely move down the pit system and plug desilter or desander.