RHE-USE
Two-stage centrifuge system
Applications
- Managing low-gravity solids (LGS) in oil-base drilling fluids
- Reducing drilling waste volumes in unconventional shale plays
- Recovering valuable oil-base drilling fluid and barite during drilling operations
Benefits
- Enables flaring elimination, reducing greenhouse gas by up to 99%
- Haul-off and waste disposal costs are substantially reduced
- Higher penetration rates
- Reduced days on well enabling more wells drilled per rig
- Minimized environmental liability exposure
- Reduced diesel consumption
Features
- Chemically enhanced process to extract LGS
- Treats oil-base drilling fluid of all density ranges
- Recovers high volumes of reusable oil-base drilling fluid
- Reduces friction and downhole mud temperature
- Produces cleaner drilling fluid
- Minimizes dilution appreciably
- Generates larger and firmer cuttings, which improves solids control and screen efficiencies
How it improves performance
The RHE-USE™ two-stage centrifuge system improves drilling performance by reducing ultrafine LGS concentrations to manageable levels, which enhances ROP and reduces days on well. By recovering valuable oil-base drilling fluid and barite, the system minimizes waste disposal costs and environmental liability. Additionally, the process reduces friction and downhole mud temperatures, extending the life of downhole tools and improving overall drilling efficiency.
How it works
The RHE-USE system combines advanced solids control technologies with a chemically enhanced flocculation process to manage ultrafine LGS in oil‑base drilling fluids. The system employs staged centrifugation, using the 414 Centrifuge™ barite-recovery decanting centrifuge to recover barite and reject ultrafine LGS, while the CD-500 HV™ high-volume, high-speed precision-balanced centrifuge processes effluent to control LGS percentages.
A typical RHE-USE system includes a dual MEERKAT™ compact single-deck shaker to reduce waste volumes and recover valuable base fluid, as well as a mixing system and fluid and bulk storage tanks. The compact, fully integrated setup is easily configured for any location, making it a versatile solution for managing LGS in unconventional shale plays.
Additional information
The RHE-USE system is designed for flexible deployment and can be configured to suit a wide range of drilling environments. Its compact, integrated setup streamlines rig-up and rig-down, reducing nonproductive time. The process supports the SLB Transition Technologies™ initiative and aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13—Climate Action by enabling significant emissions reductions through minimized waste and reduced haul-off requirements.
