Published: 02/12/2016
The customer needed to recover more fluid from cuttings and ensure longer screen life while handling high flow rates on a jackup rig offshore Abu Dhabi.
The MD-2 dual-deck shaker was evaluated using the following criteria: MOC percent, handling capacity and solids discharge, and screen life.
An operator working offshore Abu Dhabi sought a shaker that would reliably deliver low MOC values and handle high flow volumes, yet offer longer screen life. As a result, M-I SWACO was asked to evaluate and deploy the optimal technology.
M-I SWACO deployed the MD-2 shaker. The shaker is designed to augment the fluid process capabilities and recover extra fluid yet utilize a smaller footprint when compared to conventional shakers.
A test was run for a length of 2,500 ft with a bit diameter of 12 1/4 in. MOC retort analyses were performed daily. The total solids discard rate (TSDR) measurement was completed during regular drilling to determine the maximum capacity of the MD-2 shaker. Full flow during regular drilling was diverted to the first MD-2 shaker, and the collection trough was placed under the discard end. Thirty seconds later, the trough was 75% full, and the sample was collected. The TSDR for the first MD-2 shaker was 1.47 lbm/s [0.67 kg/s].
During drilling operations, two shakers were dressed using API 140 mesh composite screens. The two shakers processed the entire flow rate of 900 galUS/min while the mud covered less than 50% of the surface area. Only one screen required changeout during the operations. At full flow, drilling continued at an ROP of 40–50 ft/h [12–15 m/h], and the two shakers maintained MOC of between 26% and 40% by volume and 9% to 16% by weight with no overspill or runoff.
The MD-2 dual-deck shaker demonstrated an average mud-on-cuttings (MOC) of 34% by volume, 13% by weight. It handled 900 galUS/min [3,407 L/min] of fluid using two shakers while mud covered less than 50% of the total surface area. The shakers required only one screen changeout during the test operation.
