Enhancing fluid recovery and cuttings dryness
A South American operator was drilling onshore wells in the Lindero
Atravesado field near Neuquen, Argentina. OBM cuttings generated from drilling
waste had to be transferred to a local third-party treatment company for safe
handling. The drilling program started with water-base spud mud for the tophole
section followed by OBM for the intermediate and production sections until
reaching TD. Field formations were mainly coarse mineralized sandstone and
conglomerate layers.
The operator wanted to enhance fluid recovery and cuttings dryness by
reducing OBM drilling fluid retention on the drilled cuttings. Its goal was
also to reduce the number of secondary shakers by using a three-step drying
process at the first solids control barrier. Working with M-I SWACO, the
operator decided to drill four test wells.
Reducing fluid retention on cuttings
M-I SWACO selected the SCREEN PULSE separator for use on one trial well
because it reduces HSE risks and is very compact, efficient, and easy to
install and operate. The entire system consists of a compact, lightweight pulse
control panel and carbon fiber drop-in pans. The only external equipment
required is a compressed air source. M-I SWACO recommended keeping at least one
secondary shaker to maximize waste reduction and fluid recovery, creating a
three-step drying process.
The separator was installed on three primary shakers working
simultaneously. SCREEN PULSE separator was applied to the last shaker screen on
each shaker to reduce drilling fluid retention on the cuttings. During the
trial, engineers recorded process data, MOC, OBM lost volumes per shaker, final
disposal waste volumes, and QHSE observations. Samples were collected during
steady-state conditions coinciding with representative drilling conditions for
each day. All results and base data from previous wells were compared based on
documented final recaps, daily reports, and mud reports from fluid and solids
control services.
