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.