Torrential Unit Increases Filtration Efficiency by 47% and Extends Online Filtration Time More Than 200%

Overcome limited flow capacities to mitigate HSE risks and reduce rig time

An operator wanted to reduce the cost and effort of clear-brine completion fluids filtration. Generally, typical filtration systems have limited online processing capability. Processing rate inefficiencies are the single major limiting factor of cost control when used on deepwater rigs. The operator needed to mitigate or eliminate these complications to successfully achieve their objective.

Deploy a Torrential unit to increase filtration capacity and mitigate costs and risks

M-I-SWACO, a Schlumberger company, proposed installing a Torrential unit on an offshore rig over a well in the Mississippi Canyon, Block 822. The unit is a diatomaceous earth (DE) filtration system engineered as a two-part upper and lower stack installation. Each unit is a skid-mounted self-contained filtration module. The standard configuration includes 6-in piping and a baseline filtration surface area of 2,200 ft² of DE.

Reduced displacement process time, costs, and effort while mitigating HSE risks

The Torrential unit increased the sustainable process flow rates by 47% above standard filtration equipment. The best performance of standard equipment being only 630 galUS/min [2.38 m³/min], the Torrential unit continually processed 13-ppg [1.55-sg] CaBr₂ brine at a rate of 924 galUS/min [3.5 m³/min]. In total, 189,000 galUS [715.44 m³] was processed without requiring any shutdown to replace the diatomaceous earth filter bed. This exceeded the optimum performance of typical displacement services.