Page 366 - Practical Well Planning and Drilling Manual

Section 3 revised 11/00/bc 1/17/01 12:00 PM Page 342

[ ] Practical Wellsite Operations
3.2.1

Fig. 3-5 Hydrocyclone Solids-Removal Process (courtesy of Baroid)

to the centrifuge (i.e., the centrifuge works on the underflow from the
flood bottom hydrocyclones).
A balanced hydrocyclone, properly adjusted, will separate out
solids that are discharged at the bottom, taking with them only fluid
that is bound to the surface area of the solid particles. The size of a
hydrocyclone is stated as the inside diameter of the top of the conical
section. Smaller cones of the same design will have lower flow capaci-
ty than larger cones but will remove a greater percentage of the solids
in the feed mud, including smaller particles.

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