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Preface
In 1974 the Mud Equipment Manual Committee American Association of Drilling Engineers (AADE)
(MEMC) was formed as a subcommittee of the and the American Filtration Society (AFS) spon-
IADC Drilling Technology Committee. This group sored a Second Shale Shaker Technology Confer-
wrote the IADC Mud Equipment Manual. It com- ence held in Houston, Texas on Feb. 6-7, 1991. The
prised many interested and informed industry par- AADE steadfastly supported the rewrite effort for the
ticipants. The task required 10 years to complete. new Shale Shaker Handbook and was responsible
All but two of the original committee members for expanding the handbook into this textbook on
remained for the entire time as more experts joined Solids Control Equipment.
the effort. All manufacturers of shakers and screens were
The charge of that committee was to address invited to join the committee and an active cam-
the factors relating to mechanical solids control paign was conducted to solicit all viewpoints and
and their relationship to overall drilling fluid sys- their assistance in developing this book. It is greatly
tem performance, and to publish findings in an expanded from the initial book that precipitated
"easy-to-read" format for dissemination to drilling the endeavor. This book is written for a broad
engineers and drilling crew. The culmination of audience: derrickmen and drilling foremen will
this work was the publication of eleven handbooks. find practical help; drilling engineers will find de-
The books included an Introduction to Drilling Fluids sign and technical data to assist in understanding
and Solids Control Treatment, Drilling Fluid System drilled solids management. Most members of the
Arrangements, a handbook on each piece of me- committee not only edited the text but made writ-
chanical solids control equipment and accessory ten contributions.
equipment such as pumps, valves, and disposal This book is dedicated to improving the under-
systems. The last handbook was published in the standing of drilled solids management. A shale
early 1980s. shaker is the first in a series of devices that re-
Soon afterwards, the Drilling Technology Com- move undesirable drilled solids from a drilling fluid.
mittee of the IADC formed another subcommittee The other equipment, gumbo busters, desanders,
named the Rig Instrumentation and Measurements desilters, mud cleaners, and centrifuges are de-
(RIM) Committee. Most of the original members of scribed as well as the tank arrangements neces-
the MEMC became members of the RIM Commit- sary for correct performance. An understanding of
tee. The RIM Committee formed six task groups: technology is frequently revealed by the history of
Safety, Rig Floor Instrumentation, Data Telemetry, developments. The first section describes events
Solids Control, Well Control, and Measurement and equipment created as solids removal equipment
While Drilling (MWD). The Safety Task Group pub- and drilling fluid technology matured. This history
lished its documentation in one of the IADC/SPE is traced through advertising material printed in
conference preprints; the Data Telemetry Task the World Oil's Composite Catalogs. As the book
Group developed a standard for data transmission developed, the committee felt that it should also
that became an API Recommended Practice; the explain many other facets of drilled solids man-
MWD Task Group became an international society agement on a drilling rig. For this reason, the book
sponsored by the Society of Professional Well Log also contains information about:
Analysts. The Solids Control Task Group decided that
the innovations in shale shakers and screen designs • Dilution
require a rewrite of Handbook 3: Shale Shakers. • Calculating drilled solids concentration in a
A situation arose that caused the Solids Con- discard stream (or in the drilling fluid)
trol Task Group to seek another sponsor. The • Dewatering
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