Page 19 - Shale Shakers Drilling Fluid Systems

2 SHALE SHAKERS AND DRILLING FLUID SYSTEMS

Earthen Pit Design. The earthen pit system was designed as a settling pit that
overflowed through a ditch into the suction pit. A duplex mud pump suction is
shown at the far end of the suction pit. Drilled solids levels were poorly controlled.
Mud treatment consisted of dilution to decrease the drilled solids concentration
and viscosity. Fortunately, the well was normally pressured and was easy to drill.

Earthern Mud Pits. A drilling rig in East Texas drilling a 2,800-foot well using
earthen mud pits. Cuttings, for geological examination, were collected on a piece
of hardware cloth at the end of the flow line. Solids control equipment was not
used on this well.