Page 315 - Shale Shakers Drilling Fluid Systems

GLOSSARY 297

Feed A mixture of solids and liquid (including dilution liquid) entering a
liquid-solids separation device.
Feed Capacity The maximum volume flowrate at which a solids control device is designed
to operate without detriment to separation efficiency. This capacity
depends on particle size, particle concentration, viscosity, and other vari-
ables of the feed. See: Capacity, Flow Capacity, Solids Discharge Capacity.

Feed Chamber That part of a device, that receives the mixture of diluents, drilling fluid,
and solids to be separated.
Feed Head The equivalent height, in feet or meters, of a column of fluid at the cy-
clone feed header.

Feed Header A pipe, tube, or conduit to which two or more hydrocyclones are con-
nected and from which they receive their feed slurry.

Feed Inlet The opening through which the feed fluid enters a solids separation de-
vice. See/ Feed Opening.

Feed Mud See.- Feed.

Feed Opening See.- Feed Inlet.

Feed Pressure The actual gauge pressure measured as near as possible to, and upstream
of, the feed inlet of a device.
Feed Slurry See.- Feed.

Fermentation Decomposition process of certain substances (e.g., starch) in which a
chemical change is brought about by enzymes, bacteria, or other micro-
organisms. Often referred to as "souring."

Fibrous Materials Any tough, stringy material used to prevent circulation loss or to restore
circulation. In field use, fiber generally refers to the larger fibers of
plant origin.

Filter Cake The suspended solids that are deposited on a porous medium during the
process of filtration. See: Wall Cake.

Filter Cake Texture The physical properties of a cake as measured by toughness, slickness,
and brittleness. See: Cake Consistency.
Filter Paper Porous paper without surface sizing for filtering solids from liquids. The
API filtration test specifies 9-cm diameter filter paper (Whatman No. 50,
S&S No. 576, or equivalent).

Filtrate The liquid that is forced through a porous medium during the filtration
process. See.- Fluid Loss.

Filtration Rate See.- Fluid Loss.

Fill-Up Line The line through which fluid is added to the annulus to maintain the fluid
level in the wellbore during the extraction of the drilling assembly.
Filter Cake (1) The solid residue deposited by a drilling fluid against a porous me-
dium, usually filter paper, according to the standard API filtration test.