Page 330 - Shale Shakers Drilling Fluid Systems

312 SHALE SHAKERS AND DRILLING FLUID SYSTEMS

Mud Analysis See.- Drilling Fluid Analysis, API Bulletin RP 13B.

Mud Balance A beam-type balance used in determining drilling fluid density (mud
weight). It consists primarily of a base, graduated beam with constant
volume cup, lid, rider, knife-edge, and counterweight. See.- API Bulletin
RP 13B.
Mud Box See.- Back Tank, Possum Belly.

Mud Cleaner A device that places a screen in series with the underflow of hydro-
cyclones. The hydrocyclone overflow returns to the mud system, and the
underflow reports to a vibrating screen. Solids discharged from the screen
are discarded and the screen throughput returns to the system.

Mud Compartment A subdivision of the removal, addition, or check/suction sections of a
surface system. See; Mud Pits, Mud Tanks.

Mud Ditch A trough built along the upper edge of many surface systems that is used
to direct flow to selected compartments of the surface system. See.- Mud
Pits, Mud Compartment.

Mud Engineer See: Drilling Fluid Engineer.

Mud Gun A submerged nozzle used to stir the drilling fluid with a high-velocity
stream. See: Gunning the Pits.
Mud Hopper See.- Hopper.

Mud House A structure at the rig to store and shelter materials used in drilling fluids.

Mud Inhibitor Additives such as salt, lime, lignosulfonate, and calcium sulfate, which
prevent clay dispersion.

Mud Logging A process that helps determine the presence or absence of oil or gas in
various formations penetrated by the drill bit, and provides a variety of
indicators that assist drilling operations. Drilling fluid and cuttings are
continuously tested on their return to the surface, and the results of these
tests are correlated with the drilling depth for depth of origin.

Mud Mixing Devices The most common device for adding solids to the drilling fluid is by
means of the jet hopper. Some other devices to assist mixing are educ-
tors, mechanical agitators, paddle mixers, electric stirrers, mud guns, and
chemical barrels.

Mud Pit See.- Mud Compartments, Mud Tanks.

Mud Pump Pumps at the rig used to circulate drilling fluids.

Mud Scales See: Mud Balance.

Mud Still See: Distillation, Mini Still.
Mud Tanks (I) Drilling fluid system compartments constructed of metal and mounted
so they can be moved from location to location, either as a part of the rig
(such as on a semi-submersible rig) or separately on unitized skids (as on
most land rigs). (2) Earthen or steel storage facilities for the surface sys-
tem. Mud pits are of two types: circulating and reserve. Drilling fluid test-
ing and conditioning is normally performed in the circulating pit system.