Page 70 - Shale Shakers Drilling Fluid Systems

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE 53

MERCO CENTRIFUGAL CO.
San Francisco, California
OFFICES: ISO Green Street PLANT: 211 Green Street
Export Division: 74 Trinity Place, Slew York City, N. Y. Cable Address: LURCO

MERCO A-24 CONCENTRATOR
AND MERCO A-24 DESANDER
The Merco A-24 Separator is a versatile unit with a
20-year history of proven field performance. It has
been engineered to deliver continuous service in the
oil country, and with changes in speed, and disc-stack
the A-24 can be readily adapted for either the condi-
tioning of drilling mud, or in special cases, for the de-
sanding of drilling mud.
In anticipation of the abrasive materials that must be
handled on either of these operations, special wear-
resistant materials have been used throughout the
A-24 to minimize replacement costs.

MERCO A-24 CONCENTRATOR Operational Data
MERCO A-24 DESANDER
The Merco A-24 Concentrator is Shown below is a cutaway view
a high speed centrifugal unit spe- of the A-24. Mud from the sump At lower speeds, with disc-stack
cifically designed for the concen- or from the return circulation is removed, the Merco A-24 operates
tration of weighting material in introduced into the A-24 either as a high efficiency desander. At
rotary drilling mud. In actual full strength, or diluted with water capacities up to 350 GPM, less
operation, it may be employed on if this is desirable. It enters the than 1% of plus 100 mesh sand
a drilling well, or may be put to Concentrator at (A); here it is remains in the rnud, and less than
use on mud sumps. For either subjected to high centrifugal force 3 % of plus-200 rnesh sand is resi-
type of application, operation of which separates the heavier solids dual after processing in the A-24.
the equipment is the same but from the lighter liquid in separa- High efficiency desanding of ro-
the objective achieved will differ tion chamber (B). The concen- tary drilling mud results in mul-
in this respect: On a drilling well, trated solid underflow occurs at tiple savings. It eliminates abra-
the purpose of processing the mud (C); waste material leaves ma- sive wear on drilling equipment;
through the A-24 is to maintain chine through overflow port (D). reduces the hazard of sticking-
the mud in proper condition at all pipe; and minimizes down time
times. When salvaging material Automatic Control of Separation when circulating to condition the
from the mud sump, the A-24 An exclusive feature of the Merco mud.
concentrates the valuable weight- A-24 Concentrator, known as the
ing materials into a small volume Specific Gravity Control, coupled For desanding, the Merco A-24
for re-use on other wells. may be placed directly on the
with the Merco Return Flow mud overflow line on the casing
Capacity of the A-24 Concen- Principle permits the operator to of a drilling well, or may be used
trator will vary according to the regulate the degree of concentra- to condition mud drawn from a
conditions encountered on each tion of solids at any desired den- sump or storage pit. If return flow
individual well. However, for pur- sity. Once set, this regulating de- capacity from the well is in excess
poses of computation the capacity vice automatically maintains the of the capacity of the unit, the
of this unit on mud conditioning specific gravity of the mud re- overage may be bypassed to a
will be between 25 and 60 GPM. gardless of the density of the feed. storage area for later processing.
BRIEF SPECIFICATION S
MERCO A-24 SEPARATOR
CONCENTRATOR DESANDER
Capacity (Under 25-60 GPM 250-350 GPM
ordinary conditions)
Dimensions H: 5'; L: T\ W: 43" H: 5'; L: 7'; W: 43"
*Approx. Shipping 4,000 to 6,000 Ibs. 4,000 to 6,000 Ibs.
Weight
Horsepower 40 20
Speed of Centrifuge 700 to 1400 RPM 900 RPM
Underflow Density Up to 2.4 Sp. Gr. Up to 2.0 Sp. Gr.
* Varies with type of drive. Units available with electric motor,
turbine or engine drive, as required.