Page 86 - Shale Shakers Drilling Fluid Systems

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE 69

D-Sander
SWACO was the first in the industry to introduce the
12" cyclone desander. It is designed for continuous
removal of sands and abrasive cuttings from rotary drilling D-Silter
fluids. The D-Sander can help limit repair and replacement
or parts damaged by abrasive-laden drilling fluids and The SWACO D-Silter is a highly effective and economi-
minimizes sand-caused problems while it increases effec- cal unit for removing silt-size particles from oifweli drilling
tive drilling rate and reduces rig downtime. fluids. Combined with the benefits of an effective de-
The SWACO D-Sander can be efficiently designed to sanding system, the D-Silter can reduce downtime due
handle any combination of sand and rig pump conditions. to pump wear. It can also increase effective drilling rate
Any combination of 12" cyclones can be furnished, by reducing rnud weight due to silt particles. Reducing
s
including single Dorrclone cyclones, manifolded the solids content of the drilling mud due to silt reduces
assemblies or complete units with pumps and prime the thickness of the filter cake and leads to less wall-stuck
movers of the driller's choice. drill pipe. When properly used, the SWACO D-Silter
The Swaco 12" D-Sander reduces sand content to a removes practically all silt particles larger than 25 microns
trace in normal drilling fluids, In a water slurry carrying and more than half of the particles as small as 15 microns.
an assortment of sand and silts, the 12" D-Sander will The exclusive twin cone design of the SWACO D-Silter
remove about 95% of the 39 micron particles and more consists of a pair of four-inch cyclones mounted in a
than 50% of the 20 micron particles. single case. The clones have a unique 20° taper angle
The economical multi-sectioned liners of the Swaco compared to the 15" clone taper on most other units,
D-Sander permit replacement of worn parts without As a result, the SWACO D-Siiter has a 6PM capacity of
replacing the entire liner. The Swaco apex valve segment 40-50 per cent greater than other four-inch cyclone
includes the area of fastest wear and is provided with desilters and the percentage of mud tost to the underflow
a quick-change apex valve holder to minimize downtime. is much lower. Therefore, more mud is treated white less
As drilling conditions and sand content of the flowline fluid is lost to the underflow. Also, the underflow valve,
change, this quick-change feature permits fast valve sub- or apex valve, can be larger and is much less likely to
stitution without the distortion of cyclone design common plug.
to other apex valve adjustment systems. The twin clone assembly is also unique in that it con-
The SWACO D-Sander is installed where it can take tains four easy-to-use assembled steel sections, and each
suction from the actual rnud system as soon as it passes of the two clones consists of three rubber liner segments
through the shale shaker or leaves the flowline. The front and a common feed port. The twin clone is simple and
end of the first mud tank should be partitioned in half quick to assemble and disassemble, thus limiting down-
with an overflow gate. The D-Sander can then take suction time. When wear occurs in any of the rubber sections,
from the first half of the tank and return clean mud to particularly the apex valve, the worn section alone can
the second half of the tank. With this arrangement, vir- be quickly replaced instead of the entire cyclone liner.
tually no sand settles in the tank, and the D-Sander pres- This provides significant savings in downtime and costs.
sure is in the 30-35 psi range. Back pressure or vacuum For more information, send for Bulletin * E-S3051 -SC.
should be avoided in the overflow line for maximum effi-
ciency,
The position of the clones in relation to the active mud
system and the size and length of alt connecting piping
should be carefully considered, A water line should be
placed at the-underflow collecting point to wash sand
onto the waste area. This is particularly important if 0-
Sander underflow is relatively dry.
For more information, send for Bulletin * E-S3034-SC.
•Registered TM of Dorr-Oliver, Inc.