Polyurethane Hydro-Cyclone Desander For Eliminate Solids In Drilling Fluid

Working principle of drilling fluid

Desanders and desilters are solid control equipment with a set of hydrocyclones that separate sand and silt from the drilling fluids in drilling rigs. Desanders are installed on top of the mud tank following the shale shaker and the degasser, but before the desilter. Desander removes the abrasive solids from the drilling fluids which cannot be removed by shakers. Normally the diameter of the solid for desander to be separated would be 45~74μm, and 15~44μm for desilter.

Technical specification for your reference.

Structure components of drilling fluid desander

It mainly includes base, frame, motor, control cabinet, cyclone group, corresponding pipeline, shale shaker screen, fixed screen device. Some customers require that the desander should not be equipped with a bottom flow shale shaker and only require a desander without downstream shale shaker, such structural components do not include the motor, control cabinet, shale shaker screen, and fixed screen device.

For the oil drilling mud process, the desander cone is sized 8-12''. Different size cones hold different treating capacities. Before we confirm the configuration or design of the mud desander, we should consider the flow rate of all cones. For example, 10" cone capacity is about 90-120m³/h and we request a 240m³/h flow rate then we need 2 desander cones at least.

Cones on APCS Desanders are all high-quality polyurethane. Such cones are durable and anti-corrosive, oil-resistant, high temperature-resistant. They are very suitable for the drilling fluids process. For some clients, they prefer flexible capacity adjustment during operation so we'll install ball valves on the cones inlet line. And we can configure 3 desander cone sized 10'', or 2 desander cons sized 12''. For much larger capacity, we can use 3 desander cone sized 12''. Moreover, some clients prefer the casting iron desander cone. According to the actual demand and condition, we'll make desander to satisfy both clients and working condition.

A hydrocyclone device that removes large drill solids from the whole mud system. The desander should be located downstream of the shale shakers and degassers, but before the desilters or mud cleaners. A volume of mud is pumped into the wide upper section of the hydrocylone at an angle roughly tangent to its circumference. As the mud flows around and gradually down the inside of the cone shape, solids are separated from the liquid by centrifugal forces. The solids continue around and down until they exit the bottom of the hydrocyclone (along with small amounts of liquid) and are discarded. The cleaner and lighter density liquid mud travels up through a vortex in the center of the hydrocyclone, exits through piping at the top of the hydrocyclone and is then routed to the mud tanks and the next mud-cleaning device, usually a desilter. Various size desander and desilter cones are functionally identical, with the size of the cone determining the size of particles the device removes from the mud system.

Application of drilling fluid sand desander 

Secondary solid control treatment of mud and fluid to be treated in oil and gas drilling, coal bed methane excavation, trenchless directional crossing, pile driving, waste sewage, mud treatment, etc. In short, it is suitable for a variety of environments of mud and solid-liquid mixture desanding treatment. The general excluded particle size is bigger than 45 microns.

Safe operation of drilling fluid desander

Before using the equipment, make sure the pressure gauge reading is within the safe range. Before use, confirm the seal status of the inlet/outlet and manifold connections.
Maintenance of drilling fluid desander:
1. In the process of use, pay attention to check whether the pressure gauge is normal;
2. Sealing inspection should also be done at the inlet and outlet and manifold joints;
3. If there is a bottom flow screen to pay attention to the use of the state of the screen and wear degree;
4. Pay attention to cleaning to ensure the service life of the equipment

Matters needing attention for drilling fluid desander

1. When you feel that the force of the liquid sprayed by the trickle nozzle of the cyclone is not enough, please check whether the equipment has leaked parts or whether the pressure is sufficient;
2. If the efficiency of the desander is reduced, it may also be that the flow of the slurry pump is not enough, please consider adjusting the pump set;
3. The desander does not pulp out, which may be blocked by the drip nozzle. Please unscrew the drip nozzle cover and dredge it, then it can be restored to normal;

Come to Aipu for any demand of solids control