Shale shakers are important pieces of machinery for drilling. They are the first step in a drill’s solids control system. They are used for removing large solid masses from the fluid drilled out. These are used in the upstream market of the oil and gas business and in coal cleaning and mining. An essential part of the Derrick shale shaker is the shale shaker screen. A shale shaker screen is a type of screen that is made of metal. It can separate solids from drilling fluids like mud and take them out. Most shale shaker screens have polyurethane, composite, or stainless steel frames. Shale Shaker Screens are an integral part of the drilling equipment used in numerous industries, most notably in the coal processing, mining, and oil & gas drilling industries.
Specifications for a shale shaker screen change depending on the mesh size, which is set to meet the various API screen number criteria. Shale shaker screens can have a variety of frames, including steel frames, hook strip flat-style screens, composite frames, and others.
Let’s take a look at the different types of shale shaker screens and their features:
The Hook Strip Flat Shaker Screen separates harmful drilled solids from drilling fluid by using an advanced frame design and unique mesh combinations. It consists of one to three layers of screen cloth and is the most common type of shaker screen. The fabric is often stuck to a thin metal grid plate with holes or a plastic grid.
The shaker screen panel is held in place on the shaker deck by a system of hookstrips and drawbars on both sides of the shaker that are locked together. Each drawbar is pulled down and toward the side of the basket by using three or more tensioning bolts. This puts the screen in place on the shaker deck and spreads the tension evenly along the hookstrip.
Essential features:
Derrick FLC 500 PWP:
Derrick FLC 500 series shale shakers’ replacement screens are designed for the FLC 500 flat shaker screen. It is made of two or three layers of wire mesh cloth made of stainless steel (304 or 316), which is then joined with a steel backing plate. A one-sided quick-locking tension system on the FLC 500 PWP screen speeds up panel replacement.
Essential features:
Derrick 500 PMD shaker screen:
For all Derrick 500 series shale shakers, replacement Derrick 500 PMD shaker screens are produced. Each screen panel has two quick-lock 1/2 turn tension bolts and two innovative tension fingers that make installation quicker, simpler, and more dependable. Low mesh count bottom layer is waved by coarse wires and then firmly connected to the backing plate. It maximizes separation efficiency and has a longer service life.
Essential features:
Steel frame shale shaker screens:
Shale shaker screens with a steel frame are made of two or three layers of stainless steel wire mesh. The whole screen is made up of many small, separate meshes to stop the damage from causing it to stretch too much. Its backing and working layer were glued together, making the screen stronger. In the meantime, the rubber plugs can be fixed quickly. This saves a lot of time and money on disposal costs.
Steel frame shale shaker screen is stronger and better at resisting wear than flat shaker screen and hook strip flat screen. The screen has a strong and stable frame made of high-strength steel and grids that hold it up. So, the shaker screen can hold much more material and work much more efficiently.
Essential features:
Composite shaker screens are better at controlling quality by nature. There is no chance of breaks in service or changes in quality. There is no way for a person to make a mistake when welding, powder-coating, or grinding. This makes sure that the quality of each screen is the same. Woven wire cloth can be stretched tighter with the help of composite screens. As a result, they have a better cutting point and last longer. Composite shaker screens improve solids control efficiency to cut costs and waste volumes, no matter the formations or drilling applications used.
Essential features of a Composite Screen:
Corrugated shaker Screen:
Corrugated Screen with a three-dimensional design has the advantage of adding a large screen area that flat screens don’t have. Because of this, a screen makes it possible to handle more fluid. The effective area of the corrugated mesh is 25% to 50% bigger than that of flat mesh with the same specifications. So, a lot more drilling fluid can be processed.
Essential features:
The main things that help you choose the right screen are the solids’ size, the mud’s weight, viscosity, density, etc. If you choose the wrong screen, you could lose expensive drilling fluids, have pumps break down early, overload other solids removal equipment like a decanting centrifuge, shorten the equipment’s life, slow the penetration rate, or cause other severe problems in the well bore.
Some other factors include:
Final Thoughts:
A shale shaker is an essential component, especially for drilling purposes. The shaker screen plays a vital role in filtering the solid masses from the drilling fluid. As a result, proper research is necessary to buy the best screens to get the optimum results. Moreover, the maintenance part shouldn’t be neglected either, because even the best of the screens may wear if not maintained properly.
Hopefully, this guide has helped you to get an idea about the best shale shaker screens and what to look for while buying one.