In oil and gas drilling operations, solid control system equipment plays a crucial role. It can effectively remove solid particles from drilling fluids, maintain stable performance of drilling fluids, improve drilling efficiency, reduce drilling costs, and ensure safe drilling operations. In this paper, we will discuss the relevant knowledge of the solid control system to help readers fully understand this important drilling equipment.
Overview of cementing system
Definition and Role
Solid control system, known as solid control (Solid Control) system, is a set of equipment used to deal with solid particles in the drilling fluid. Its main functions include:
Components
The solid control system usually consists of the following main parts:
Detailed introduction of equipment of solid control system
Vibrating screen
The vibrating screen generates high-frequency vibration through the excitation force produced by the vibrating motor, so that the screen mesh generates high-frequency vibration. When the drilling fluid flows through the screen, the solid particles are retained by the screen, while the clean drilling fluid flows into the next processing equipment through the screen.
(1) Linear vibrating screen: with simple structure and large processing capacity, it is suitable for processing rock chips with large particles.
(2) Elliptical vibrating screen: with better screening effect and higher processing capacity, it is suitable for processing rock chips of various particle sizes.
(3) High-frequency vibrating screen: with high vibration frequency, it can effectively separate the rock chips with fine particles.
(1) Screen area: it determines the processing capacity of vibrating screen.
(2) Vibration frequency and amplitude: affect the screening effect and processing capacity.
(3) Motor power: determines the operation stability and reliability of the vibrating screen.
Desander and desilter
1 working principle
Desander and mud remover use centrifugal force to separate fine sand and mud particles from drilling fluid. The drilling fluid generates centrifugal force in the high-speed rotating cyclone, and the solid particles are thrown to the wall of the vessel under the action of centrifugal force, and then slide down along the wall to be discharged from the bottom flow port, while the clean drilling fluid flows out from the overflow port.
(1) Desander: mainly used for removing coarse sand particles in drilling fluid, with large processing capacity.
(2) Mud remover: It is used to remove fine sand and mud particles in drilling fluid, with relatively small processing capacity.
(1) Processing capacity: it depends on the diameter and number of cyclones and the flow rate of drilling fluid.
(2) Separation particle size: It indicates the smallest particle size that can be separated by sand remover and mud remover.
(3) Pressure loss: reflects the energy consumption of the equipment during operation.
Centrifuge
The centrifuge separates solid particles and colloidal substances in the drilling fluid through the centrifugal force generated by high-speed rotation. The drilling fluid rotates at high speed in the drum of the centrifuge, and the solid particles are thrown to the wall of the drum under the action of centrifugal force, and then discharged from the centrifuge under the action of screw conveyor, while the clean drilling fluid flows out from the overflow port.
(1) Horizontal Screw Discharge Centrifuge: compact structure, large processing capacity, suitable for processing solid particles of various particle sizes.
(2) Vertical Screw Discharge Centrifuge: small footprint, easy to install, suitable for handling small flow rate of drilling fluid.
(1) Drum speed: determines the separation effect and processing capacity of the centrifuge.
(2) Separation factor: indicates the ratio of centrifugal force generated by the centrifuge and gravity, which is an important index to measure the performance of the centrifuge.
(3) Processing capacity: depends on the drum size, rotational speed and nature of the drilling fluid of the centrifuge.
Stirrer and Mixer
The agitator and mixer produce a strong stirring and mixing effect of the drilling fluid in the mud tank by means of rotating blades or impellers. This prevents solid particles from settling and ensures the uniformity and stability of the drilling fluid.
(1) Mechanical agitator: simple structure, reliable operation, applicable to mud tanks of various sizes.
(2) Pneumatic mixer: using compressed air as power source, with explosion-proof, no pollution and other advantages.
(3) Mixer: usually used in conjunction with agitator, it can mix various additives into drilling fluid more quickly and evenly.
(1) Stirring power: it determines the stirring strength and processing capacity of the agitator.
(2) Rotating speed: affects the stirring effect and mixing speed.
(3) Impeller diameter: it is related to mixing power and processing capacity.
Slurry tank
Mud tank is the equipment used to store and circulate drilling fluid in the solid control system. It usually consists of tank body, partition, agitator mounting seat, inlet and outlet pipes and other parts. The structural design of mud tank should meet the requirements of drilling fluid storage, agitation, circulation and discharge.
(1) Steel mud tank: high strength, good durability, suitable for all kinds of harsh working environment.
(2) Glass fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) mud tank: light weight, corrosion-resistant, easy to install, suitable for offshore drilling platforms and other occasions.
(1) Volume: determines the amount of drilling fluid that can be stored in the mud tank.
(2) Working pressure: reflects the capacity of the mud tank during operation.
(3) Inlet and outlet pipe diameter: affects the flow rate and velocity of drilling fluid.
Control system
The control system is the core part of the solid control system, which carries out automated control and monitoring of the equipment of the solid control system to ensure the stable operation of the system. Control system usually has the following functions:
(1) Equipment start/stop control: realise the remote start/stop operation of the equipment of the solid control system.
(2) Parameter monitoring and adjustment: real-time monitoring of the parameters of the solid control system, such as drilling fluid flow, pressure, density, etc., and adjust them as needed.
(3) Fault alarm and diagnosis: When the equipment fails, the control system can send out alarm signals and carry out fault diagnosis in time, so that the maintenance personnel can quickly remove the fault.
(1) Centralised control system: all the equipment of the solid control system is concentrated in a control room for control, convenient operation and centralised management.
(2) Distributed control system: the control system is installed in each device in a decentralised manner, through the network for communication and coordinated control, with higher reliability and flexibility.
Solid control system equipment selection and configuration
Selection principles
Configuration scheme
Maintenance and upkeep of solid control system equipment
Daily maintenance
Regular Maintenance
Solid control system equipment development trend
Intelligent: with the continuous development of automation technology and information technology, solid control system equipment will become more and more intelligent. The future solid control system will have automatic monitoring, automatic control, fault diagnosis and remote maintenance functions, which can realise unattended operation and improve drilling efficiency and safety. High efficiency: In order to meet the growing demand for drilling, cementing system equipment will continue to improve the processing capacity and separation effect. The new vibrating screen, desander, mud remover and centrifuge will adopt more advanced technology and structural design, which can remove solid particles in drilling fluid more quickly and effectively. Environmental protection: with the continuous improvement of environmental awareness, solid control system equipment will pay more attention to environmental performance. The future solid control system will use more environmentally friendly treatment processes and materials to reduce pollution of the environment. At the same time, the solid control system equipment will pay more attention to the recycling of resources and reduce drilling costs.
Solids control system equipment is an indispensable and important equipment in oil and gas drilling operations. Through the in-depth understanding of the solid control system equipment, we can better select, configure, maintain and use these equipments to improve the drilling efficiency, reduce the drilling cost and ensure the safety of drilling operations. With the continuous progress of technology, the equipment of cementing system will continue to develop in the direction of intelligence, high efficiency and environmental protection, and make greater contribution to the sustainable development of the oil and gas industry.
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