What Is Solids Control?

Solids control refers to a well drilling technique used to provide

drilling fluid to deep well drilling rigs and to clean this fluid for
further use. The technique is often called mud drilling because it
uses a flow of water and mud to bring solids out of bore holes
and cool the drilling rig equipment. This drilling fluid also
facilitates the necessary hydrostatic pressure to prevent the
influx of natural formation fluids into the bore hole. This
technique has increased the safety of the well drilling process
while making explorative drilling a cost-effective option.

The well drilling processes and methods of solids control have

seen a variety of evolutions over time. From simple gravity
controlled solids removal pits to complex mechanical solids
control systems, the various techniques and equipment used to
remove solids from drilling fluid have made mud drilling
possible. With the creation of solids control measures, bore
drilling has become far more economical as the drilling solution
.is reused
One of the earliest known uses of solids control in a well drilling
process that occurred in the late 19th century. A series of
processing pits were used to capture the drilling fluid from well
drilling rigs. As the fluid passed from one pit to the next, it was
allowed to settle. The force of gravity caused the solids to settle
out of the liquid. The drilling fluid could then be channeled to a
pumping station where it was sent on to the drilling equipment
.for re-use
This early system of solids control was used as the primary
method until the invention of shale shaker in the 1930s. The
shale shaker uses a series of progressively smaller screens to
filter out cut materials from drilling fluid. Operating on the same
principle as the sorting machines used the gravel mining
industry, the shale shaker removes debris from drilling fluid
using gravity and vibration. As the drilling mud passes over the
shaker table, the vibrations cause the larger cuttings to shake out
.of the solution
The shale shaker is often paired with another piece of mining
equipment called the hydrocyclone. The hyrdrocyclone is used
in the solids control process to filter drilling fluids by centrifugal
force. By creating a swirling vortex of drilling fluid inside the
hydrocyclone, the solid matter created by the drilling process is
forced to the outer walls of the machine. These solids then slide
down to the discharge chute of the machine while the cleaned
.drilling fluid is pumped back to the drilling equipment

Principles of Solids Control

Drilling fluid maintenance cost, clean up and disposal cost, as
well as the overall cost of boring, can be reduced dramatically
when proper solids-control techniques are utilized. These facts
were recognized in the oil industry in the late 1800s, when open
earthen pits were used to separate the cuttings from the
borehole. This was accomplished by a series of weirs and
settling pits that allowed the solids to settle out naturally by
using gravity. The clean mud then flowed into a suction pit to be
pumped back down the hole. This was the first solids-control
.technique ever used

The state-of-the-art solids-control system includes

improved versions of this original equipment, first
introduced into the oil industry so many years ago.
Although much more efficient and robust, the core
.technology has change little over the past few decades
The future path of solids-control systems will continue to
increase the overall removal efficiency of undesirable
solids from the drilling fluid. This will include continued
improvements in shale shakers and screen life. Research
investigating alternate technology such as using vacuum
techniques and different motions may prove more
effective in the future. The continuing trend of more
stringent environmental regulations around the world
will require more and more solids-control systems to be
implemented to minimize haul off of drilling waste, not
to mention the cost savings on equipment such as mud
.pumps and mud motors
Drilling fluid and equipment maintenance costs can
decrease greatly when proper solids-control practices are
utilized. From a fluid control standpoint, it would be
desirable in most cases to remove all drilled solids.
Although this is possible, it would be cost-prohibitive.
The goal of a solids-control system is to achieve the
balance between mechanical solids separation and
dilution that will result in drill solids being maintained at
.an acceptable level, with minimum cost