Solids control is a technique used in drilling rig to separate the solids in the drilling fluids that are crushed by the drill bits and carried out of the well surface. Normally drilling mud system is consisted of five stages, including mud tank, drilling shale shaker, vacuum degasser, desander, desilter, centrifuge. Shale shaker is used to separate the big solids with diameter above 75μm, and 45~74μm for desander, and 15~44μm for desilter. Sometimes desander & desilter are combined as high efficient drilling fluid cleaner. When air enters the drilling fluids, vacuum degasser is used to separate the air. If no air is found in the mud, the degasser would work as a big agitator. All these equipment are mounted on the top of the mud tank. After separating the solids, the clean mud would be pumped into the borehole again.

The Basic Requirements of Oil Drilling Mud Solids Control Equipment Maintenance

1. Store the solids control equipment in specific position.

2. Maintain first and then put into storage when problem happens to solids control equipment.

3. Make sure all the unused solids control equipment in well maintenance before putting into storage.
 

4. Cover the top and fill up the bottom to prevent dust and damp.

5. Regular check and maintenance are needed while being stored.

6. Make sure centrifugal pumps are clean and arid without oil and drilling fluids in it.

Disassembly Order of Oil Drilling Mud Solids Control Equipment

1. Clean mud tanks and the solids control equipment mounted on them, which include shale shaker, desander, desilter, mud cleaner, decanter centrifuge and vacuum degasser.

2. Remove the mud residues out of mud tanks.

3. Detach drilling fluids shale shaker, desander, desilter, mud cleaner, vacuum degasser, decanter centrifuge and other solids control equipment.

4. Lie floodlights down to mud tanks and fix them.

5. Dismantle and clean all the pipelines connecting mud tanks, then put the large ones into tanks and small ones into packing case.