1. Drill Solids Removal Do Nothing and Let Solids Build up - Add New Mud When Mud Properties Can Not Be Controlled. Dilute Mud and Rebuild System to Meet Specs and Dump Excess Mud Use Solids Control Equipment to Minimize Amount of Dilution Required

2. Solids Control Equipment

3. Improved Penetration Rates Reduced Mud Costs Reduced Torque and Drag Lower Dilution Requirements Reduced System Pressure Losses Better Cement Jobs Reduced Lost Circulation Reduced Formation Damage Less Differential Sticking Reduced Environmental Impact Lower Disposal Costs

4. Shale Shakers First Line of Defense Removes Large Quantity Without Degradation In Weighted Muds, Primary Solids Removal Device Process Entire Circulation Rate

5. Shale Shaker Performance Vibration Pattern Vibration Dynamics Shaker Screen Characteristics Rheological Properties (PV) Solids Loading Rate

6. Vibration Patterns - Circular Basket Moves in Circular Motion All Regions Move in Identical Pattern Vibrator on Each Side @ Center of Gravity Axis of Rotation Perpendicular to Side of Basket Designed for Horizontal Configuration Does Not Drive Soft, Stick Clays Into Screens Best Suited for Soft Clays Scalping Shakers for Coarse Solids Removal

7. Vibration Patterns - Elliptical Motion Vibrators Located Above Shaker Basket Torque Is Applied to Basket Rocking Motion With Different Vibration Patterns At Feed End, Elliptical Pattern and Conveyance Is Good At Discharge End, Elliptical Pattern Back Toward Feed End Deck Is Pitched Downhill to Overcome Uphill Movement Downhill Deck Restricts Ability to Process Fluid Soft, Stick Clays and Scalping Shaker

8. Vibration Patterns - Linear Motion Two Counter-Rotating Vibrators Which Operate in Phase From Center of Gravity, Bisects at 90 ° Between Two Rotation Axis Counterweights Rotate in Opposite Direction, Net Force on Basket Is Zero Force Through Shakers Center of Gravity Angle of This Force Is 45°-50° for Maximum Conveyance Solids Can Be Conveyed Uphill by Linear Motion Pool Formed to Provide Additional Head and Fluid Throughput Poor Performance in Soft Sticky Clays

9. Vibration - Acceleration Basket Undergoes Acceleration Which Changes in Magnitude and Direction Placement of Vibrator Determines Vibration Pattern and Acceleration Direction Vertical Component Has Most Effect on Liquid Throughput Most Shakers Operate at Acceleration Within Range of 2.5 - 5.0 Flow Capacity/Dryness Improve With Increased Acceleration but Shorter Screen Life Reducing G Where Extra Flow Capacity Is Available, Screen Life Improves

10. Deck Angle Uphill Deck Angle Provides Protection Against Overflow As Deck Angle Increases, Throughput Increases but Conveyance Decreases Solids Conveyance in Pool Is Slower Due to Viscous Drag Forces High Deck Angle Causes Stationary Solids Mound in Pool Area There Will Still Be Conveyance of Solids at Discharge End Extended Resident Time Will Grind Soft Cuttings Before Conveyed Out of Pool

11. Shaker Screen Characteristics Hookstrip Screens Are Not Rigid and Deck Must Be Crowned Full Contact With Supports Is Critical Screen Tension Should Be Checked Periodically Crowned Deck Causes Uneven Fluid Coverage Fluid May Extend Along the Sides Reducing Available Screen Area Reduce by Increasing Deck Angle and Use High Efficiency Screens

12. Corrugated Screens Wave Design Increases Area by 40 % Over Flat Screens Reported Increase in Shaker Capacity and Allow for Finer Screening

13. Optimizing Screen Life Perforated Plate Screens Exhibit Longer Life Than Hookstrip Screens Panels With Smaller Perforated Plate Sizes at the Feed End Reduce Deck Angle to Improve Solids Conveyance Check That All Support Rubbers Are in Good Condition

14. Screen Selection Run Same Screen Mesh Over Entire Deck When Running Different Mesh, Coarser Mesh Should Be on Discharge End Select Finest Screen Giving 70 - 80 % Fluid Coverage Run Coarser Screen on Top Deck on Tandem or Upstream Shaker Fine Screen on Top Deck Can Impede Cuttings Conveyance on Lower Deck

15. Cuttings Dryness Cuttings Dryness Depends Upon Cutting Size Distribution and Mud Viscosity Fine Solids Have Higher Associated Liquid Due to High Surface Area High Solids Loading Will Have Negative Impact on Dryness Increase Deck Angle Increases Contact Time on Screen Coarser Screens Cause Fluid Endpoint to Recede and Cutting Size Increase Unweighted Muds Provided Downstream Equipment Available and Cuttings Are Firm Weighted Muds Require Finer Screens Since Downstream Equipment Is Limited Increased Acceleration Removes Excess Liquid but Screen Life Decreases

16. Sticky Solids Use Scalping Shakers Ahead of Fine Mesh Screens Use Downhill or Flat Deck Angles Sticky Solids Will Not Stick to Wet Screens

17. Polymer Muds Prehydrate the Polymers Before Adding to the System Expect a Reduction in Flow Capacity of Shakers

19. Blinding/Plugging Unbonded Triple Layer Screens Provide Best Resistance Single Layer, Square Mesh Screens Is Most Susceptible If Excess Shaker Capacity Is Available, Run Finer Screens

20. Shaker Manifolding Design to Provide an Even Distribution of Cuttings to Shakers Flowline Drop of 1’ Per 12’ Run and Diameter of 12” Solids Will Travel a Straight Path Resulting in Uneven Loading Avoid Branch Tees and Dead End Tees Will Evenly Distribute Solids Shakers Should Be Level

21. Degasser Removes Entrained Gas From the Mud Gas Cut Mud Will Impair Performance of Centrifugal Pumps Entrained Gas Will Reduce Mud Density

22. Degasser Principles Gas Bubbles Reach Liquid-Gas Interface Before Bursting Increase Bubble Size by Drawing a Vacuum Create a Thin Film Create Turbulent Action Impart Centrifugal Force to Drive Gas to Surface

23. Types of Degassers Atmospheric - Unweighted Muds and Low Yield Points Vacuum - Higher Mud Weights and Higher Yield Points

24. Installation Provide Enough Capacity to Treat Entire Circulating Rate Located Downstream From Shale Shaker Upstream of Equipment Requiring a Centrifugal Pump Suction Should Be 1’ From Floor of Well Agitated Pit

25. Operation Vacuum Degasser Should Discharge Below Mud Surface Atmospheric Degasser Should Discharge Across Surface of Tank Vacuum Degasser Must Take Power Suction From the Discharge Pit Power Mud Centrifugal Pump Must Supply Necessary Feed Head

26. Hydrocyclone Remove Fine Solids Missed by Shaker in Unweighted Muds Shakers Remove Large Sized Solids So Not to Plug Hydrocyclones

27. Operation Mud Enters Tangentially at High Velocity Md Spirals Downward and Centrifugal Force Moves Solids Toward Wall Solids Settle According to Their Mass - Largest First As Cone Narrows, Fluid Turns Toward Overflow Creates Low Pressure Area Pulling Air From Underflow Outlet Air and Cleaned Fluid Move to Overflow Through Vortex Finder

28. Operation Solids With Sufficient Mass Continue Out the Underflow Maximum Cone Wear Occurs at or Near the Underflow If Solids Are Too Fine, No Liquid Should Be Discharged Fine Solids With More Specific Area, Liquid Removed Is Higher Difference Between Feed and Underflow Density Is Not Reliable Indicator

29. Performance Hydrocyclones Diameters Range From 1” to 12” Cones of Diameters 6” or Larger Are Called Desanders Cones of Diameter Less Than 6” Are Called Desilters

30. Variables on Hydrocyclone Performance Cone Diameter Is Main Factor Determining Processing Capacity Large Cones Have Higher Throughput but Reduced Separation

31. Variables on Hydrocyclone Performance Plastic Viscosity Affects Performance of Hydrocyclones Performance Decreases With Increasing Plastic Viscosity

32. Variables on Hydrocyclone Performance Feed Head- Feed Pressure Affects Performance Insufficient Head Reduces Fluid Velocity in Cone and Separation Efficiency Excessive Head Will Cause Premature Wear Head Is Related to Pressure and Fluid Density by P = 0.052 X H X  Most Hydrocyclones Require 75’ of Head Required Pressure of a Given Mud Density Approximated by P = 4 X  Correct Pump Sizing to Provide Sufficient Heat at Desired Flow Rate

33. Underflow Diameter Reduce Underflow Diameter, Fewer Solids Will Have Sufficient Mass for Discharge Spray Discharge - Umbrella Shaped Discharge - Preferred Inside Stream Moving Upward Will Pull Air With It Rope Discharge - High Solids Concentration and No Room for All Solids Solids Back up and Only Largest Solids Will Exit Many Solids Will Not Exit and Returns in the Overflow Make Sure Opening Is Clear or Add More Hydrocyclones

34. Desander Primary Role Is to Reduce Solids Loading to the Desilter Use When Shakers Are Unable to Screen Down to 140 Mesh (100  75  Is Best Performance Expected From Desanders In Weighted Muds, Barite Due to High SG, Will Be Removed Higher Plastic Viscosity in Weighted Mud Will Reduce Efficiency 10” Cones Recommended As Provides Best Combination of Operation and Capacity

35. Desilter Should Be Used on All Unweighted Water Muds Process Underflow With Centrifuge When Using Expensive Muds

36. Sizing Hydrocyclone Manifolds Required Cones Is 110 % of Maximum Circulating Rate / Single Cone Flow Rate Cone Size, in Cone Capacity, GPM @ 75’ Head 2 20 4 50 6 100 8 125 10 500 12 500

37. Operating Guidelines Operate Enough Cones to Process Over 100 % of Circulation Rate Overflow Discharged to a Pit Downstream From Feed Pit and Use Bottom Equalization Agitate All Hydrocyclone Removal and Discharge Pits to Ensure Uniform Feed Do Not Allow Cones to Operate With Plugged Apexes or Inlets Spray Discharge Is Preferred - Rope Discharge Indicates Inefficiency Do Not Bypass Shaker or Operate With Torn Screens Manifolds Should Be Located Above Mud Level to Prevent Siphoning Replace Flange-Type Cones With Quick-Connect Type Replace Worn Cones Immediately or Blank off Feed and Outlet Line Have Working Pressure Gauge on Manifold Feed Inlet Size Suction and Discharge Piping to Provide Velocity of 5 - 10 Ft/Sec Use One Centrifugal Pump Per Hydrocyclone Manifold

38. Mud Cleaners A Bank of Hydrocyclones Mounted Over a Vibrating Screen Free Liquid and Solids Smaller Than Screen Returned to Circulating System Used in Weighted Muds to Remove Solids and Recover Barite Fine Screen Shakers Process Full Circulation Whereas Mud Cleaners Treat a Portion Barite Losses Over Mud Cleaner Higher Than Same Size Shaker Screens If Additional Shakers Cannot Be Installed, Mud Cleaner Can Be Advantageous

39. Operating Guidelines Plugged Cones or Large Solids off Screen Imply Problem With Shale Shakers Mud Cleaner Cones Should Be 6” or Smaller In Unweighted Muds, Use As a Desilter by Blanking off Screen Run in Parallel With Other Desilters - Suction From Desander Discharge Pit Dry Desander Discharge by Directing Over Mud Cleaner Screen Hydrocyclones Should Be Run Wet As Possible to Improve Solids Removal In Weighted Muds, Use When 150 Mesh Screens Cannot Be Run on Shaker Remove Enough Cones to Keep Screen From Discharging Too Much Liquid In Oil-Based Muds, Monitor Composition/Rate Over Screens Dilution Water Added at Screen Will Reduce Underflow Viscosity

40. Decanting Centrifuges Capable of Removing Very Fine Solids Compared to Other Equipment In Unweighted Muds, Reduce Solids and Liquid Discharge In Weighted Muds, Reclaim Barite While Removing Collodial Solids Primary Separation Device Used in Dewatering Systems to Reduce Liquid Discharge

41. Performance Parameters Viscosity - Settling Velocity Is Inversely Proportional to Fluid Viscosity Diluting the Centrifuge Feed Improves Performance Polymer Muds Have High Fluid Viscosity and Affects Performance

42. Unweighted Muds Removes Fine Drill Solids Missed and Provides a Relatively Dry Discharge At Least 25 % of Circulating Rate Should Be Centrifuged High G, High Capacity Centrifuges Are Recommended to Maximize Separation Maximum Efficient Processing Rate Will Seldom Exceed 250 GPM

43. Hydrocyclone Underflow Centrifuge Can Process Underflow of Desilter Cones System Performance Improved by Opening Cone Apex to Discharge More Fluid Additional Volume From Active System Downstream of Hydrocyclone A Separate Centrifuge Pit Is Required and Usually Small (< 50 Bbls) Both High and Low Equalization Required Low Equalizer Supplies Makeup Volume for Unweighted Muds In Weighted Muds to Process the Overflow of Barite Recovery

44. Operating Guidelines - Unweighted Mud Suction Taken From the Desilter Discharge and Overflow Returned to Downstream Pit Provide Enough Centrifuge Capacity to Process 25 % of Circulation Rate Run at Maximum RPM to Achieve Highest G-Force Always Wash Out the Centrifuge Upon Shutdown If Centrifuge Is to Be Used on Both Weighted and Unweighted, Rig up for Both Solids Discharge Shute Angled Greater Than 45 ° or Use a Wash Line

45. Weighted Muds Recover Weighting Material and Discharge Mud With Collodial Solids Recover Barite From Reserve Mud Before Discarding Mud Barite Losses Can Be Reduced Making the Maximum Solids/Liquid Separation

46. Operating Guidelines - Weighted Mud Use Hydrocyclone to Reduce Solids Loading in Feed Mud - Use Overflow Mud Provide Enough Centrifuge Capacity to Process 5 - 15 % of Circulation Rate Add As Much Dilution Water to Feed to Improve Separation Return Solids to Well-Agitated Pit Before Suction/Mixing Tanks Always Wash Out the Centrifuge Upon Shutdown

47. Two-Stage Centrifuging Used Unweighted Muds When Liquid Phase Cannot Be Discarded Most Frequently Used in Weighted Oil-Based Muds First Centrifuge Recovers Weight Material Liquid Overflow Fed to Higher G-Force Centrifuge to Discard Solids First Centrifuge Must Make Good Separation With Little Barite Carryover

48. Two-Stage Centrifuging Second Centrifuge Must Operate at Highest Possible G-Force Economics of Two Stage Centrifuging Are Site Dependent OBM With Barite Concentration Greater Than 4 Lb/Gal Are Candidates Deweighting Oil Muds Discarding Barite More Economical Than Dilution

49. Centrifugal Pump Designed for Low Pressure, High Flow Rate Requirements Pump and Piping Must Be Sized Correctly to Deliver Flow and Head

50. Principle of Operation Rotating Impeller Mounted Inside a Pump Housing Fluid Is Accelerated to the Circumference by the Impeller Accelerated Fluid Exits Impeller Entering Housing and Is Converted to Pressure Energy Head Generated by Centrifugal Pump Decreases Little As Flow Rate Increases Flow Rate Through Cone Is Not Affected Much by Head

51. Centrifugal Pump Sizing Determine the Total Flow Rate Needed Q(Gpm) = (Number of Cones)(Flow Capacity/Cone) Determine the Total Head Required - Most Hydrocyclones Require Inlet of 75 ‘ H t = 75’ + Lift Height (Ft) + Friction Losses (Ft) Lift Height Is Height Between Hydrocyclone Manifold and Mud Surface Friction Losses Is Equivalent Loss of Head Through Lines, Elbows, Tees Using Pump Performance Curve, Choose Impeller for Flow Rate and Total Head Determine Required Horsepower: BHP Mud = (  BHP Curve )/8.34

52. Estimating Impeller Size Measure the Fluid Density, Pump Rpm A Valve on the Discharge and Accurate Pressure Gauge Between Pump and Valve With Pump Running, Close the Discharge Valve and Read Pressure Gauge Convert Pressure to Head (Ft) Plot Head on Pump Curve for 0 Gpm and Estimate Effective Impeller Size

53. Pipe Sizing Suction and Discharge Line Should Be As Short As Possible Flow Velocities Should Range From 5 to 10 Ft/Sec High Velocities Erode Elbows and Cause Distribution Problems Inadequate Suction Line Can Cause Cavitation Velocity (Ft.Sec) = Q/(2.48)(D i 2 )

54. Agitators Suspends weight material, provides homogenous mixture All removal pits except sand trap should be well agitated Mud guns impart shear which may degrade drill solids Mechanical agitators ensures solids control equipment cannot be bypassed

55. Compartment Equalization Adjustable equalizer needed between solids removal and addition-suction Mud from bottom of last solids pit and discharge to addition-suction top High equalization between removal and suction improves ability to detect gains Equalizer Minimum equivalent diameter = (GPM/15) 1/2

56. Recommended Equalization Location Equalization Sand Trap Exit High Degasser High Desander Low Desilter Low Centrifuge Low Solids Removal-Addition High-adjustable Addition-Blend Low Blend-Suction Low

57. Sand Trap A settling compartment downstream of shakers With fine screen shakers, serves as a backup Not stirred and mud exits over a high weir Floor should have 45° slope and 20-30 bbls sufficient A quick opening valve that can be closed against mud flow

58. Equipment Arrangement Solids removal equipment arranged sequentially to remove finer solids Each device takes suction upstream and discharges to next pit Each device should be fed by a single purpose pump with no routing option Overflow discharges to mud ditches and mud gun use are other routing errors