Shaker screen wear in solids control system for drilling mud

Shaker screen wear is the damage or failure of screen panel in solids control system. Drilling mud solids control is influenced by screen much, actually

Shaker screen wear limit

Optimized solids control implies that more than 50% of the screening area can be blanked off and the screen can still have sufficient filtration ability as long as total-flow capacity is sufficient to handle the well flow. Field experience demonstrates that removal of 800 to 1000 m3 of drilled formation solids is readily achievable before a screen needs to be disposed of, even if a more restrictive trash limit is used.

If a fine-mesh screen with damages from wear, like holes, is allowed to be used for a long period, it will, in the long term, act like a significantly coarser screen. Therefore, if there is a possibility that the fine-mesh screen may be used a “long” time without being changed, it is generally better to use a slightly coarser, but stronger, screen

Shaker screen wear-corrugated screen

The mesh definition is the number of openings per 1 in. of a cloth. Therefore the cut point will be influenced by the wire diameter and does not follow the same scale as the different mesh sizes do.

Practice of screen maintenance

Good work practice, which also removes exposure to drilling fluid dampness and mist, includes changing all the screens on a shaker with a different batch of screens at regular inspection intervals. These screens are then investigated, the damages are repaired, and these screens are changed back into the shakers at next inspection. In this way, work time at the shaker is reduced, interference with the drilling operation is minimized, and shaker screen maintenance is optimized.

Double-deck shakers should be operated to minimize wear on the primary screens at the same time that solids removal from the drilling fluids is optimized. The screen-cloth aperture should be used for determining screening potential and not the mesh number.

Double deck-shaker

As many solids as possible should be removed on the top shaker deck. 
Finest possible screens, such as 60- to 100-mesh, should be on the top shaker deck.

Screen selection on the bottom deck should be one that ensures no or minimal wear. This often means use of coarser screens on the bottom deck than is common practice. 
It is shown how the use of this knowledge has improved field operations by increasing significantly the amount of formation material being removed from the drilling fluid in the first circulation

Please contact Aipu freely for more detail on shaker screen wear or other information