Shaker screen importance for well drilling

Why shale shaker screen is important? Presently, almost well drillings will request solids control or drilling fluid system. Removing solids from drilling fluid is fundamental to drilling performance. As per decades experience solids control is proven a wide range of benefits, including but not limited to: increased drilling penetration, reduction in mud costs, reduction in disposal costs, and increased bit life. By and large, increased solids removal equates to lower drilling costs for the operator

Shaker screen in drilling mud system

Shaker screen is critical wearing part of shale shaker. So the shaker screen is very important for whole drilling mud system. Better shaker screen will provide better performance and filtration efficient to shale shaker then affect whole mud system even whole well drilling

Shale shakers are the first line of defense for a properly designed solids control system. Shakers have been used on drilling rigs since the 1940’s and are a significant part of the drilling process. Shale shakers work by removing solids from drilling fluid as the mud passes over the surface of a shaker screen. The liquid portion of the mud and solids pass through the screen while larger solids fall off the back end and are thus discarded.

Pyramid shale shaker screen

Drilling fluids are a key aspect of the drilling process and often lubricate & cool the drill bit and take drilled cuttings from the borehole. Shakers still remain the backbone of any solids control system. As time has progressed, so have these technologies; more advanced and efficient designs have been cultivated including shaker screen technology.

API RP13C for shale shaker screen

Shaker screen selection ever faced a problem. As different manufacturers will configure screen with different size wire mesh, etc. This will lead inconvenience even problems to operators during drilling. So presently, screen conforms to API 13C is one important issue concerning quality

For example, one manufacturer told their screen is 140 mesh, however it equals to API 120. Another manufacturer told their screen is 120 mesh and equals to API 120, too. So when we need screen sized API 120, we just tell the API number will be ok. During drilling and shaker operation the proper selection will help to get more ideal separation result

The American Petroleum Institute (API) screen designation has become the standard for the identification of screen panels in the oil & gas industry. API designates the micron opening size (cut point) and the conductance in which the liquids pass through the screen

Aipu shaker screens are in compliance with API labeling practices that includes: API designation, conductance in kD/mm, D100 value, and non-blanked open area in square feet. Our shaker screen are API rated and tested by third party agencies to meet the stringent requirements of API RP 13C

More about shaker screen quality

Of course this is not only issue affecting quality but it is a important reference for clients’ option on shaker screen supplier. Other quality issues including wire mesh quality, rubber seal stability， etc.

Just as we talked just now, proper shaker screen selection is reduction in mud costs/disposal costs while increase bit life. In short, proper drilling mud process is rather important and shaker screen is important in drilling mud system

Some clients treat the service life as the only factor to evaluate quality. Actually, it’s not reasonable. The quality should be based on separation efficiency, operation convenience, and so on. You may have different comments, please leave it below