Centrifuges are heavily used in drilling solids control systems

Centrifuges are the core equipment in drilling solids control systems for achieving fine solids control. They are mainly used to separate fine solid particles (typically 2-74 μm in diameter) from drilling fluids that cannot be removed by conventional solids control equipment (such as shale shakers, desanders, and desilters).

TR Solids Control's centrifuges excel in drilling solids control systems, ensuring stable drilling fluid performance, protecting drill strings, reducing costs, and supporting environmentally friendly operations through efficient solid-liquid separation. Their technical features, application scenarios, and practical results all demonstrate the advantages of high efficiency, intelligence, and environmental friendliness.

I. The Core Role of Centrifuges in Drilling Solids Control Systems

1. Solid-liquid separation: Centrifuges utilize the centrifugal force generated by high-speed rotation to effectively separate solid particles (such as mud, sand, and rock cuttings) from the liquid in drilling fluid. This process is the core of the solids control system, ensuring the cleanliness and stability of the drilling fluid.

2. Protecting drilling tools: Impurities and solid particles in drilling fluid can easily clog drill bits and drill pipe, affecting drilling efficiency and safety. Centrifuges remove these impurities, protecting drilling tools from wear and clogging and extending their service life.

3. Controlling drilling fluid properties: The properties of drilling fluids (such as viscosity, density, and fluidity) directly affect drilling speed, wellbore stability, and cementing effectiveness. Centrifuges stabilize drilling fluid properties by removing excess plasticizers, particles, and other impurities, thus preventing drilling accidents caused by poor performance.

4. Cost reduction: Centrifuges filter out solid impurities and sediments from drilling fluid, allowing the fluid to be reused and reducing drilling costs. At the same time, it reduces waste generation, meeting environmental protection requirements.

II. Technical Features of Tianrui Centrifuges

1. High separation accuracy

   The TRLW450×1000N Decanter Centrifuge has an inner drum diameter of 450mm and a length of 1000mm. It generates a separation factor of 1210 times through high-speed rotation at 2200r/min, and has a single-unit processing capacity of 50m³/h. It can accurately remove harmful fine particles of 2-5μm from drilling fluid, meeting the needs of complex working conditions such as deep wells and shale gas wells.

   Variable frequency mud centrifuges: multiple models are available (such as TRGLW355N-1V, TRGLW450N-2V, etc.), with a speed range of 0-3200r/min, a separation factor of 2578-2711, and a separation point coverage of 2-5μm, adapting to different drilling fluid densities and viscosities.

2. Intelligent control system

   It adopts PLC programming and explosion-proof touch screen to monitor key parameters such as drum speed, bearing temperature and whole machine vibration in real time. It supports stepless adjustment of speed and differential speed and is suitable for complex scenarios such as shale gas wells and high temperature and high pressure wells.

   For example, in the extraction of shale gas in Xinjiang, centrifuges are linked with vibrating screens and desanders to achieve a drilling fluid reuse rate of over 90%, saving about 20% of mud costs per well.

3. Energy saving design

   Equipped with a 30kW high-efficiency motor and a lightweight structure, it significantly reduces energy consumption compared to traditional equipment. Combined with a barite recovery function, it can save drilling costs per well.

III. Centrifuge Application Scenarios: Covering Multiple Fields and Solving Industry Pain Points

1. Oil drilling fluid treatment

   Core function: As a fourth-stage purification device in the solids control system, it removes colloidal particles, barite powder and harmful salts, controls the density and viscosity of drilling fluid, and ensures the stability of drilling fluid performance.

   Case Study: In the solids control system of the ZJ50 drilling rig, a high-speed centrifuge processes non-weighted mud and separates 2-5μm particles, while a medium-speed centrifuge recovers barite, achieving efficient recycling of drilling fluid.

2. Trenchless engineering and subway construction

   The combination of shear pumps and centrifuges can reduce the solids content of slurry from 30% to below 5%, ensuring the safety of tunnel boring machine (TBM) construction. For example, in subway construction, this system effectively prevents slurry from clogging pipes and improves construction efficiency.

3. Environmental protection and cost optimization

   By reducing the total amount of drilling waste, the cost of subsequent solidification treatment is lowered. For example, Tianrui Solids Control's integrated solids control system increases mud recovery rate from 65% to 92%, reduces waste treatment costs by 55%, and significantly shortens the single-well cycle.

After adopting TR Solids Controls' centrifuges, companies such as CNPC and CNOOC have seen significant improvements in drilling fluid performance, reduced equipment failure rates, and lower maintenance costs. For example, during the construction of a shale gas horizontal well, the TRSB series pumps ran continuously for 2000 hours without failure, extending their service life by 50%.

TR Solids Control has passed the American Petroleum Institute (API) certification, and its products have served more than 60 countries and regions, covering fields such as oil and gas drilling, trenchless engineering, and building piling, and are highly trusted by customers.