Completion Drill Out Operations
Centrifuges have been used effectively to condition and clean drill-out fluids used for drilling out frac plugs on new completions. Sand and debris transported to the surface during plug drilling are separated from the drill-out fluid. Clean light fluid is returned to the system and reused. This process allows drill out to continue with reduced risk for lost circulation. The use of centrifuges also allows chemicals and additives used in the drill-out fluid to be recycled, reducing not only the cost of the drill-out operation but also the environmental footprint.
Barite Recovery
Dual centrifuges have been used effectively to recover and return barite back into the drilling system. In the Barite Recovery process, the first centrifuge targets solids between a 10 and 100μm range which is your barite. The barite will travel down a slide or shoot to be returned to the active system. The second centrifuge processes the first centrifuge’s effluent and removes solids less than 10μm. The second centrifuge’s effluent will be returned to the same pit as the recovered barite to avoid any high and low spots in the mud system.