Closed loop drilling fluids system (sometimes referred to as closed mud or pitless system)are system which do not need mud pits, which can greatly reduce or eliminate the discharge of toxic drilling wastes on site.
What mud systems need mud pits?
1 HDD mud system need mud pits, the drilling mud flow to mud pit, and the slurry pump installed into the mud pit transfer the mud to HDD mud cleaning system, and the processed mud is pumped to the rig again.
2 At a typical oil & gas drilling site, drilling fluids are circulated through the wellbore, then the fluids and drill cuttings are deposited in a reserve pit dug near well. This pit is used to hold used drilling fluids and wastes. There are many potential problems from pits — leaky liners and overflows can lead to soil and water contamination, pits can produce odors and toxic air contaminants, and pits can be a hazard for birds and wildlife.
What is closed loop drilling fluids system?
In a closed loop drilling fluids system, the mud pit is replaced with a series of storage tanks that separate liquids and solids. Solids control equipments (shale shaker, mud cleaner, decanter centrifuge) and collection equipment (vacuum trucks, shale barges) minimize the amount of drilling waste and cuttings that require disposal, and maximize the amount of drilling fluid recycled and reused in the drilling process. The wastes created are typically transferred off-site for disposal at injection wells or oilfield waste disposal facilities.
For the customized design of closed loop drilling fluids system, pls contact GN solids control.