Vibratory screening of drilling fluids

A study has been made at full scale of the use of vibrating near-horizontal screens for the removal of particles from drilling muds, which are shear-thinning fluids. A mass balance analysis was used to establish criteria for effective operation of such devices. A previous study of these devices by Hoberock was critically examined. It was extended experimentally, and its hypotheses tested. As a result, Hoberock's proposals have been modified. A model has been developed to predict flow through the screens, which has been validated with laboratory and field data. Observations upon solids transport on wet screens have been compared with the much earlier work of Kluge on dry screening.