Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation

ANSI/API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 13C FOURTH EDITION, DECEMBER 2010

ISO 13501(Modified), Drilling fluids processing equipment evaluation

Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation

Upstream Segment

ANSI/API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 13C FOURTH EDITION, DECEMBER 2010

ISO 13501(Modified), Drilling fluids processing equipment evaluation

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Copyright © 2010 American Petroleum Institute

API Foreword

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Contents Page

API Foreword iii

Foreword vii

Introduction viii

1. Scope 1

2. Normative references 1

3. Terms, definitions, symbols and abbreviated terms 1

   1. Terms and definitions 1

   2. Symbols and abbreviated terms 10

4. Requirements 11

5. Drilled solids removal — System performance 11

   1. Principle 11

   2. Apparatus 12

   3. Sampling 12

   4. Procedure 13

      1. Suction pit drilling fluid density chloride content, and solids by retort 13

      2. Base fluid additions to the drilling fluid 13

      3. Base fluid fraction 13

      4. Drilled solids fraction 13

      5. Volume of drilling fluid built 13

      6. Excavated volume of solids drilled 14

      7. Total dilution 14

      8. Dilution factor (k) 14

      9. Drilled-solids removal system performance (), expressed as percent 15

6. Rigsite evaluation of drilled-solids management equipment 15

   1. Principle 15

   2. Application 16

   3. Sampling of streams for capture analysis 17

   4. Determination of mass fraction (percent) solids 17

   5. Calculation of capture 17

   6. Interpretation of results 18

   7. Procedure for characterising removed solids 18

   8. Calculation of mass fraction (percent) of low-gravity solids 18

   9. Particle size assessment on removed solids 19

   10. Economics 19

       1. Unweighted drilling fluids 19

       2. Weighted drilling fluids 19

7. Practical operational guidelines 19

   1. Principle 19

   2. Apparatus 20

   3. Procedure for design and operation 20

      1. General 20

      2. Flow line 20

      3. Tank 20

      4. Process rate 20

      5. Surface tank 21

      6. Sand trap 21

      7. Removal section 22

      8. Flow direction 22

      9. Tank agitation 22

      10. Fluid routing 22

   4. Design of shale shakers 23

   5. Operation of shale shakers 23

   6. Design of degassers 24

      v

   7. Operation of degassers 24

   8. Design of desanders and desilters 24

   9. Design of mud cleaners 26

   10. Design of centrifuges 26

   11. Use of addition sections 26

   12. Use of drilling-fluid mixing and blending equipment 27

   13. Use of suction section 27

   14. Use of discharge section 27

8. Conductance of shale-shaker screens 27

   1. Principle 27

   2. Principle of conductance. 27

      1. General 27

      2. Darcy’s law 28

   3. Apparatus for measurement of conductance 29

   4. Procedure for calibrating fluid 30

   5. Procedure for flow test 30

   6. Procedure for measuring pressure drop 30

   7. Procedure for conductance test 31

   8. Calculation of conductance 31

9. Shale-shaker screen designation 32

   1. Principle 32

   2. Apparatus 33

   3. Preparation of aluminium oxide (aluminum oxide) test media 34

   4. Preparation of test screen 36

   5. Test procedure 37

   6. Calculation of D100 separation for test screen cloth 37

10. Non-blanked area of shale-shaker screen panel 38

    1. Principle 38

    2. Apparatus 38

    3. Procedure for pretensioned or perforated panel-type screens 38

    4. Calculation for pretensioned or perforated panel-type screens 38

    5. Procedure for open-hook strip panels 41

    6. Calculation for open-hook strip panels 41

    7. Example calculation of total non-blanked area for a panel-mount screen 41

11. Shale shaker screen labelling 42

    1. API screen designation 42

    2. Label and tag format 44

    3. API Screen Designation Label examples 45

    4. Other screen label and tags 47

Annex A (informative) Derivation of capture equation 48

1. Principle 48

2. Procedure of derivation 48

Annex B (informative) Finder's method 50

1. Principle 50

2. Materials and reagents 50

3. Apparatus 50

4. Procedure 50

5. Calculation 51

Bibliography 52

vi

Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

ISO 13501 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 67, Materials, equipment and offshore structures for the petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries, Subcommittee SC 3, Drilling and completion fluids, and wellbore cements.

This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition (ISO 13501:2005), which has been technically revised.

vii

Introduction

This International Standard covers equipment which is commonly used in petroleum and natural gas drilling fluids processing. This equipment can be purchased or rented from multiple sources, and is available worldwide. No single-source or limited-source equipment is included, either by inference or reference.

International Standards are published to facilitate communications between purchasers and manufacturers, or provide interchangeability between similar equipment and materials purchased from different manufacturers and/or at different times, and to provide an adequate level of safety when the equipment or materials are utilized in the manner and for the purposes intended. This International Standard provides minimum requirements and is not intended to inhibit anyone from purchasing or using equipment made to other standards. This International Standard is subject to periodic review and can be revised or withdrawn at such time as deemed appropriate.

The purpose of this International Standard is to provide a method of assessing the performance of solids control equipment systems in the field. It includes procedures for evaluation of shale shakers, centrifugal pumps, degassers, hydrocyclones, mud cleaners and centrifuges, as well as an entire system evaluation. Shale-shaker screen labelling and separation potential of shale-shaker screens have been addressed as part of this International Standard.

This International Standard is based on API RP 13C, third edition, December 2004 (for drilling fluid processing equipment) and shale-shaker screen API RP 13E, third edition, May 1, 1993 (for shale-shaker screens).

ISO publications may be used by anyone desiring to do so. Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained in them; however, no representation, warrant or guarantee in connection with this publication is made by ISO. ISO hereby expressly disclaims any liability, or responsibility for loss or damage resulting from use of this International Standard or for the violation of any federal, state or municipal regulation with which this publication may conflict.

Standards are published to facilitate the broad availability of proven, sound engineering and operating practices. Users of this International Standard should be aware that further or differing requirements may be needed for individual applications. This International Standard is not intended to inhibit a vendor from offering, or the purchaser from accepting, alternative equipment or engineering solutions for the individual application. This may be particularly applicable where there is innovative or developing technology. Where an alternative is offered, the vendor should identify any variations from this International Standard and provide details.”

Any manufacturer marking equipment or materials in conformance with the marking requirements is solely responsible for complying with all the applicable requirements of that standard. ISO does not represent, warrant, or guarantee that such products do in fact conform to the applicable International Standard.

viii

API Recommended Practice 13C, ISO 13501

Petroleum and natural gas industries – Drilling fluids processing systems evaluation

1. Scope

   
   

   This International Standard provides a standard procedure for assessing and modifying performance of solids control equipment systems commonly used in the field in petroleum and natural gas drilling fluids processing.

   
   

   This procedure is not intended for the comparison of similar types of individual pieces of equipment.

   
   

   Clause 11 in this document replaces Clause 11 currently in the ISO 13501:2005. It specifies a different labelling requirement for shale shaker screens that will be permanently attached to the screen. It also covers the marking of shipping containers for shale shaker screens.

   
   

   This International Standard Annex B provides a standard procedure for quick assessment of a solids control screen sizing. The method can be used in the field or laboratory for identification of an unknown screen approximate size range. It is provided for information only and does not replace or supplement the normative testing shown in Clauses 9 through Clause 11 in this document.

   
   

   This procedure is not intended for the operating comparison or ranking of similar types of individual pieces of equipment.

   
   

2. Normative references

   
   

   The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

   
   

   ISO 3310-1, Test sieves — Technical requirements and testing — Part 1: Test sieves of metal wire cloth

   
   

   ANSI/AWWA Standard C700, Cold-water meters — Displacement type, bronze main case

   
   

   API, Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards, Chapter 5.3—Measurement of Liquid Hydrocarbon by Turbine Meters

   
   

3. Terms, definitions, symbols and abbreviated terms

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.

3.1 Terms and definitions

3.1.1

addition section

compartment(s) in the surface drilling fluid system between the removal section and the suction section which provides a well-agitated compartment(s) for the addition of commercial products such as chemicals, necessary solids and liquids

3.1.2

agitator mechanical stirrer

mechanically driven mixer that stirs the drilling fluid by turning an impeller near the bottom of a mud compartment to blend additives, suspend solids and maintain a uniform consistency of the drilling fluid

1