RECLAIM Technology

Chemically enhanced removal and recovery process for LGS, base oil

The M-I SWACO RECLAIM technology is a chemical and mechanical  process that removes fine solids from drilling fluids while recovering valuable base oil.  RECLAIM eliminates the majority of fine solids from oil- or synthetic-base fluids conventional solids control equipment is unable to remove. From an environmental perspective, RECLAIM reduces the volume of waste mud and the risk of spillage during transportation. RECLAIM also provides a dry, closed-loop system onsite and produces cleaner fines for disposal.

Fine low-Gravity Solids (LGS) build up in a mud system during the drilling process, hindering efficient drilling in several ways.  Typically, solids control equipment alone remove LGS particles greater than 5 to 7 microns. Smaller particles remain in the mud causing problems, including stuck pipe, increased torque, decreased ROP and other high-viscosity-mud issues.

The only conventional treatment is to dilute the mud system to reduce the level of fine solids, or to build new mud. These are not feasible solutions in many applications because dilution increases disposal costs, while building new mud directly increases fluids costs.

RECLAIM employs a chemically enhanced centrifugation process to remove the bulk of fine colloidal particles. The process also can increase the oil/water ratio (OWR) in oil- or synthetic-based drilling fluids. The patented RECLAIM technology comprises proprietary flocculants and surfactants and a 20-ft (6 m) skid. The technology contains all components required to effectively flocculate fine solids in a non-aqueous fluid.

Surfactants may be used to weaken the emulsion, and flocculating polymers are used to agglomerate the fine solids so they can be easily removed by centrifugation. The polymer also promotes the demulsification of the brine droplets in the mud, and a secondary effect of this process is that water is removed with the solids, raising the oil/water ratio.

The portable system is suitable for all onshore and offshore rigs employing synthetic- or oil-based drilling fluids, where extending the useful life of the mud system is paramount. In addition, RECLAIM is applicable to operations where the objective is recovering reusable base fluid from spent mud and in liquid drilling fluid plants for reducing costs associated with fluid reconditioning and disposal.

Moreover, the technology has been shown to improve drilling fluid performance and increase ROP while reducing formation damage, stuck-pipe incidents and disposal, storage and transportation costs.