Exploration drilling
The economics and environmental performance of drilling are becoming more important in Australia's growing minerals drilling market. Specially designed and built for exploration drilling, the Alfa Laval decanter centrifuges can handle large amounts of feed solids and flow rates, to remove very fine drilling solids and particles from drilling fluids and drilling mud.
Compact, robust equipment for continuous operation and high separation efficiency
- High degree of erosion protection and capacity contribute to short payback time
- Flexibility to handle a variety of solid-liquid separation duties
- Fully enclosed system improves working environment
- Automated conveying speed gives optimal solids dryness
- Improved sustainability benefits – solids can be directly landfilled so less transport required
The Alfa Laval CDNX decanter centrifuge is based around a slender cylindrical bowl with an internal scroll (screw conveyer) that removes solids as they are forced to the bowl wall. The bowl rotates at speeds of up to several thousand RPM producing a centrifugal force of up to several thousand G. It is this G force that drives the separation and removal of these fine solids.
The centrifuge can be adjusted to suit specific requirements. For example, you can vary the bowl speed to ensure the exact G-force required for the required separation for mud rheology. The conveying speed and the pond depth can also be adjusted for the best balance between liquid clarity and solids dryness.
Wetted components are made from corrosion resistant Stainless Steel 316 or Duplex, with Tungsten Carbide used in areas exposed to wear. The size and geometry are optimised for exploration drilling constraints.
What is a Centrifuge in drilling?
How does a mud centrifuge work?
The time-tested principles of centrifugation is a very effective way to remove fine particles from drilling mud and slurries.
The liquid drilling slurry is fed into the long cylindrical bowl, where the centrifugal force presses it outwards to form a layer (known as the pond) around the wall.
The depth of the pond is determined by a series of discharge weirs at the end of the cylindrical section. The clarified liquid flows over the weirs via gravity.
Since the solids in the slurry are heavier, they remain plastered against the bowl wall and are continuously removed by the screw conveyor. They are then transported up to the conical section (known as the beach) where they exit via the discharge ports at the narrow end.
Cleaned drilling slurry exits at the opposite end.
Technology innovation for exploration drilling
As a global market leader in separation technology, drilling operators can rely on Alfa Laval decanter centrifuges to achieve high efficiency in exploration drilling and recovery of drilling fluids.
The decanter centrifuges are available with a range of capacities and configurations. They range from fully automated solid control systems with a control panel and PLC controlled differential speed, to simpler, lower cost single drive countershaft units with manual differential speed changes.
Whichever you choose, Alfa Laval is your trusted choice for exploration drilling centrifuges in Australia, designed for drillers’ processes, profitability and ease-of-use.
Drilling fluid recovery reduces cost and waste
With the minerals drilling market growing in Australia, the economics of drilling and recycling of drilling fluids are becoming more important.
The right choice of centrifuge inside your solids control system enables the recovery and recycling of drilling fluids, and hence, is a vital decision to reducing cost and waste.
Alfa Laval has extensive experience supporting customers with on-site treatment and recovery solutions that enable improved management of your waste and water streams.
Our highly efficient separation and water management solutions can help you reduce, reuse and recycle waste in all new ways.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Recovery and recycling of drilling fluids is vital for reducing cost and waste and improving the environmental performance of the drilling operations. Alfa Laval's highly efficient separation and water management solutions can help you reduce, reuse and recycle waste in all-new ways. Learn more about Alfa Laval’s circularity solutions for the industry
