Cubility delivers the latest innovation in solids control
As offshore operators face ever tightening margins in the North Sea and beyond, the focus on faster drilling times, increased efficiencies and lower costs has come to the fore, with a subsequent embracing of new technologies that deliver to the bottom line almost immediately.
In the areas of solids control and fluids management, for example, we are seeing an embracing of new technologies over traditional shale shakers—a technology that has been around for decades and which uses vibrations and high G-forces to filter out solids for discharge or treatment.
One such example is the MudCube, a compact, lightweight solids control system from Norwegian company Cubility that eliminates the traditional process of shaking fluids and solids through a patented vacuum-based, rotating screen filtration system. This leads to improved separation capabilities with more drilling fluid recycled back to the mud tanks and less waste.
Over the last few years—both onshore and offshore—the MudCube has played a vital role in helping operators achieve their goals of reduced costs and increased drilling efficiencies with significant contracts in the North Sea, the Middle East, Asia, South America, and the North American land drilling market, where Cubility has developed a major foothold in U.S. shale. Customers (among others) include Equinor, Chevron, Hess, Shell, Dong Energy, Maersk Drilling and Saipem.
Drilling fluids—also known as muds—play a crucial role in offshore drilling activity, cooling and lubricating drill bits, carrying drill cuttings to the surface, controlling pressure at the bottom of the well, and ensuring that the formation retains the properties defined for that well.
The effectiveness of such fluids, however, is highly dependent on solids control and the ability to separate the mud from rock particles and low gravity solids (LGS) in order that clean mud is recycled and circulated back into the drilling system. If there are too many solids in the mud, rates of penetration are reduced, as well as excessive torque, drag and abrasion, and potentially lost circulation and production.
With these issues in mind, the MudCube processes 100% of the mud, immediately increasing performance with its solids removal efficiency and ensuring that as much as 80% more mud is recovered than competing technologies.
The improved separation capabilities of the MudCube also leads to better quality drilling fluid, more drilling fluid recycled back to the mud tanks to be reused for drilling, less waste, and improved drilling efficiencies with stable drilling fluid properties and a decrease in non-productive time (NPT).
At ONS this year and in response to the need for faster drilling times and lower costs, Cubility is launching the latest evolution of the MudCube, the MudCube X.
Building on the capabilities of the MudCube and using the same technology principles, the MudCube X comes with an enhanced modular design, allowing for easy integration into all rig designs, optimal wellsite performance, and fast installation and maintenance so that the MudCube X is up and running and delivering immediate ROI.
The MudCube X can now also be manufactured and/or assembled worldwide, providing the benefits of greater drilling efficiencies and unparalleled HSE performance to offshore operators and drilling contractors globally. With the rise in offshore pad drilling and multiple wells, the MudCube X can be added to existing operations and start delivering value in drilling fluids and waste disposal within a matter of days.
The more capable the drilling rigs and the better the solids control technologies, the greater the drilling efficiencies and levels of potential production. For further information on how Cubility is achieving this, visit the Cubility stand at ONS---Booth 9428 (Hall 9).
