Underground Construction - March 2022 - 25

DIRECTIONALDRILLING
Muddy Waters: 3 Ways Fluid Cleaning
Systems Can Improve Job-Site Success
Richard Levings & Ben Clark
As demand for underground construction projects continues to
increase, gett ing the most from your equipment is vital to jobsite
success. For HDD operators, drilling fl uid plays a crucial
role in effi cient operations by removing solids out of the bore
hole, lubricating downhole tooling, cooling electronics and stabilizing
the bore to prevent fl uid surfacing out of the hole.
To assist HDD crews with their drilling fl uid, manufacturers
are utilizing fl uid cleaning systems. Th e goal is to remove
as many solids from the drilling fl uid as quickly and effi ciently
as possible. While these machines go by many names - drilling
fl uid cleaners, fl uid cleaning systems, fl uid recycling systems
and mud cleaning systems - they provide many operational
benefi ts. From minimizing inadvertent returns and maximizing
downhole production to helping contractors reduce environmental
impacts, fl uid cleaning systems are the fl ux capacitor to
the HDD job site.
Here are three ways a fl uid cleaning system can boost HDD
uptime.
Reduce inadvertent returns
One universal fact of drilling is that drilling fl uid will always follow
the path of least resistance. When drilling goes according
to plan, the bore hole created by the operator will always be
that path of least resistance. However, if there is a diff erent path
of least resistance, then inadvertent returns can happen.
In other words, when an inadvertent return happens, drilling
fl uid surfaces through a path that HDD contractors did
not intentionally create. Th is can happen in a variety of ways.
From solids sett ling in a bore hole to natural intrusions such
as ground conditions, tree roots and pre-cut trenches, any
encroachment to the bore path could increase the risk of an
inadvertent return.
To reduce this risk, HDD operators have turned to fl uid
cleaning systems to help manage the fl uid fl ow and ensure
solids are brought out of the hole effi ciently. Th is is done by
slowing down the drilling speed and increasing fl uid velocity,
so solids can stay suspended in fl uid and not risk falling or settling
in the hole.
With the help of a fl uid cleaning system, operators can
Fluid cleaning system.
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monitor if solids begin to move too slowly, which can cause
solids to fall and create a dam. If build-up in the hole occurs,
the fl uid will fi nd another path to the surface and cause an
inadvertent return. Ensuring operators have a fl uid cleaning
system will help maximize downhole production and improve
job-site productivity.
Reduce environmental impacts
As environmental, social and governance (ESG) regulations
grow, and the industry looks to the future, environmentally
friendly drilling practices are on the rise. Th e modern driller
needs to understand how to minimize environmental risks,
while protecting and improving the bott om line.
HDD contractors know that some underground construction
projects require thousands of gallons of drilling fl uid to
complete a bore successfully. Without a fl uid cleaning system,
contractors are constantly spending time and money disposing
of used mud and mixing new clean drilling fl uid. Some areas
have tightened restrictions on dumping mud at the job site,
which means contractors are required to contain and dispose
of the used drilling fl uids only at approved waste facilities. As
a result, contractors are spending more time disposing their
fl uids and less time where it really matt ers - on the job site.
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