About Our Client
Our client is a specialist in the field of trenchless techniques such as Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD). Such techniques are often used to minimise disruption when cables and pipelines are being laid and are common when rivers, canals, nature reserves, roads, railways and existing cable and pipeline networks have to be crossed, and in densely populated areas.
The Challenge
Environmentally sensitive drilling operation using water-based mud (WBM). The mud (or drilling fluid) is extremely expensive and therefore Separo's SCS division was called upon to provide solids control and mud re-conditioning services.
What We Did
Our equipment (Zone 1 dual centrifuge and flocculation system) and Field Service Engineers were deployed in order to condition the drilling fluid by removing cuttings (solid material removed from the well). In doing so the cuttings could be disposed of locally and the fluid recycled and reused throughout the project.
Value Gained
Integrating our equipment and services into the project ensured that drilling fluid consumption was minimised and drilling efficiency was optimised. As a result the volume of waste requiring disposal, impact on the environment and project cost were all reduced significantly.
Project Statistics
Over a 70 day period approximately 15,000 m3 of drilling fluid was reconditioned, recycled and returned to the client by SCS. 850 man-hours were dedicated to the project and throughout this period there were no health, safety or environmental incidents.
