GN Solids Control has completed the delivery of a comprehensive solids control package to an African drilling project. The shipment includes 10 units of GNLW453D-VFD large-bowl decanter centrifuges with support systems, 5 units of GNCD930G vertical cuttings dryer systems, 10 sets of screw pumps for feeding and flushing, and 10 units of screw conveyors.
The GNLW453D-VFD is a decanter centrifuge equipped with variable frequency drive. The large-bowl design increases separation area and retention time, which improves both processing capacity and the dryness of discharged solids. The VFD system allows stepless adjustment of bowl speed, enabling the centrifuge to operate in medium-speed mode for barite recovery or high-speed mode for fine solids removal. The bowl is made of duplex stainless steel 2205 or 2304, which offers better corrosion resistance and mechanical strength than standard SS304 or SS316L. Tungsten carbide inserts are used at the solids discharge ports and slurry distribution ports. These inserts are replaceable, extending service life under abrasive conditions. The screw conveyor inside the bowl is protected by tungsten carbide tiles. Bearings are SKF brand. The bowl and screw are dynamically balanced in three stages to minimize vibration at high rotational speeds.
Each GNLW453D-VFD unit is mounted on a telescopic skid. This design allows the centrifuge to be positioned independently or integrated with other solids control equipment. The feed pump can be a submersible slurry pump or a screw pump, depending on site layout and mud properties.
The GNCD930G is a vertical cuttings dryer designed to recover liquid from drilling cuttings. The internal air duct and mud separation structure have been optimized to increase throughput. The dryer uses centrifugal force and airflow to remove moisture from cuttings, reducing the liquid content in the discharged solids. This reduces the volume and weight of waste material that requires disposal. The GNCD930G undergoes full-load testing before shipment. In this project, the customer witnessed the test and confirmed the processing capacity and dryness of the discharged solids.
The 10 screw pumps serve as feed pumps for the centrifuges and as flushing pumps for the cuttings dryers and conveying lines. Screw pumps provide stable flow with low pulsation and can handle drilling mud with high solids content and varying viscosity. All pump parts are interchangeable with Mission pump components, which simplifies maintenance and spare parts management for the customer.
The 10 screw conveyors transport dried solids from the centrifuges and cuttings dryers to collection points. This creates a continuous, automated solids handling process and reduces manual intervention.
The equipment package is part of a repeat order from a long-term customer in Africa. The customer previously purchased solids control equipment from GN Solids Control and based the new order on satisfactory performance of the earlier units. Before delivery, the customer conducted an on-site inspection and full-load test of the GNLW453D-VFD centrifuge and the GNCD930G cuttings dryer. The customer approved the equipment after confirming the processing capacity and dryness met project requirements.
The combination of decanter centrifuges and vertical cuttings dryers addresses both mud recovery and waste minimization. The centrifuges separate fine solids from the liquid phase, allowing the cleaned liquid to be returned to the active mud system. The cuttings dryers further reduce the liquid content of the discharged solids. Together, these processes lower the volume of waste generated and reduce the environmental impact of drilling operations.
GN Solids Control has supplied solids control equipment to projects in more than 70 countries. The company manufactures centrifuges, cuttings dryers, shale shakers, desanders, desilters, vacuum degassers, mud mixers, and complete mud tank systems. The African project delivery includes documentation, spare parts, and technical support for installation and commissioning.