There are many solids control equipment we usually use for drilling fluids purification system, the main device include shale shaker, mud cleaner, desander, desilter, vacuum degasser, decanter centrifuge, etc. The shale shaker is the most important inside of them.

Shale shaker is first phase solids control equipment in drilling fluids processing system, also known as key solids control equipment in drilling mud system, shale shaker decides performance of the whole solids control system.
 

Shale Shaker Design – Shale shakers typically consists of large, flat sheets of wire mesh screens or sieves of various mesh sizes that shake or vibrate the drill cuttings, commonly shale, across and out of the screens as the drilling fluid ( mud ) flows through them and back into the drilling fluids system. This separates the solid drill cuttings from the fluid so that it can be recirculated back down the wellbore. In oilfield industry, linear motion shale shakers are widely used.

Shaker Screen Panels – Screen panels play a major role by removing particles larger than the mesh size. Screen selection is critical since shaking is the primary stage in the removal of solids. Improper screen selection can lead to de-blinding, loss of drilling fluids, premature pump part failures, overloading of other solids removal equipment within the mud systems, decreased service life, reduced flow rate capacity, and serious problems in the wellbore.

The skill level of shale shaker mainly reflects on handing ability ( thruput and separation size ), working stability, the length of useful lifespan and operating flexibility. The handling ability of shale shaker is related to the constitution of shale shaker, motion trail, vibration frequency, vibration intensity, screen area and screen size. For matching the shale shaker with the rig, the maximum displacement of the drill pump and the drilling cuttings quantity generated in the drilling process must be considered.

In general, dependent on the motion trail of screen frame, shale shaker can be grouped into four types: circle screen, ordinary elliptic screen, linear screen and balanced elliptical screen. So we should choose different shale shaker screen according to the requirement in the process of drilling mud cleaning.