Mud system · Drilling
Shale Shakers
Vibrating screens where the mud returning from the well lands first.
What it does
The main device for removing drilled cuttings. Liquid and fine solids pass through the screen; the larger cuttings ride off the end and are discarded.
Basics
| Screen | Wire cloth, chosen as fine as the flow allows |
| Typical setup | Several shakers in parallel |
| Watch for | Whole mud spilling off the back |
Common failures
- Torn screens letting cuttings back into the active mud
Troubleshooting
- Symptom
- Solids content keeps rising
- Likely cause
- Torn or too coarse screens
- What to check
- Replace screens with the finest mesh the flow allows