Mud Gas Separator
Mud Gas Separator is commonly called as gas-buster or poor boy degasser. It captures and separate large volume of free gas within the drilling fluid. If there is a "KICK" situation, this vessel separates the mud and the gas by allowing it to flow over baffle plates. The gas then is forced to flow through a line and vent it to a flare. A "KICK" situation happens when the annular hydrostatic pressure in a drilling well temporarily (and usually relatively suddenly) becomes less than the formation, or pore, pressure in a permeable section downhole, and before control of the situation is lost. It is always safe to design the mud/gas separator that will handle the maximum possible gas flow that can occur.[1][2]
Types of Mud/Gas Separators
The principle of mud/gas separation for different types of vessels is the same.[3]
- Closed bottom type
- Open bottom type
- Float type
Principle of operation
The principle behind the mud gas separator is relatively simple. On the figure, the mud and gas mixture is fed at the inlet allowing it to impinge on a series of baffles designed to separate gas and mud. The free gas then is moved into the flare line to reduce the threat of toxic and hazardous gases and the mud then discharges to the shale shaker and to the tank.
See also
Notes
- ↑ Dilling Fluids Processing Handbook ISBN 0-7506-7775-9
- ↑ Mud Equipment Manual ISBN 0-87201-614-5
- ↑ SPE Drilling Engineering, December 1991
