Sumpless Clearwater Drilling/Solids Control System

Tecumseh Industries Ltd. is proud to introduce our new concept in Sumpless Clearwater Drilling technology.

If you are looking for the best solution to help reduce water consumption, disposal volumes, reduce high trucking costs, maximize space used on location, minimize environmental hazards (proper oil based cuttings containment) and save time on each well while ensuring the safety of your employee's, you have found it!

The reputation this system has earned for its efficiency and performance is attributed to the combination of Tecumseh’s unique patented (US Patent # 7,135,107 B2) and Canadian patent pending concentration tank design, utilized with our superior Full Variable Speed centrifuges.

When the slurry from the flow line, after running through the rig shakers is fed into the centre of the "TecTank" along with polymer or flocculating agent, these baffles direct the solids that separate or settle from a slurry stream directly towards the bottom of the tank where the centrifuge(s) suction outlet is located.

As the solids settle from the slurry stream, the clean fluids flow away from the centre to the outside of the TecTank where a clean fluid or centrate compartment is located. This centrate compartment is equipped with a submersible transfer pump, which transfers the clean fluid back to the rig suction tank for reuse. This allows for the most efficient solids removal possible! (See figure below)

Our unique centre baffle or cylinder is where most of the processing is done. Slurry enters the TecTank at this centre baffle where the solids are concentrated by dropping them directly over the centrifuge suction outlet. The solids compress themselves downward while they are simultaneously pulled down by the centrifuge feed pump(s).

The cylindrical baffle adjacent to the centre baffle or cylinder then restricts the movement of any solids that want to flow away from the centre of the TecTank. This keeps the solids concentrated over the centrifuge suction outlet.

This solids concentrating process blocks most of the fluid in the TecTank from entering the centrifuge(s) through the centrifuge suction. This allows for mainly solids to enter the centrifuge(s), and is essentially what keeps the separation process so efficient.

Most of the processing is accomplished within the first three cylindrical baffles of the TecTank. This is what allows us to reduce water consumption by roughly 75% when compared to conventional water drilling systems.

Once concentrated in the TecTank, the solids enter the centrifuge feed pump(s) where polymer (flocculant) is injected into the solids rich slurry before it is introduced to the centrifuge(s) for final processing (polymer is only used on water based fluids)

To assist in maximizing efficiency, the cylindrical baffle assembly of our patent pending design includes adjustable windows or “weirs” which direct fluid around the TecTank to achieve the most efficient processing possible. These windows are located in select parts of our cylindrical baffle assembly in a sequence that allows fluid to move and achieve the maximum benefit from the flocculating agent and / or by increasing the amount of settling or retention time.

Our Tecumseh Solids Control System is so efficient, we have been able to reduce surface water volumes needed for processing down to as little as 1190 US gallons or 4.5m3(volume in TecTank only). This alone will greatly reduce water consumption, which equates to reduced disposal costs.

At Tecumseh, Safety is never compromised! Every piece of Tecumseh equipment is designed with the safety of our operators in mind. All Tecumseh equipment is engineered with stairs eliminating ladders and the need for fall protection. Adequate lighting is supplied along with anti-slip material to help prevent injuries. Emergency escape exits are also installed for an alternate escape route if the need arises.

Benefits to Using our TecTank System

The following is also a list of benefits to using our technology:

• Less water consumption (only 1190 US Gallons or 4.5m3 in TecTank required for water drilling).
• No vacuum truck required for clear water drilling.
• No crane required for rig-up/out.
• Centrifuges can ride on tank platform and never have to be moved.
• System will accommodate centrifuges of almost any kind (1 or 2).
• Shale tank, floc tank, and centrifuges are all part of system eliminating 2 loads on rig moves.
• Safety lights are installed all over the system including in the shale tank.
• Floc tank has no moving parts (i.e. auger) to freeze up or bridge off with solids.
• Floc tank can be utilized on surface hole and the main hole mud sections to aid in solids removal and reduce tank cleaning when WOC and at the end of each well.
• 1-centrifuge rated for 265 US gpm or 1m3/min can be utilized on water sections pumping up to 370 US gpm or 1.4m3/min.
• System is equipped with stairs and handrails throughout so there is no risk of falling off walkways and causing injury.
• Feed pumps, and VFD’s can be permanently mounted on skid with no handling on rig moves.
• 2 – polymer injection tanks for proper chemical mixing and pre-hydration c/w agitators, pumps and mixing hoppers (always have a backup injection pump if one fails).

"Tec Tank" in transport mode

Contact Us

Tecumseh Industries Ltd.
604 21st Street S.E.
High River, Alberta
T1V 2A6

Toll Free: 1-877-602-2424
Phone: (403) 601-2424