The first principle of solids control is that a solid removed once is cheaper than a solid ground finer and removed later. Every pass through the bit and the pumps breaks cuttings into smaller particles, and once they are below the removal range of the equipment the only way out is dilution. That is why shaker screens are the most important piece of the train, and why running the finest screen that will handle the flow matters so much.

Equipment is often undersized, poorly arranged or bypassed. Shakers blinded by fine solids, hydrocyclones fed from the wrong compartment, centrifuges run on the wrong feed rate and tanks that allow fluid to bypass the train entirely are all common. Performance evaluation, by measuring what solids come out and what stays in the system, is what identifies these.

Waste is the other half of the problem and is increasingly the more expensive one. Cuttings volumes, oil on cuttings limits, transport, treatment and disposal costs now shape fluid selection and solids control design. Regulations differ by jurisdiction and offshore discharge is tightly controlled, so planning waste handling belongs in the well plan rather than in the clean-up afterwards.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Identify drilled solids types and sizes and explain their effects on fluid and performance.
• Select shale shaker screens and configure shakers for the flow and fluid.
• Configure and operate desanders, desilters and mud cleaners.
• Operate centrifuges for barite recovery and fine solids removal.
• Arrange solids control equipment and flow routing correctly.
• Evaluate solids control efficiency and diagnose underperformance.
• Compare removal and dilution economics.
• Identify drilling waste streams and their handling requirements.
• Select cuttings treatment and disposal technologies.
• Apply discharge regulations, waste tracking and reporting requirements.

The course is instructor-led. Equipment is covered with drawings, specifications and performance data, and participants evaluate solids control efficiency from real mud and solids data. Waste handling is covered with treatment technology comparisons, cost data and regulatory frameworks. Participants are encouraged to bring their own equipment arrangements and waste problems for discussion.

Organisations sending participants to this training will:

• Reduce drilled solids in the fluid and improve drilling performance.
• Reduce dilution volumes, fluid cost and waste generation.
• Improve solids control equipment configuration and operation.
• Meet discharge and waste regulations reliably.
• Reduce the cost of cuttings treatment and disposal.

Participants will:

• Understand how each piece of solids control equipment works.
• Be able to select screens and configure the equipment train.
• Be able to evaluate solids control efficiency.
• Understand removal versus dilution economics.
• Understand waste treatment and disposal options and requirements.

• Drilling fluids and mud engineers
• Drilling engineers
• Rig site supervisors
• Solids control and waste management service staff
• HSE and environmental staff supporting drilling
• Rig crew responsible for solids control equipment

Upon successful completion of this training course, delegates will be awarded an official Certificate of Completion issued by the Petroleum Engineers Association (PEA), an ISO 9001:2015 certified training organization. The certificate carries 10 Credits and formally records the total learning hours completed.

Each certificate is signed by the Course Facilitator and the CEO of the Petroleum Engineers Association, and serves as verifiable proof of professional training that delegates can present to employers and professional bodies worldwide.