As our world’s dependence on energy becomes more acute, resources of energy extraction are stretched. Fossil fuels continue to be the major drivers and satisfiers of our energy requirements. While companies and governments are investing in green energy, it still needs a lot of time to become mainstream.
In this regard, a lot of emphases has been put on finding new sources of oil and gas in the world. Most of these locations are off-shore and require a lot of effort to become operational. In this regard, we are going to discuss the role played by probably one of the most important pieces of equipment in the energy extraction process- Sand Control Screens.
We are going to evaluate why are they important, what are the major types and how you should go about selecting one for your next oil rig.
Table of Contents
Sand Control Screens: What are they?
Sand control screens work as filters during the extraction process. As the name suggests, their primary task is to keep out the sand and separate it from the crude when the extraction is taking place. As you can imagine, deep within the earth’s crevices, both sand and hundreds of other debris are present in pressurized form with crude oil or gas deposits as the case may be.
By using a sand control screen, rigs save themselves the trouble of going for several rounds of filtration and separation of the debris from the oil or gas. Another major reason sand control screens are in great demand is because they prevent the extracting pipes and pumps from getting damaged because of the debris.
The oil or gas comes out with huge pressure. A small chip of stone at that pressure and speed can become lethal for a million-dollar drilling rig and other equipment. This is why sand control screens work as an effective barrier to save the mechanical parts from getting damaged.
Most experts recommend that companies should not skim on selecting sand control screens. In other words, it is always a good idea to buy them from the best sand screen manufacturer and supplier.
4 Major Types of Methods Used for Filtration in the Oil and Gas Industry
In this section, we will list down the different kinds of methods that are used by drilling and extraction companies in the industry-
- Gravel Packs and Barriers-
A lot of drilling companies use a thicker gravel screen for the filtration process. Using a gravel screen depends mainly on the kind of soil where the extraction is taking place. However, gravel screens are now used less given the kind of extraction that is taking place these days.
- Sand Screen with Resin-
In many cases, the resin is bounded on the sand screens to make them more solid and durable. Again, like the gravel pack, this depends on the kind of materials that are coming up with the crude. This helps in improving the durability of the screen and allowing it to work effectively.
- Gravel Screens with Resin-
When the ground beneath the earth’s surface is too tough in nature, drillers and extraction specialists used a reinforced gravel screen with an additional layer of resin to bind it. This is expensive but has to be used given the condition of the soil.
- Plain Metal Net Screens-
This is probably the earliest innovation in terms of the usage of screens. This would entail a sheet that was netted and this would help separate most of the bigger debris. However, following this process, several other filtration processes had to be done.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to selecting the best sand control screens, rigs should do their research. Only credible suppliers must be chosen in this regard. A sand control screen plays a very important role in modern oil and gas extraction.
By following all the points in the article, you will be able to make an informed choice when it comes to choosing the best sand control screens for your next project. Oil and gas equipment is expensive and requires major investments. If you have any other questions that you would like us to answer, let us know in the comments below.
