AADE Houston FMG Meeting

COST: Member: Free to attend / Non-member: $15

Non-members have the option to join as a member or renew your membership before registering, then the meeting cost will be free as well as all subsequent DTC meetings for 2025. 

 

Traditional solids control practices often fall short in effectively managing drilled solids and minimizing the loss of expensive weighting materials such as barite. In most drilling operations, centrifuge performance is assessed visually or with outdated assumptions, leading to over-dilution, equipment inefficiency, and significant waste. This presentation introduces a field-validated method for optimizing centrifuge performance through real-time compositional material mass balance modeling.

By integrating flow rate and density measurements at key rig stations with XRF-derived oil, water, low-gravity solids (LGS), and high-gravity solids (HGS) concentrations, this methodology quantifies the true efficiency of each centrifuge in barite recovery and solids removal modes. The approach enables engineering teams to normalize suction, effluent, and discard streams by component mass, calculate return and discard densities, and identify where inefficiencies or material losses occur. The result is a fully auditable, data-driven workflow that supports operational discipline and cost optimization.

Field case studies will be presented demonstrating how this system identified underperforming solids control equipment, reduced dilution and disposal costs, increased barite recovery to over 90%, and enabled more efficient waste management. The findings reinforce the need for digital transformation in solids control and establish a new benchmark for measurable, proactive mud system optimization.

 

Jason Norman is a drilling fluids and solids control specialist with over two decades of experience in the oil and gas industry. His work focuses on transforming field operations through digital workflows, real-time diagnostics, and data-driven decision-making. Jason has spent the last several years developing and implementing advanced centrifuge performance monitoring tools that leverage compositional mass balance modeling, XRF geochemical analysis, and real-time flow measurement to quantify efficiency and reduce waste.

Through his collaborations with operators and service providers, Jason has redefined how barite recovery and solids removal are measured, monitored, and optimized. His work has led to significant reductions in non-productive time, waste volumes, and drilling fluid costs while improving tool reliability and wellbore integrity. Jason is passionate about bridging the gap between engineering theory and field execution, and he continues to push the boundaries of how drilling systems are evaluated and managed.

 

 

 

Contamination of drilling fluids with ferrous magnetic debris has long been recognized as an issue for both premature wear on rig components and adverse effects on directional drilling operations. It has been shown from experience how much material is typically removed from current drilling operations, but the true extent of the contamination has been somewhat overlooked.

 

Field experience from land-based US drilling operations and offshore operations in the North Sea have shown that very significant amounts of sub 50 micron magnetic materials are being generated and are contaminating drilling fluids during normal drilling operations. 

 

In an effort to remove these materials an array of strong rod magnets (typically 1-1.2 Tesla at magnet surface) are being positioned in a selected geometrical pattern either upstream or downstream the primary solids control equipment. The quantity of the removed magnetic material and the consequent effect of removal of these materials is being assessed for impact on cost reductions for downhole/surface equipment wear and improved directional drilling operations. 

 

 

The Norris CityCentre facility is located at the corner of intersection of IH-10 West and Beltway 8. The location features plenty of complimentary parking.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE – For your convenience, we encourage you to park in the garage that is attached to the Norris Centers location (enter the parking garage from Beltway 8). Take the “up” ramp in the middle of the parking garage. You will see signs with the Norris name and logo directing you to the correct floors to park.  Please note that a number of parking spaces are reserved for other tenants of the complex and have “reserved” signs identifying these spaces. There is plenty of parking, so please avoid parking in these reserved spots.