Advanced Treatment of Drilling Fluids Using VSEP™ Technology
A High‑Performance Solution for Petroleum Engineers Seeking Lower Costs, Cleaner Operations & Maximum Fluid Reuse
Drilling operations depend on high‑quality drilling fluids—whether water‑based or oil‑based—to stabilize the wellbore, control pressure, and transport cuttings. But managing used drilling mud is costly, complex, and increasingly regulated. VSEP™ (Vibratory Shear Enhanced Process) delivers a breakthrough solution: advanced membrane filtration engineered to handle the toughest drilling fluid waste streams, enabling oil recovery, fluid reuse, and major disposal cost reductions. Optimize performance, reduce environmental impact, and unlock new efficiencies across your drilling program with VSEP.
How Drilling Fluid Works in Modern Petroleum Operations
Drilling fluid, often called drilling mud, is essential to safe, efficient drilling. Its functions include:
- Cooling and lubricating the drill bit
- Carrying drill cuttings to the surface
- Maintaining wellbore stability
- Controlling formation pressure
- Minimizing formation damage
These fluids are engineered systems customized to the geology and operational requirements of each well.
Water‑Based vs. Oil‑Based Drilling Fluids
Petroleum engineers choose between water‑based muds (WBM) and oil‑based muds (OBM) based on performance requirements, environmental considerations, and cost.
Water‑Based Drilling Fluids (WBM) – Used widely because they are:
- Lower in cost
- Easier to manage and dispose of
- Suitable for many formations
- More environmentally acceptable
However, they can struggle in:
- Reactive shale formations
- High‑temperature wells
- Situations requiring superior lubrication or inhibition
Oil‑Based Drilling Fluids (OBM) – Chosen when maximum performance is needed:
- Superior shale inhibition
- High thermal stability
- Excellent lubricity
- Lower dilution rates and more stable rheology
Why aren’t they used everywhere?
- OBMs are significantly more expensive
- Disposal regulations are strict
- Treatment options are limited
- Reuse typically requires high‑quality separation technology
This is where VSEP becomes a game‑changing solution.
How Drilling Fluid Is Removed During Drilling Operations
Throughout drilling, mud is continuously circulated. As it returns to the surface, solids and contaminants are removed using:
- Shale shakers
- Desanders and desilters
- Centrifuges
- Cuttings dryers
- Chemical treatment systems
After these primary and secondary separation steps, operators are left with a high‑strength waste stream containing:
- Fine solids
- Emulsified oils
- Organics
- Polymers
- Salts
- Heavy metals
This residual fluid traditionally presents major disposal challenges.
Traditional Disposal and Treatment Options
Conventional disposal methods include:
- Landfilling or landfarming (for select WBMs)
- Thermal desorption (often required for OBM cuttings)
- Deep well injection
- Offsite treatment by third‑party processors
Each method presents drawbacks:
- High transportation and disposal costs
- Increasing regulatory pressure
- Loss of expensive OBM base oil
- Large environmental footprint
Why VSEP™ Is the Superior Treatment Technology for Drilling Fluid Waste
VSEP (Vibratory Shear Enhanced Process) is a next‑generation membrane filtration system engineered to handle the high‑solids, high‑oil, viscous, and chemically complex waste streams generated during drilling operations.
✔ High Flux with Extremely Fouling Fluids
VSEP’s vibratory membrane design prevents fouling and maintains high throughput—even with emulsions, polymers, or oily slurries.
✔ Enables Reuse of Expensive Oil‑Based Fluids
OBM typically contains costly base oils. VSEP can separate and purify the oil phase, allowing operators to:
- Recover valuable OBM oil
- Reuse it in subsequent drilling operations
- Reduce new fluid purchase costs
VSEP Filtered Oil-Based Drilling Mud
✔ Produces a Clean, Discharge‑Ready Permeate
VSEP removes:
- Emulsified oils
- Suspended solids
- Polymers
- Organics
The result is a permeate stream that is clear, stable, and suitable for reuse or compliant discharge (where permitted).
✔ Minimizes Disposal Volumes
VSEP dramatically reduces the volume of waste requiring final disposal. Typical results include:
- Up to 90% volume reduction
- Lower trucking and disposal costs
- Reduced environmental liability
Key Benefits for Petroleum Engineers
- Lower drilling fluid costs—especially for OBM
- Lower disposal expenses
- Reduced environmental footprint
- Improved compliance with tightening regulations
- Higher sustainability through fluid reuse
Proven Case Studies
VSEP MF has been installed at full-scale to filter drilling mud. Dozens of pilot trials have been completed as well, leading to a wealth of historical data and experience at New Logic.
Case Study #1 – Norway Oil-Based Drilling Mud
In 2001, New Logic commissioned a 36” VSEP MF system in Norway to treat oil-based drilling mud. The system operates at 70ºC and 85% recovery. The MF permeate contained <5 mg/L TSS. At the end of each batch, permeate was used for flushing. No other chemical cleaning was needed.
Norway VSEP Drilling Mud System
Case Study #2 – North Dakota Water-Based Drilling Mud
In 2014, New Logic provided demonstration VSEP equipment to filter drilling mud for a major oil services company. The water-based drilling mud contained 33% total solids. The VSEP system was able to dewater this fluid using a 0.05µm MF membrane at a flux rate of 96 GFD, volume reducing the material by nearly 70%. The final VSEP reject had 40% total solids.
North Dakota Drilling Mud with VSEP Separation
VSEP: The Modern Solution for Drilling Mud Treatment
Whether your operation uses water‑based or oil‑based drilling fluids, VSEP provides a proven, economical, and environmentally responsible treatment option.
Petroleum engineers worldwide rely on VSEP to:
- Improve operational efficiency
- Transform waste into reusable resources
- Meet environmental and regulatory goals
- Recover valuable hydrocarbons
VSEP® Design Considerations
- Recovery limited by material rheology and viscosity
- Performance is site‑specific
- Throughput depends on temperature, type of membrane, concentration level
- Prescreening >100 microns required
- Chloride concentration may require special materials of construction
Design note: Actual performance is site‑specific. We pilot test to select membrane type, flux, recovery, and pretreatment options. Chemistry varies for each project. Final system sizing, membrane selection, and performance projections are only provided after pilot testing validation.
VSEP® systems are designed to support NPDES discharge, sewer discharge, and reuse permits, subject to site‑specific regulatory approval.
Ready to Improve Your Drilling Mud Management Strategy?
Let’s explore how VSEP can fit into your drilling operation.
Request a No‑Cost VSEP® Preliminary Assessment
With decades of experience treating some of the most challenging industrial wastewaters, VSEP® provides proven drilling mud treatment solutions. If you would like preliminary information to decide whether this makes sense for your project, New Logic can provide a desktop analysis for you at no-cost. This can be done easily before you expend time and resources.
Your assessment includes:
- Estimated mass balance
- Treatment configuration and implementation roadmap
- CAPEX and OPEX estimates
If the initial performance projection and cost are in line with expectations, pilot testing can be implemented.
Talk to a VSEP petroleum expert today.
+1‑775‑783‑7600
info@vsep.com
Pilot Testing: https://www.vsep.com/technology/pilot-testing/
VSEP® Technology: https://www.vsep.com/technology/