In every horizontal directional drilling project, drillers have to make sure that their fluid handling systems are in top condition.

Fluid handling systems are responsible for processing the fluids used during your drilling operation. These fluids include lubricants, acids, and other liquids needed to keep the machinery in good working condition.

If there is any malfunction or problem with these systems, it can lead to costly damages down the road and may jeopardize the horizontal directional drilling project.

If you don’t take proper care of your fluid handling systems, the following dangers can arise:

1. Fire Hazards

Malfunctioning machinery or equipment is a major fire hazard in any workplace. During drilling operations, regular inspection and maintenance of fluid handling systems are crucial to minimize fire hazards, as well as other risks associated with damaged machineries.

2. Environmental Damage

Inadequate safety measures during drilling operations can lead to environmental damage. It’s vital that you keep the environment safe, even when working in remote locations and away from populated areas.

3. Accidents Resulting From Inadequate Maintenance

Accidents happen – they just do . However, you can control how severe your accidents are by maintaining your fluid handling systems efficiently.

4. Risk of Injury from Defective Machinery and Equipment

When you don’t take proper care of your fluid handling system, the equipment can malfunction – causing the drilling machine to move at unexpected angles or speeds. This, in turn, may cause severe injuries to the people on-site.

How To Ensure That Your Fluid Handling System Is In Good Working Condition

Regular inspection and systematic maintenance of your fluid handling equipment are necessary to ensure that it’s in good working condition. Your crew should make sure that the following requirements are met:

1. The Oil Levels Are Just Right

When you first start a drilling operation, your crew should monitor the oil levels regularly to ensure that the oil is at the correct levels.

When to Check:

• Every Time You Start Drilling
• When There Are Unusual Noises or Smells Coming From Your Machine

How Often:

The frequency of your oil checks depends on how often you use your equipment and how long it’s been since your last check. If you’re just beginning to drill, check your oil levels every few hours until you’re comfortable with the consistency of your machinery.

2. The Fluids Are Stored Properly

When storing fluids, it’s important that they are stored in a safe and sanitary manner.

This means:

• Only Storing Fluids In Containers With Proper Labels
• Storing Fluids In Temperature-Controlled Areas
• Keeping The Amounts of Fluids Your Crew Uses To A Minimum

When to Check:

• Before Storage

How Often:

After every use, check your fluids before you store them. If the amount that you’re storing is less than what you used, talk to your suppliers – you may need to order more.

3. Routine Maintenance Is Done By A Certified Technician

You can’t just leave your fluid handling system to the mercy of any technician that comes by your site – make sure that they’re certified and experienced before letting them handle your machine. This includes:

• Attending Safety Courses
• Familiarizing Themselves With The Machine’s Parts and Maintenance Needs
• Being Able To Handle Any Problems That Arise During Operation

When to Check:

• To make sure that your technicians are qualified, regularly check their knowledge of the machine parts and maintenance needs. If they don’t seem knowledgeable enough, hire someone else.

How Often:

You can check your technicians’ qualifications after they’ve been on-site for a week.

4. The Operations Are Controlled By A Qualified Leader

To ensure that your drilling operations are going smoothly, it’s important that you hire the right leader to control them – someone who is experienced and knowledgeable about the operation of fluid handling systems in your drilling operation.

When to Check:

• Before Drilling Operations Begin
• After A New Technician or Crew Member Joins The Operation

How Often: You should check your leader’s qualifications after they’ve been on-site for a week. If any problems arise, you can get rid of the problem before it becomes an issue.

5. The Drilling Is Done Under Safe Conditions

Although fluid handling equipment is important to drilling operations, it’s still just a machine – and machines are dangerous when they aren’t handled properly. Make sure that your crew members follow these safety rules so that your operation can run smoothly:

• Always Be Careful When Working Around Your Fluid Handling System
• If Any Equipment Breaks, Take It Apart Yourself And Call For A Certified Technician To Come In And Fix It
• Never Use Your Machine When You’re Drunk Or Under The Influence Of Drugs – This Is Unsafe For Everyone Involved

When to Check:

• These rules are important all the time. Make sure that your crew takes these rules seriously at all times and never breaks them, or they could end up harming you.

How Often:

Your crew should follow these safety rules at all times while handling any fluid handling system.

6. The Machine Is Inspected Regularly For Proper Functioning

Aside from checking that the oil levels are right, you need to check that your machine is functioning properly in other ways, too. It’s important to make sure that your fluid handling system has been maintained properly and can still function as it should.

• Regularly Check For Leaks And Cracks In The Machine
• If You Notice A Maintenance Problem, Call In An Experienced Technician To Fix It Before Operation Can Resume
• Check The Fittings For Any Damage

When to Check:

• These checks are important all the time. Make sure that you and your crew members follow them after every use of the machine, so that you can catch any problems before they become major.

How Often:

You need to make these inspections after each use of the fluid handling system.

7. The Machine Is Safe To Use For Each Type Of Job

Every fluid handling machine is meant for a specific job, and you should follow the guidelines in your operation manual to figure out which jobs are safe to do with each system. This includes:

• Only Using The Correct fluids With Your Fluid Handling System – Don’t Mix Incompatible Fluids
• Not Using The Machine For Jobs It’s Not Intended For (For Example, Don’t Use A Heater Pump To Heat Drilling Fluids – That’s What Separate Heating Units Are For)
• Understand the system – When you’re working with a particular machine, it’s important that you understand all the systems in it and how they work together. That way, you can figure out why your machine isn’t functioning properly when something goes wrong – allowing for speedy troubleshooting and repair.
• Always Read The Operation Manual Before Using Your Fluid Handling System For A Job

When to Check:

• If your fluid handling system is only designed for one job – for example, a heater pump is only meant to heat up your drilling fluids – then it’s important that you make sure that you use the machine only for its intended job. If you try to use it for another purpose, the machine will likely break down.

How Often:

You should check these guidelines after each use of your fluid handling system.

Takeaway

Fluid handling is a great aspect of directional drilling jobs. These systems are installed in horizontal directional drilling joints to direct fluids through the casing, control direction and pressure, reduce friction from fluid flow in the fractures during fracking, and prevent any unwanted crossover below ground.

Without them, local fissures could be created on the fracture faces that lead to unwanted fluid crossover. This could affect production and cause a lot of money to be wasted on cleanup costs. For this reason, it is very important to have a good understanding of how they are used in horizontal directional drilling jobs.

Edward Bertrand